Wheaton North looks strong as postseason draws closer
Time is definitely running short in the wrestling regular season, with the DuPage Valley Conference meet just two weeks away.
Both Wheaton North and host Naperville North learned Friday how they are progressing toward the postseason in the Falcons' 51-16 dual-meet victory.
"What I have liked is we have remained consistent," said Falcons coach Travis Cherry. "I have been stressing to them to remain consistent - wrestling less than six minutes, finishing your moves."
Wheaton North won 11 of 14 matches, six by fall. The competition started at 160 pounds with Micah Volle earning the first fall in 2:50. Other Falcons earning that distinction were George Roskuszka (182 pounds), Jamie Suarez (113), Jaylin Griffin (120), Duncan Nelson (145) and Devin Donovan (152).
Wheaton North jumped out to an 18-0 advantage before Naperville North's Chris Zang (220) won by fall, Mitch Szymel (285) by forfeit and Lucas Van Pouke (106) prevailing by major decision to draw the Huskies to within 18-16.
Both the Falcons' ranked wrestlers earned victories. Junior Dylan Thurston, ranked No. 2 in one poll at 132, won his match 6-2. Donovan, a sophomore, is also No. 2 at 152.
Thurston finished fourth in the state at 126 last season. "I have a lot more confidence," he said. "Last year I was just happy to qualify for the (state) finals."
Donovan led his match from the start before earning a fall at 2:56.
"I think I'm wrestling pretty well and my conditioning is good," Donovan said.
Wheaton North competes at the Batavia Tournament on Saturday that has a handful of top 10 teams.
"I think we can take a top-three spot at conference," Cherry said. "Glenbard North is always a powerhouse. I think it will also be a battle with Naperville Central, Naperville North and Lake Park."
As for Naperville North, coach Tom Champion said Wheaton North was the better team. But he believes his team, with a lineup of mostly juniors and lowerclassmen, is not that far off from where he wants it to be with the postseason looming.
"I think our regional is up for grabs. Every team needs to work on something," he said of the Feb. 7 competition at Batavia. "Tonight some of the kids earned first-period points and then lost in the third. That can be fixed. We wrestle (Saturday at the Margaret Flott Invitational at Kaneland) and I told them tonight to quit worrying about the score and just wrestle.
"With seven juniors and two, three freshmen in the lineup, we are wrestling for next month, next year. If I didn't believe that, I would have them working."