STERLING — Jesse Mohica was wrestling at the junior varsity level for most of the Rochelle Township High School season, but the 160-pound sophomore has found a way to take his skills to another level.
After placing third at the IHSA Class 2A Regional in Sycamore and qualifying for the sectional competition in Sterling near the end of the high school season, Mohica has continued to hone his craft in the Illinois Wrestling Coaches & Officials Association’s Freshman/Sophomore State Series. Nicknamed “The Gladiator” by Hubs head coach Rich Harvey, Mohica charged forward at the IWCOA Sectional in Sterling this past weekend, placing third to qualify for the state meet at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield this weekend.
“It felt pretty good,” he said. “I fought hard and never gave up… I just focus in practice and wrestle hard. I like that name and I’d like to keep it.”
Mohica took second at the IWCOA Regional in Morrison prior to Sunday’s sectional tournament. The sophomore won by fall over North Boone’s Ashtyn Gruner in 2:04 before suffering a tough loss to Byron’s Ricky Messling by 10-1 major decision.

But Mohica rallied in the wrestlebacks, winning by fall over Oregon’s Zachary Crandall in 4:11 and earning a 14-11 decision over DeKalb’s Austin Monk to finish third and clinch his spot in the state championships.
“I didn’t really know anything at the beginning of the year technique-wise,” Mohica said. “But when I met Mr. Harvey he helped me improve from top to bottom.”
The state meet will begin on Saturday, March 11 and run through Sunday, March 12. Mohica said he’s excited to head down to Springfield, and he said the most important thing for him to be able to succeed is quite simple.
“I just have to go out there and attack,” he said. “Never give up.”
Sophomores Edwin Vega, Nick Henson, Larry Beck and freshman Keegan Davis also took the floor in Sterling after qualifying out of the regional in Morrison. Henson won by fall over Burlington Central’s Michael Dubanowski in a 285-pound quarterfinal bout, but the sophomore fell to Hononegah’s Paul Fay and DeKalb’s Justin Pedersen in his next two matches to bow out of the sectional meet.
Davis, Beck and Vega fought hard, but were unable to record any victories. Beck’s closest loss came by 4-0 decision to Byron’s Colton Ingram, while Vega’s was a 3-1 decision to Hononegah’s Tate Poole. Davis took Dixon’s Gable Hale to overtime but fell by 7-3 sudden victory.