SYCAMORE — The Rochelle Hub varsity wrestling team turned in a strong performance at the XLVIII Sycamore Invitational on Saturday, finishing fourth out of 26 schools with 361.5 points. The Hubs (18-6, 3-0 Interstate 8) saw seven individuals medal with top-8 finishes in the event.

Junior Xavier Villalobos (30-1) took second in the 126-pound division, winning four matches in the tournament. Villalobos opened the tournament with back-to-back falls over Hononegah’s Evan Musil and Peotone’s John Meneses to reach the championship bracket. Villalobos earned a fall over Normal’s Ethan Cavallo and an 11-1 major decision over Belvidere’s Geren Stapleton to reach the final round, where he conceded an 8-3 decision to Rock Island’s Daniel McGhee.

Junior Kaiden Morris (30-3) took second in the 215-pound division, winning four matches including three matches by fall. Morris began the tournament with falls against Bloomington’s Chet Swank and Rock Island’s Kevin Mayeres to reach the championship bracket. Morris reached the finals with a fall over McHenry’s Brody Lidbury and a 10-6 decision over Hononegah’s Isaak Smith. Morris conceded a fall to Normal’s Cooper Caraway in the finals.

Senior Tommy Tourdot (22-3) finished fourth in the 120-pound division, earning a bye through the preliminary rounds before going 1-2 over three matches in the championship bracket. Tourdot recorded a 2-0 decision over Mahomet-Seymour’s Colton McClure before conceding a 6-4 decision to Sycamore’s Tyler Lockhart and a 7-0 decision to Lyons Township’s Griff Powell.

Junior Grant Gensler (27-5) finished fourth in the 165-pound division, winning his first two bouts before bowing out with two losses. Gensler notched a 12-1 major decision over York’s Michael Grazzini and a 7-0 decision over Peotone’s Ian Kreske to begin the tournament. Gensler then conceded a fall to Hononegah’s Connor Diemel and a fall to Bloomington’s Maddox Kirtz. 

Sophomore Roman Villalobos (22-12) finished fourth in the 175-pound division, winning his first three matches of the day. Villalobos scored a 7-5 decision over Tolono Unity’s Thayden Root as well as a fall over Marengo’s Owen Bills and a 15-5 major decision over Hampshire’s Aiden Rowells. Villalobos bowed out with losses against Sycamore’s Cooper Bode by 8-1 decision in the semifinals and Hononegah’s Kurt Smith by 13-3 major decision in the third-place match.

Sophomore Keagan Albers (18-14) took fifth in the 113-pound division, winning three matches including two in the consolation bracket. Albers notched a preliminary-round fall over Nazareth Academy’s Charlie Dvorak before losing by fall to Rock Island’s Truth Vesey in the quarterfinals of the championship bracket. Albers concluded the day with a 12-4 major decision against Hampshire’s Lou Jensen and a fall over Tolono Unity’s Travis McCarter in the fifth-place match.

Senior Brock Metzger (24-3) took fifth in the 190-pound bracket, winning four matches including two in the consolation bracket. Metzger’s preliminary round included a 10-0 major decision over Normal’s Mason Caraway and a fall over Portage’s Kane Chapell. After a loss by 4-2 decision to Bloomington’s Kenner Bye in the quarterfinals, Metzger ended his day with a 9-1 major decision over Marengo’s Maverick Quatroke and a fall over Wheaton North’s Milo Saenz Palencia.

Sophomore Freddie Hernandez (23-9) finished 10th in the 106-pound division, winning three matches including two in consolation action. Hernandez’s victories included an 8-6 decision over Bloomington’s Jaylen Sandy in the prelims as well as a 9-1 major decision over Sycamore’s Charlie Olson and a 9-4 decision against York’s Tommy Conners. His losses included a 4-3 decision to Mahomet-Seymour’s Lukas Altstetter and a 6-2 decision to Portage’s Cole Beckett.

Sophomore Deegan Schabacker (11-15) took 11th in the 132-pound bracket, recording two wins including a fall over Sycamore’s Noah Carlson and an 8-2 decision over Normal’s Austin Chisel. Freshman Josh Lassiter (12-15) took 17th in the 138-pound bracket, notching two victories including a fall over Peotone’s Jordan Kamide and a 2-0 decision over Hampshire’s Samuel Beaton. Freshman Angel Hernandez (7-14) finished 20th in the 144-pound bracket and junior Matthew Lynn (6-16) finished 22nd in the 157-pound bracket to round out the Rochelle roster.