Three champions in the 9th and 10th grade division highlight a strong Illinois showing as the regular season approaches.
Illinois wrestling’s next wave made its presence felt at the 2026 USA Wrestling Brian Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Adonis Washington, Jeremiah Hayes and Cameron Young captured 9th and 10th grade national championships, leading an Illinois contingent that produced 27 podium finishes across the two boys high school divisions and the Boys National Recruiting Showcase. Fourteen of those finishes came in the ninth- and tenth-grade division—a promising sign for the years ahead.
For a state with a proud wrestling tradition, the weekend offered another reason to be excited. Young Illinois wrestlers stepped into national competition and showed they could finish on top.
Adonis Washington delivered at 144 pounds, closing his tournament with a 4–0 championship victory over Josh Brooks of Texas. The Joliet Catholic sophomore, Washington finished with the only shutout decision of the division’s championship round.
His route to the title included technical falls over Braylon Bach, 16–1, and Levi Wheeler, 19–3, followed by a pin of Charles Anderson in 3:15. Washington then knocked off top-seeded Jaxten Bowler, 17–14, in a semifinal packed with scoring before shutting out Brooks in the final.
That combination stood out: Washington could win a high-scoring battle against the top seed, then return for the championship match and keep his opponent off the scoreboard. His five victories made for an impressive national title run.
Jeremiah Hayes, Washington’s highly touted freshman, brought home the 150-pound championship. Hayes won the final over Beau DeLong from Wisconsin by injury default at 0:12. The official result lists an injury default rather than a completed-match score.
Hayes’ confirmed victories on the way to the championship included Zeke Ranvek of MN Elite and semifinal opponent Anson Lastinger of Cardinal Wrestling Club. Although the final ended early, Hayes had already earned his opportunity to wrestle for the title by advancing through the championship bracket.
