MORRIS — Pins came left and right for the Rochelle Hubs as they looked to remain unbeaten in the Interstate 8 during their varsity wrestling match against Morris on Thursday evening. 

The Hubs recorded 10 falls, including seven in a row to close out the match, during their 60-17 win over Morris. Rochelle returned to the mat for a nonconference battle against Sandwich, notching three falls and two technical falls to beat the Indians 53-24. Rochelle (18-6, 3-0 Interstate 8) will travel east for the XLIX Sycamore Invitational on Saturday afternoon.Morris

Senior Kaiden Morris opened Rochelle’s dual against Morris with a victory, notching two takedowns and two near falls before securing a first-period fall over Troy Bauer at 215 pounds. Sophomore Adam Cobos followed with a decisive fall over Logan Boroczk at 285 pounds, using only 21 seconds to give the Hubs a 12-0 lead in the match. Morris claimed its first win at 106 pounds, where Jay Hughes scored a 20-2 technical fall over Hub freshman A.J. Milan.

Morris brought itself within three points after Parker Barry outlasted junior Freddie Hernandez for a 3-1 decision at 113 pounds. Leading 12-9, Rochelle answered with back-to-back falls at 120 pounds and 126 pounds, where freshman Aidan Lopez pinned Elian Mondragon at the 57-second mark and junior Keagan Albers turned a reversal into a pin against Aidyn Taylor.

Morris picked up a key win at 132 pounds, making the score 21-12 after Brock Claypool edged senior Xavier Villalobos for a 7-5 decision after a third-period takedown. Rochelle and Morris exchanged pins over the next two weights, with junior Deegan Schabacker securing a fall over Michael Carvotta at 138 pounds for the Hubs and Carter Skoff hanging on in the final moments of the first period to lock down a fall over Rochelle junior Frank Nasca at 144 pounds.

Sophomore Josh Lassiter extended the Hub lead with a hard-fought pin at 150 pounds, compiling three takedowns and a near fall before earning the fall over Andrew Peterson with just six seconds left in the bout. Junior Brenden Voight and senior Grant Gensler followed with pins at 157 pounds and 165 pounds to seal Rochelle’s dual victory. Voight turned a 7-0 lead into a fall against Jordan Martinez and Gensler turned a 7-0 lead into a fall over Jeffery Martinez.

The Hubs closed out their match with pins at 175 pounds and 190 pounds. Senior Matthew Lynn used a third-period takedown to secure a fall over Aiden Whennen before junior Roman Villalobos built a 7-0 lead before recording a first-period fall in his match against Brian Haish.

Sandwich

The Indians claimed the first bout in their match against the Hubs, taking a 6-0 lead after Luis Murillo’s second-period fall against Adam Cobos at 285 pounds. Rochelle responded with three straight victories starting at 106 pounds, where A.J. Milan capitalized on two reversals to earn a 7-2 decision over Hunter Whitecotton. Freddie Hernandez followed with a strong effort against Dom Urbanski at 113 pounds, totaling three takedowns and a near fall in a 14-1 major decision.

Aidan Lopez put the Hubs ahead 12-6 after dominating Leo Harbacek at 120 pounds, compiling four near falls during his 18-0 technical fall. Sandwich took the next two bouts, with Jakob Gruca and Colten Stone earning falls over Keagan Albers and sophomore Eliud Lombardia at 126 and 132 pounds. Junior Deegan Schabacker notched a second-period fall against Jaxson Blanchard at 138 pounds, taking a 3-2 lead on a first-period takedown before turning top position into a pin.

Frank Nasca gave the Hubs a 24-18 lead with a win at 144 pounds, reversing and pinning Jacob Cassie. Sandwich evened the score after Josh Kotalik scored a third-period takedown and fall over Josh Lassiter at 150 pounds. Rochelle won five straight bouts to close out the match, building a large lead after Brenden Voight’s fall over Josh Lehman at 157 pounds as well as forfeit victories for Grant Gensler and Matthew Lynn at 165 pounds and 175 pounds.

Roman Villalobos kept the Hubs rolling with a dominant showing at 190 pounds, totaling three takedowns and a near fall before locking down a third-period fall over Kaden Clevenger. Kaiden Morris ended the dual with a 19-3 technical fall over Devon Blanchard at 215 pounds, stringing together four takedowns, one near fall and one reversal.