Fifteen Area Wrestlers Win In Round One At State

Wrestlers from Olympia, PORTA, Rochester, SHG, and Glenwood advance to quarterfinals.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The opening round of the IHSA 2026 state wrestling tournament is complete, and 15 wrestlers from the local area have advanced to the quarterfinals after winning their first-round matches. The wrestlers come from schools such as Olympia, PORTA, Rochester, SHG, and Glenwood.

Why it matters

The state wrestling tournament is a prestigious event that showcases the top high school wrestlers in Illinois. Having 15 local wrestlers advance to the quarterfinals is a significant achievement and highlights the strength of the wrestling programs in the area.

The details

In Class 1A, the wrestlers who won their first-round matches and advanced are: Connor Collins (Olympia, 106 lbs), Coyt Radamaker (PORTA, 106 lbs), Brandon Gaither (Olympia, 113 lbs), Kainin Fillbright (PORTA, 120 lbs), Zach Bryant (PORTA, 144 lbs), Justin Zimmerman (PORTA, 165 lbs), James Escobar (Rochester, 165 lbs), and Casen Lyons (SHG, 190 lbs), Darian Holloway (Olympia, 285 lbs). In Class 2A, the wrestlers who won and advanced are: Cooper Clarke (Glenwood, 106 lbs), Pierce Bultmann (Glenwood, 113 lbs), Jaxon Ferguson (Glenwood, 120 lbs), Dashawn Armstrong (Jacksonville, 126 lbs), Bryce Bryant (Springfield High, 157 lbs), and Cody Moss (Glenwood, 285 lbs).

  • The opening round of the IHSA 2026 state wrestling tournament was completed on February 19, 2026.

The players

Connor Collins

A wrestler from Olympia High School who won his 106 lb first-round match at the IHSA 2026 state wrestling tournament.

Coyt Radamaker

A wrestler from PORTA High School who won his 106 lb first-round match at the IHSA 2026 state wrestling tournament.

Brandon Gaither

A wrestler from Olympia High School who won his 113 lb first-round match at the IHSA 2026 state wrestling tournament.

Kainin Fillbright

A wrestler from PORTA High School who won his 120 lb first-round match at the IHSA 2026 state wrestling tournament.

Zach Bryant

A wrestler from PORTA High School who won his 144 lb first-round match at the IHSA 2026 state wrestling tournament.

Justin Zimmerman

A wrestler from PORTA High School who won his 165 lb first-round match at the IHSA 2026 state wrestling tournament.

James Escobar

A wrestler from Rochester High School who won his 165 lb first-round match at the IHSA 2026 state wrestling tournament.

Casen Lyons

A wrestler from SHG High School who won his 190 lb first-round match at the IHSA 2026 state wrestling tournament.

Darian Holloway

A wrestler from Olympia High School who won his 285 lb first-round match at the IHSA 2026 state wrestling tournament.

Cooper Clarke

A wrestler from Glenwood High School who won his 106 lb first-round match at the IHSA 2026 state wrestling tournament.

Pierce Bultmann

A wrestler from Glenwood High School who won his 113 lb first-round match at the IHSA 2026 state wrestling tournament.

Jaxon Ferguson

A wrestler from Glenwood High School who won his 120 lb first-round match at the IHSA 2026 state wrestling tournament.

Dashawn Armstrong

A wrestler from Jacksonville High School who won his 126 lb first-round match at the IHSA 2026 state wrestling tournament.

Bryce Bryant

A wrestler from Springfield High School who won his 157 lb first-round match at the IHSA 2026 state wrestling tournament.

Cody Moss

A wrestler from Glenwood High School who won his 285 lb first-round match at the IHSA 2026 state wrestling tournament.

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What’s next

The wrestlers who won their first-round matches will compete in the quarterfinals on Thursday night at the State Farm Center.

The takeaway

The strong performance by local wrestlers in the opening round of the IHSA state tournament showcases the talent and dedication of high school wrestling programs in the area. These 15 wrestlers have an opportunity to continue their success and potentially bring home state championships for their schools.