Steve Millar’s Daily Southtown midseason wrestling report: Mount Carmel, Joliet Catholic, Marist, girls power & more.

Southland wrestling teams dominated at a state level last season, with Mount Carmel and Joliet Catholic winning team championships.

Can the area have as much success this season?

Well, the Caravan and Hilltoppers are certainly contenders again. Marist is loaded. And there are many individuals capable of reaching the top of the podium in Champaign.

Here’s a look at the area wrestling scene near the midpoint of the season:

Joliet Catholic made a big statement last weekend at DeKalb’s Flavin Invite, beating Marist and powerhouse St. Charles East to take over the top spot in our rankings. The Hilltoppers have built up their depth around star heavyweight Dillan Johnson. Marist has thrived on its own depth, with returning state runner-up Peter Marinopoulos leading the way. Don’t count out Mount Carmel, either.

As girls wrestling continues to grow, the Southland is helping lead the way. Andrew co-op, which also features girls from Sandburg and Stagg, has won all three tournaments it has competed in, with sisters Mickaela and Alyssa Keane among the team’s standouts. Oak Forest and Lockport have built strong, deep teams, and Homewood-Flossmoor is looking for more big things with three state medalists on its roster.

H-F’s Attalia Watson-Castro was the only Southland wrestler to win a state championship last season at the inaugural girls state meet. She is looking for another title and is still dominant, winning recent 135-pound titles at Pontiac and Palatine. Lincoln-Way Central’s Gracie Guarino, a runner-up last season, has helped the Knights’ dual success with some big wins against boys. She’s also chasing the top of the podium.

Joliet Catholic’s Dillan Johnson continues to be the state’s most untouchable wrestler. A junior heavyweight chasing his third state title, he has still not given up a takedown in his career. Johnson (21-0) pinned all six of its opponents last weekend at the Flavin Invite and all four of his opponents at the Whitlatch Invite. He’s hoping to lead the Hilltoppers to another team state title.

Aside from Johnson, there is major strength among the upper weights in the area. Lockport’s Brayden Thompson, an Oklahoma State recruit who is ranked No. 1 in the nation at 182, went undefeated last season and is perfect again. Marist’s Marinopoulos is the state’s top-ranked wrestler at 195. Mount Carmel’s Rylan Breen in Class 3A and Bremen’s Alex Jackson in 2A are also top contenders at 195.

Headlining the middle weights, Rich Township senior Nasir Bailey, a Little Rock recruit, is chasing his fourth state title, including one in Texas, at 138. Mount Carmel junior Colin Kelly is looking for back-to-back titles and is ranked No. 1 at 170. Joliet Catholic’s Mason Alessio, a runner-up last season, is the top-ranked 2A wrestler at 160.

We expect to see some amazing matches between Southland lightweights in the postseason. Mount Carmel’s Sergio Lemley, a Michigan recruit, and H-F’s Vincent Robinson, a North Carolina State recruit, are the state’s two best at 132 and could be headed toward a rematch of last season’s title match won by Lemley. Mount Carmel’s Seth Mendoza, a returning state champion, and H-F’s Deion Johnson are the top wrestlers at 113. Joliet Catholic’s Gylon Sims, meanwhile, is a defending state champ and the top-ranked wrestler in 2A at 120.

Sandburg’s Rocco Hayes (106), Andrew’s Max Siegel (113), Mount Carmel’s Damian Resendez (120) and William Jacobson (182), Marist’s Michael Esteban (120), Lockport’s Jad Alwawi (126) and Logan Swaw (160), H-F’s Jaydon Robinson (145), Lincoln-Way East’s Ari Zaeske (170), Joliet Catholic’s Jason Hampton (113), Oak Forest’s Caden Muselman (132) and Lemont’s Mike Jabaay (170) are major state contenders.

Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.