Senior Mikey Caliendo of Batavia High school captured the 160-pound State wrestling championship Saturday in the special Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA) 3A tournament in Springfield at the Bank of Springfield Center.
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) decided in the Spring that theCOVID-19 pandemic would not allow its annual State tournament.
The IWCOA organized regional, sectional, and State tournament competition open to every wrestler in the State. Finding suitable tournament sites and soothing every wrinkle by IWCOA members and volunteers proved difficult, however the organization was up to the task.
The Batavia High School girls found success, and according to sources would have been team champion based on results if team results had been kept.
Caliendo, a senior, in essence, produced the first Batavia High School State wrestling champion.
He won matches by lopsided, convincing scores. In the championship match he defeated Minooka High School’s Jack McClimon, 15-4, in a major decision. Caliendo moved to an early 9-1 lead.
In a semifinal bout, Caliendo defeated Zach Bateman of Carl Sandburg, 14-4, in a major decision. Earlier, Caliendo defeated Patrick Downing of Glenbrook south by pin in 1:52. In the quarterfinal match he defeated Colin Kelly of Chicago Mount Carmel by pin in 2:00. Batavia has had a wrestling program for 63 years and has its first State champion.