CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Rochelle wrestlers Elias and Nehemiah Andronic faced off against the best youth athletes in the nation during the 2024 USA Wrestling Kids Nationals this past weekend. Elias Andronic finished as a national champion in both freestyle and greco-roman wrestling, while Nehemiah Andronic earned All-American honors in greco-roman wrestling.

Freestyle

Elias Andronic went 4-0 over four bouts in the 8U 56 Division. Andronic opened the freestyle tournament with 10-0 technical falls over Missouri’s Noah Curbelo and Georgia’s Daniel Yun. Andronic scored an 11-4 decision over Arizona’s Dawson Willford in the semifinals before notching a final-round fall against Minnesota’s Owen Sorensen to clinch the national title.

Nehemiah Andronic went 1-2 over three bouts in the 10U 71 Division, defeating Iowa’s Tobias Solinger with a 10-0 technical fall. 

Greco-Roman

Elias Andronic went 3-0 over three bouts in the 8U 56 Division. Andronic recorded a first-round fall over Florida’s Leo Tryfus before scoring a 9-0 technical fall against Arizona’s Dawson Willford. Andronic won the title with an 8-0 technical fall over Wyoming’s Ryker Layher.

Nehemiah Andronic finished fourth in the 10U 71 Division with a 4-2 record over six bouts. Andronic’s victories included a 16-7 technical fall over Iowa’s Graeme Lockhart as well as a 36-second fall over Tennessee’s Kash Harrison and a 10-2 technical fall over Missouri’s Ira Samm. Andronic’s fourth and final win was an 8-0 technical fall over Iowa’s Braxton Irvine.