Conant, Prospect claim regional titles
Mid-Suburban League wrestling champ Conant will represent the league in the dual-team sectional it will host after winning the Schaumburg regional on Saturday afternoon.
The Cougars had five champions in producing a team score of 247, ahead of Schaumburg (206), Lake Park (147), Maine West (117.5) and Rolling Meadows (113.5).
Picking up victories for Conant were Kyle Peisker (113), Danny Madonia (120), Bobby Alexander (132), Griff Rose (152) and heavyweight Tyler LaBarbera.
LaBarbera won a 3-1 OT decision against Schaumburg’s Matt Zolper for the title.
Also advancing to next weekend’s Leyden individual sectional for Conant were Jason Giuliano (2nd at 106), Marcus Williams (3rd at 126), Nicholas Catalano (2nd at 138), Gus Karapanos (third at 145), Daniel Andress (second at 160) and Michael Meier (second at 220).
The host Saxons had their fair share of winners as well. Schaumburg’s champs were Hazen Rice (106), Logan Gruszka (138), Sadarriss Patterson (170) and Matt Stopka (195). Also earning advancement to the individual sectional were Eric Race (2nd at 120), Tony Vezzetti (2nd at 152), Luke Gruzka (3rd at 160), Mike Bruno (3rd at 182), Tyler Alanis (3rd at 220) and Zolper.
Rolling Meadows had a pair of champions, as Nick DelPorte claimed a 19-6 major decision over Maine West’s Kevin Mendoza at 145 and Dardan Kadriu topped Lake Park’s Kenny Jones 6-4 at 182. Other Mustangs gaining a spot in the sectional were freshman Liam Collins at 113 (2nd), senior Lamart Burres at 138 (3rd) and junior Kasey Jauch at 152 (3rd).
Maine West had a champion in Adeel Afshar, who decisioned Lake Park’s Tristan Zabinski 6-4 for a victory at 126. Also advancing for the Warriors were Joey Vogeney (2nd at 170), Brendan Lowe (3rd at 132) and Cameron Burkhardt (3rd at 120).
Elk Grove will be represented at the sectional by Sean Oldenburg, who pinned Conant’s Seungnak Shin in 4:58 in the third-place match at 170 pounds.
at Glenbrook South: Under pressure in the regional hosted by the Titans, Prospect produced.
The Knights had four wrestlers win championships and a host of others finished in the top three to earn individual advancement to the Leyden sectional.
And Prospect’s 210-point total gave it a decisive victory over runner-up New Trier (155) and third-place Hersey (142) to earn the Knights a spot in the dual team sectional semifinals.
Prospect’s champs were senior Mike Ragguci (152), freshman Matt Wroblewski (160), senior Jackson Wrede (195) and junior James Ford (220).
Also advancing to the individual sectional were freshman Vince Lobono (2nd at 106), sophomore Alex Preissing (third at 113), junior Chris Rivera (2nd at 120), senior Sam Lobono (2nd at 138), senior Brian Maigler (2nd at 170) and sophomore Tanner Strobel (2nd at 182).
Hersey had a pair of winners, Grant Warner (132) and Tyler Cooke (285). Mitch McTavish earned a second straight sectional appearance with a runner-up finish at 112; other Huskies to advance were Anthony O’Brien (3rd at 106), Jaylen Shaw (3rd at 138), Tom Somenek (2nd at 152) and Dean Simmons (3rd at 160).
Fremd senior Cody Hauser earned the title at 170 with a 6-2 decision against Maigler. Also advancing for the Vikings were Ahmed Kurtishi (3rd at 152), Alex Jacobs (2nd at 195) and Djameno Ntowe (3rd at 220).
Palatine’s top effort came from senior Juan Guajardo, who was second at 132. The Pirates got third-place efforts from Mikalos Jackson at 145 and from Jason Lopez at 182.
Wheeling also had three competitors advance: Rick Muro (2nd at 126), Johny Carvajal (3rd at 120) and Juan Hernandez (3rd at 285).
Class 2A at Wauconda: Lakes edged Antioch for the team title 177-162.5, and St. Viator had a trio of competitors advance to the individual sectional that will be hosted by Lakes next weekend.
St. Viator junior Brandon Suchyta made the championship bout at 145 pounds, where Lakes’ Max Hill won by fall in 2:54, and freshman Tony Valentino placed third at 220 pounds.