Illinois has another crop of high school wrestling standouts. It’s a group led by standouts who have won big at national and international tournaments and one that’s been supplemented by the development of others who have recently stormed onto the national scene. 

Here’s a look at 15 of the top high school wrestlers to watch this year in Illinois: 

Caleb Noble (Warren Township) — Junior, 113 pounds, Class 3A    

Noble has compiled a 110-6 record over his first two seasons en route to winning two consecutive state titles. He is a Fargo Greco-Roman national champion, a Super 32 champ, and this past summer he represented Team USA in the Greco at the U17 World Championships.  The Arizona State recruit will be looking for his third bracket board in February in Champaign. Noble is the #30 prospect on the 2027 Big Board. 

Dom Munaretto (St. Charles East) — Senior, 120 pounds, Class 3A  

More impressive than Munaretto’s two state titles in his three trips to the Illinois 3A state finals are the two U17 freestyle World Championship belts hanging in his trophy case.  Being a multi-time U17 World champion puts him in some elite company. The future Ohio State Buckeye who holds a 156-4 record to begin his senior campaign also has a chance to add the all-time Illinois high school career wins record to his list of accomplishments, which currently stands at 210. Munaretto is the #17 prospect on the 2026 Big Board. 

Nicholas Garcia (Marmion Academy) — Senior, 126 pounds, Class 3A

The #25 prospect on the 2026 Big Board is a two-time state champion and three-time state medalist. Garcia reached the Fargo freestyle finals in 2025. The Illinois recruit is coming off a title at last weekend’s Dan Gable Donnybrook.  

Zach Stewart (Marmion Academy) — Senior, 138 pounds, Class 3A

State titles do matter.  While Stewart, a two-time finalist and one-time state champ, fell short in his junior campaign, he also had the added challenge of wrestling two weight classes up in Champaign last February. Back at his competition weight, the Super 32 and Ironman placer who is the favorite to take home a second state title this season, began his senior campaign with a decisive title at the Dan Gable Donnybrook.  A strong showing at Ironman will put him back in the thick of the national rankings.

Rocco Cassioppi (Hononegah) — Senior, 150 pounds, Class 3A  

A two-time state finalist and one-time champ, Cassioppi finished 47-2 as a sophomore. He’s coming off a third-place finish at the Super 32 and recently committed to Wisconsin, where he’ll be coached by his older brother and former Iowa standout Anthony Cassioppi. Rocco is ranked 16th on the 2027 Big Board. 

Wyatt Medlin (Washington Community) — Senior, 165 pounds, Class 2A  

Medlin has always been a standout in the Olympic styles. However, in recent years, he has made his mark on the folkstyle circuit as well.  The Illinois commit entered his senior campaign with two Class 2A titles and is the favorite to win a third while currently wrestling at 165 pounds. Medlin also continued Washington Community High School tradition of producing top national level talent with an appearance at Who’s Number One this past October.

Justus Heeg (Providence Catholic) — Sophomore, 157 pounds, Class 2A  

Heeg already has two high school state titles entering his sophomore season. He won his first in Minnesota as an eighth grader before winning an Illinois Class 2A title for Providence Catholic as a freshman. Heeg also took home the Super 32 title this past October. He’s the #4 prospect on the 2028 Big Board. 

Bruno Cassioppi (Hononegah) — Senior, 157 pounds, Class 3A  

Bruno will be joining his twin brother, Rocco, and older brother, Anthony, at Wisconsin following his prep career.  After a strong freshman campaign, which landed him a third-place finish at the state tournament, Cassioppi missed a portion of his sophomore campaign due to injury.  Now back at full form, he’s looking to add a state title to his resume as he navigates one of the deeper weights in Class 3A.

Liam Kelly (Chicago Mount Carmel) — Senior, 165 pounds, Class 3A

Few programs have a richer wrestling tradition than Mount Carmel. Kelly added himself to the Caravan’s list of state champions this past February and finds himself with a national ranking coming into his final campaign. Kelly, a Super 32 placer, will be attending Illinois after his prep career.

Brody Kelly (IC Catholic Prep) — Senior, 175 pounds, Class 2A  

Kelly has continued to develop throughout his high school career. He reached the state finals as a sophomore, won a Class 2A state title this past February and is a favorite to win another for ICCP. Kelly has also found success on the national level, including Super 32, which has earned him a national ranking and the opportunity to continue his career at the college level. The future North Carolina Tar Heel will look to claim a spot in the top 10 as he faces the elite at Ironman this upcoming weekend. 

Jimmy Mastny (Marian Central) — Junior, 190 pounds, Class 2A

Mastny is a two-time state champion in Class 1A. He burst on the national scene with a third-place finish at last year’s Ironman and followed up that success with a Super 32 title this fall. The #12 prospect on the 2027 Big Board recently committed to Iowa State. While Mastny is the favorite to win a third state title this season, with Marian Central’s move up to Class 2A, he finds himself on a collision course with fellow state champion and nationally ranked Jax Penovich in what would be a showcase elite 190-pounders.

Aaron Stewart (Warren Township) — Senior, 190 pounds, Class 3A

101. That is not how many wrestling wins Stewart has had in his career but rather how many touchdowns the two-sport phenom has scored for the Blue Devils in his four years on the high school gridiron. Stewart’s prep record stands at 109-4 entering his senior season. He has two state championships to his credit and will be the favorite of a third in Class 3A, whether he’s competing at 175 or 190. The #16 prospect on the 2026 Big Board is committed to play football and wrestle at Illinois. 

Kai Calcutt (Loyola Academy) — Senior, 215 pounds, Class 3A  

Calcutt is a three-time state finalist and a 2024 Class 3A state champion. He also holds significant national accolades, including multiple placements in Fargo, a U17 finals appearance in Greco and he’s a returning Ironman placer.  He will continue is career at NC State. 

Josh Hoffer (Washington Community) — Senior, 215 pounds, Class 2A  

Hoffer is the second Washington Warrior to find himself in the top five nationally.  He is a returning state champion in Class 2A and a 2025 Greco-Roman national champion.  Hoffer will be attending Illinois next fall. 

Jonathan Rulo (Belleville East) — Senior, 285 pounds, Class 3A  

Rulo enters his senior campaign with a 105-3 record. He burst onto the national scene by winning the 16U triple crown in 2024.  He has since established himself as the premier heavyweight in Illinois. While Rulo’s future ambitions will focus football at the University of Cincinnati, he has the chance to join the all-time elites of Illinois heavyweights with a second state title in his final campaign.