Vernon Hills' Brazil starts, finishes on top
CHAMPAIGN — There isn't a lot of flash or bling in Jeremy Brazil's wrestling approach — but the big man from Vernon Hills knows how to win.
Atop the Class 2A state polls from the beginning to end, Brazil put an exclamation point on his season with a thriling 4-2 win in OT over Seth Gonzalez of Yorkville to not only win a state championship, but also the first individual crown in school history.
In the final match of a long day of wrestling, the senior provided the killer blow with a cat-like move for a reversal to send coach Jerry Miceli airborne. Miceli went aloft once more — when Brazil picked him and gave him a ride moments after the referee had raised his hand.
“You should have seen (Jeremy) when he was a freshman,” said an out-of-breath Miceli, who still couldn't believe what he had just witnessed. But his success came to him because he worked so hard to become the wrestler that he is — and the best part about him is that he is such a great kid.”
Brazil, who went 40-7 last season on his way to a second-place finish, was as relaxed as anyone could be considering the enormity of the moment, taking a look at the match next to him between 3A heavyweights James Buss and Rob Bain when that match drew a big roar from the crowd.
“Yeah I had to look,” said Brazil, “because let's face it, when the fans cheer heavyweights, something good must have been going on.”
“That's Jeremy,” quipped Miceli. “He's so cool, calm and composed, and it showed in that final.
“We were a little nervous because it was so close, but I knew his opponent couldn't deal with his size and strength, and that was the difference.”
Brazil's lone defeat of the year was to Buss in the finals of the Leyden Invite, but even then it didn't faze the state champion. Brazil accepted plenty of handshakes and congratulations on a mini-victory tour down the big floor at the Assembly Hall. Included were Libertyville coach Dale Eggert and many of his athletes; then Brazil met an eager press crew.
“I had to work and wait four years for all of this,” said Brazil, “but the wait was sure worth it.”
Grayslake Central's Joe Valdivia had his hands full in his 195-pound 2A final with one of the nation's best in Gage Harrah (Crystal Lake Central). Though the Tigers senior recorded his second consecutive state title, 6-2, Central coach Dan Catanzaro couldn't have been prouder of his state runner-up.
“Joe might be the best athlete in our state,” Catanzaro said. “He trains just three months a season for this sport, has dealt with injuries each and every season, and is a great football player and state medalist in shot put. Tonight, he fought a great, great wrestler in Gage right to the end, and made him work for his championship. I could not have been prouder.”
Harrah finishes his career with a 166-11 record after a 41-1 season. Valdivia dealt No. 2 seed Jake Davis of Sycamore a damaging loss in the semifinals (6-3) to earn a spot in the finals one year after finishing third at 189.
The area enjoyed some success in the medal race, bringing home 8 in addition to those won by Brazil and Valdivia.
Ÿ Jake Cochrane made his first visit here an enjoyable one as the Carmel heavyweight bagged a fifth-place medal, a day after falling to Brazil in the semifinals 4-0.
“This is my first state medal after taking over the program, and I can tell you that I am very proud to be Jake's coach, and ever happier that he'll be back with us next year for his senior year,” said Corsairs coach Bob Kuykendall.
Ÿ The brilliant career of Dylan Hay (Grayslake Central, (37-11) came to a close after the Grayslake Central senior collected a fifth-place medal at 145 pounds following a 7-6 victory over three-time state qualifier Johnny Major of Burlington Central.
“What Dylan did this weekend is nothing short of sensational,” said Catanzaro. “Just look at that 145-pound bracket. He beat the No. 1 guy on Thursday, lost to the No. 2 guy (Lavion Mays) and No. 3 (Connor Bass of Yorkville) yet stayed composed and calm and came back to win a richly deserved medal. I am really proud of him.”
Ÿ Nate Magiera (195) and Devon Tortorice (125) each were eliminated early Saturday morning in wrestlebacks, the sophomore Magiera (41-9) to John Tomala (40-6) who used his loss to Valdivia in the first-round to help keep him alive. Magiera led the Bulldogs with 21 pins this season.
Tortorice (34-4), a junior whose season ended against Cameron Kennedy (Richmond-Burton) in wrestlebacks, ended his year by recording 110 takedowns for coach Tom Nance and earning a second straight trip to Champaign.
Ÿ Also in 2A, Mike Gussarson and George Gonzalez of Antioch were unable to advance into the medal round. For Gonzalez (34-6) the loss was bittersweet as he hoped to equal or better his fpourth-place finish here a year ago.
Ÿ Jimmy Molitor (Grayslake Central, 36-7) couldn't find a win either, falling out of contention for a medal when Dequence Goodman of Chicago Bowen outlasted the senior 2-1 in his second-round wrestleback.
Ÿ Matt Ornoff (138, 41-1) was injured Friday night and could not compete Saturday yet still was able to collect a sixth-place medal at tourney's end, giving the Mustangs' four-year star his second state medal of his superb career and 153 wins.
“I'll tell you it was hard to see Matt walking in this morning, and having so much trouble doing so because of his injury, it's really too bad that had to happen to him down here,” said Lake Zurich coach Dan Strickler, who has seen Ornoff excel throughout his career.
Ornoff, who is in the upper 15 percent of his senior class and plans to attend either Illinois or Missouri, leaves with the most victories in program history.
Ÿ Scott Hoff continued to shine for Lake Zurich coach Dan Strickler in his final season for the Bears, stunning the state-ranked pair of Jason Valencia (Granite City, 44-11) and Tom Mitrenga (Naperville Central) in consecutive matches during wrestlebacks to ensure a state medal. He placed sixth overall.
“I can't tell you how proud of Scott we all are,” said a beaming Strickler. “This weekend is typical of how his season went for him — and one of the best things about his success was that our entire team was here to cheer him on to his state medal.”
Ÿ Two of the best at their weight in the NSC during the regular season were Shakhiem Chapman (Warren) and Quinton Quarles (Grant). And the sensational pair each carried off a state medal at the end of the tournament.
Chapman (41-3) earned a third place finish after his 6-4 victory over Josh Pruitt of Marist.
“Obviously the goal was to be in that state final tonight, but it is still a wonderful feeling to come away from a bracket like this one with a medal,” said the Warren senior, who wished he could have his quarterfinal bout with Harvard-bound Mike Koran (Joilet West) back; Shakhiem lost 7-6.
Quarles was all smiles after avenging a sectional loss to Max Triveline (Prospect) with a 7-4 victory to send him into the medal round of the consolation bracket. Quarles went on to earn fifth-place honors with an 11-8 decision over Greg Cameron of Plainfield Central.
“I can't tell you how good this feels right now, and how great it is to finish this way, and for my coach (Ryan Geist) who has been right there for me since my freshman year,” said Quarles, who finished the season 40-6.