Glenbard North makes it 17 straight in DVC

Glenbard North had its latest DuPage Valley Conference championship secured before the finals even started.

But the Panthers' runaway victory - the 17th in succession for the storied program - became even greater after nine of their 11 finalists claimed victory in the championship round.

Glenbard North, whose nine champions have accumulated 16 total league titles, scored 301 points in the six-team field Saturday afternoon in Naperville.

Wheaton North was a distant second with 176.5 points, followed by Naperville Central, host Naperville North, Wheaton Warrenville South and Lake Park.

"That was Glenbard North wrestling at its best," Panthers coach Mark Hahn said. "They came ready to wrestle. We're right where we're supposed to be (for the state series)."

The Panthers claimed the opening five weight classes, from 106 to 132 pounds.

Austin Gomez and Patrick Augustyn had back-to-back falls in their finals at 113 and 120 pounds after Kirk Johansen had an almost equally dominant win - 15-2 - in the opening match at 106 pounds.

A common theme for the Panthers' program this season is the lingering sting from dropping a 27-26 decision to Conant in the Class 3A team sectional final last year.

"(The loss) sure left a bad taste in my mouth," Hahn said. "I'm sure it did for a lot of the guys."

"We want to redeem ourselves this year," said Augustyn, who ended his match 43 seconds into the third period. "We will, we will."

"I know guys are going to be coming after me," said Johansen, the top-ranked 106-pounder in the state. "I just have to keep wrestling my way."

Lake Park senior Mark Badger had the first points in the 113-pound final, but Gomez, ranked second at the weight, took command soon afterward.

"There was no motivation (after Badger scored first)," Gomez said. "I just had to keep my composure."

Mike Milan and Phil Partipilo then extended the Panthers' run to five straight titles with narrow wins at 126 and 132 pounds.

The latter needed overtime to turn back Wheaton North junior Dylan Thurston.

Glenbard North ended its one-sided triumph by capturing four of the final five weight classes.

Jimique Davis and Colton Wegner had back-to-back championship pins at 170 and 182 pounds for Glenbard North.

"(The loss to Conant) was a huge motivation for me this season," Wegner said. "I think about it all the time before I'm about to go out on the mat."

Davis' second-period fall was his third DVC championship.

Luke Greenberg scored the only point of the 195-pound class with a second-period escape to earn the Panthers' penultimate championship.

Kyle Neal then stopped Naperville North senior Mitch Szymel in the heavyweight final for the last Glenbard North title.

The other five schools had one champion apiece.

Wheaton North senior Micah Volle had all the offensive points in his 160-pound victory.

Naperville Central senior Ben Williamson became the lone third-seed to win a title as the two-time state qualifier upended defending champion Qarin Johnnic of WW South with a 6-point unanswered run in the third period at 138 pounds.

"I knew I had to get up (for the escape) and take him down," Williamson said. "(Johnnic) rode me out for the win at our (regular-season) dual."

Williamson secured the 8-2 win with a near-fall in the waning seconds.

WW South senior Andrew Ives has had some nagging injuries this season.

But Ives' unbeaten streak was extended to 22 matches with his 7-5 win over Wheaton North top-seed Devin Donovan at 152 pounds.

"I had fun today," Ives said.

Jackson Schoen gave Lake Park its championship at 145 pounds with a whitewash over Glenbard North junior Brandon Fierro.