SPRINGFIELD — Rochelle freshman Kaiden Morris was eager to make a statement during the IWCOA Fresh-Soph State Championship meet at the Bank of Springfield Center this weekend.

After falling one victory short of reaching the IHSA State Championship meet earlier this year, Morris set his sights on winning the IWCOA Fresh-Soph State Championship title. The talented 220-pounder cruised through the first two tournaments, earning regional and sectional titles without dropping a single bout. Morris continued to show dominance at the state meet, winning all five matches in the championship bracket to bring home the 220-pound title.

“I really wanted to make it to the IHSA state tournament, but I was really excited when I found out I’d have a chance to compete for the fresh-soph state tournament,” Morris said. “I thought it’d be a great chance for me to compete and I had a fun weekend. I’m planning to continue on with some freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling during the offseason, so I thought this was a good building block for me. I’m hoping to wrestle a few more tournaments this offseason.”

Morris, who went 40-8 during the high school season, began his state title run with three consecutive falls over Lincoln-Way West’s Mick Kavooras, Mt. Zion’s Remington Hiser and Carmel Catholic’s Patrick Lucansky. Morris faced his first challenge of the tournament in the semifinal round, where the standout freshman broke a 1-1 tie with a takedown in the final 40 seconds of the third period to edge Plainfield North’s Leonardo Tovar by 3-2 decision.

Facing off against Stockton’s Michael Haas in the final round Sunday afternoon, Morris took the early lead with a first-period takedown before a quick escape in the second period put him ahead 3-1.Morris successfully rode Haas out for most of the third period, conceding an escape with only 19 seconds left but holding the Stockton wrestler off to win the title by 3-2 decision.

“It’s definitely a confidence booster for me as I work toward next season,” Morris said. “I thought my conditioning improved throughout the season and I really started to believe in myself. I owe a lot of that to my coaches because they push me and they believe in me.”

Morris was one of three Rochelle wrestlers who medaled in the state tournament at the Bank of Springfield Center. Freshman Joseph Nadig took second in the 113-pound bracket, scoring four straight victories in the championship bracket before coming just short in a 3-0 loss against Elk Grove Village’s Grant Madl. Nadig opened the tournament with three consecutive falls over Quincy’s Evan Wakefield, Stevenson’s Yash Jagtap and Lincoln-Way East’s Zach Miller.

Sophomore Tommy Tourdot finished seventh in the 101-pound bracket, winning five total matches including a fall over Downers Grove North’s Tyler Tiangco in the seventh-place bout.  Tourdot also scored falls over Oak Forest’s Dylan Baker, Brother Rice’s Danny Tait and McHenry’s Ryan Hanson as well as a 3-2 decision over Stevenson’s Andrew Chamkin.