Wrestling: Scouting regionals, Lake County
Wrestling
Class 3A Stevenson regional
When: Saturday beginning at 9 a.m., semifinals at 11 a.m., championship and third-place matches at 3 p.m. (all times approximate).
Advancement: first-place team advances to team sectional Feb. 24 (site TBA); top three individuals in each weight class advance to Barrington individual sectional (Feb. 13-14).
Teams: Stevenson, Deerfield, Warren, Libertyville, Buffalo Grove, Mundelein, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Waukegan
Top area competitors:
106 - Alex Mitchell (Lib), Alec Nolan (Stev), J.T. Vandervere (Warr)
113 - Brandon Zisman (Stev), Richard Howard (Warr), Marco Rosales (Mund)
120 - Alec Riportella (Mund), Eric Carter (Stev)
126 - Dan Schilling (Lib), Ben Ponto (Stev)
132 - Nathan Resinsdorf (Stev), Grant Zamin (Warr)
138 - Evan Rodriguez (Stev), Will Johnson (Lib)
145 - Corey Weil (Stev)
152 - Brae Cruz (Mund), Sal Potts (Lib), Brandon Hergenreder (Warr)
160 - Joey Gunther (Lib), Nikita Nepomnyashchiy (Stev), Quinn Nonnemacher (Warr)
170 - Juwon Anderson (Stev), Andrew Demos (Warr)
182 - Rakheem Chapman (Warr), Michael Kordek (Stev)
195 - Tyler Harrington (Stev), Zach Khoury (Warr), Jordan McInerney (Lib)
220 - Mark Dunsing (Lib), Cesar Obispo (Mund), Zach Horwitz (Stev), Bryan Nolan (Warr)
285 - Nick Grujanac (Stev), Sergio Sosa (Warr), Mike Beck (Lib)
Outlook: After winning the North Suburban Conference championship for the first time in school history by a mere half a point over Grant last weekend, the host Patriots will try to keep the momentum going with their first regional crown. Deerfield is expected to be Stevenson's biggest obstacle to overcome in the solid nine-team field, while NSC rivals Warren and Libertyville will provide many challenges along the way. "We're focusing on the regionals already. We know it's going to be competitive, and we have some things to work on," Stevenson coach Shane Cook said following the Patriots' NSC title. "All 14 guys have to score, and we have to get bonus points as much as we can." Libertyville senior standout Joey Gunther begins his quest for a top-three medal or better at state after placing sixth as a junior. Gunther takes a sparkling 27-1 record into regionals after rolling to his second straight NSC crown last weekend. Mundelein's Brae Cruz is hoping to begin his bid for a second trip to state in three years as he reached the Class 2A state meet for Vernon Hills as a sophomore. Tyler Harrington has been a great leader for Stevenson and has high hopes as he pursues his second straight trip downstate.
Class 3A Grant regional
When: Saturday beginning at 9 a.m., semifinals at 11:30 a.m., championship and third-place matches at 2 p.m. (all times approximate).
Advancement: first-place team advances to team sectional Feb. 24 (site TBA); top three individuals in each weight class advance to Barrington individual sectional (Feb. 13-14).
Teams: Barrington, Grant, Dundee-Crown, Cary-Grove, Crystal Lake South, Lake Zurich, Round Lake, McHenry, Zion-Benton
Top area competitors:
106 - Juan Arteaga (RL), Spencer Welter (Grt)
113 - Jordan Favella (Grt)
120 - Gage Datlovsky (Grt), Joey Stutzman (LZ)
126 - Christian Kanzler (Grt), Josh Spiwak (LZ)
132 - Noah Drabek (Grt), Sergei Wawrzyniak (RL)
138 - Cristian Coronado (Grt)
145 - Alex Rodriguez (Grt), Max Brummel (LZ)
152 - Kobe Lear (Grt), Tommy Clancy (LZ), Nick Moore (RL)
160 - Mike Kouvelis (Grt), Peter Maretis (LZ)
182 - Joe Greenhill (RL), John Strojny (LZ)
195 - Anthony Mostachio (Grt)
220 - Josh Dyer (LZ), Brad Miller (Grt)
285 - Jack Resnick (Grt)
Outlook: After losing the NSC title to Stevenson by just a half a point last weekend, the host Bulldogs will have their hands full again when they take on Mid-Suburban League runner-up Barrington and Fox Valley Conference runner-up McHenry in this powerful nine-team regional. "Some of our upperclassmen have to step up if we want to win regionals," said Grant coach Ryan Geist, who is trying to guide the Bulldogs to their 22nd regional crown. "We've got to let (the NSC meet) go and move on. Sometimes when you try to win titles, you are going to fail. You are not going to win them all." Noah Drabek, Mike Kouvelis and Christian Kanzler will start the road to what they hope will be a second straight berth to the individual state meet.
Class 2A Vernon Hills regional
When: Saturday beginning at 9 a.m., semifinals at 11 a.m., championship and third-place matches at 2 p.m. (all times approximate).
Advancement: first-place team advances to the team sectional Feb. 24 at Lakes; top three individuals in each weight class advance to Antioch individual sectional (Feb. 13-14).
Teams: Antioch, Vernon Hills, Grayslake Central, Grayslake North, Carmel, Lakes, St. Viator, Chicago Senn, North Chicago
Top area competitors:
106 - Joe Arroyo (GN)
113 - Jake Gross (Ant), Mike Tortorice (Carm), Chase Deatherage (Lakes)
120 - Nathan Dlugopolski (Ant), Brodie Palm (Carm)
126 - Kenny Barber (Carm)
132 - Brandon Suchyta (StV), Jeff Echeverria (VH), Larry Augustine (GC), Bobby Pryhocki (Carm)
138 - Peter Vanderbloomer (VH), Levi Smith (Lakes), Tim Cullinan (StV)
145 - Patrick Schoenfelder (Ant), Anthony Swindell (Carm), Dylan Geick (VH)
152 - Jake Wright (GN), Sam Callahan (Lakes)
160 - Jon Makey (GC), Austin Cloe (GN)
170 - Jared Smith (Lakes)
182 - Zach Fuller (Lakes), Joe McIntyre (StV)
195 - Cody Sawyer (GN), Michael Baxendale (StV)
285 - Joe Blitstein (VH), James Valentino (StV)
Outlook: Lakes shocked a lot of people by winning the regional last winter. This balanced and competitive regional is shaping up to be another one where the team that is crowned champion will have little room for error in what is expected to be a close battle to the finish. Antioch may have the inside track to the title behind the strength of NSC champs Jake Gross and Patrick Schoenfelder, while the host Cougars have great leadership behind Peter Vanderbloomer and Joe Blitstein. Lakes, Carmel and Grayslake Central are dangerous teams, but they may not have the depth necessary to capture the title.
Class 2A Hampshire regional
When: Saturday beginning at 9 a.m., semifinals at 11 a.m. championship and third-place matches at 2 p.m. (all times approximate)
Advancement: first-place team advances to the team sectional Feb. 24 at Lakes; top three individuals in each weight class advance to Antioch individual sectional (Feb. 13-14).
Teams: Wauconda, Crystal Lake Central, Prairie Ridge, Hampshire, Johnsburg, Richmond-Burton, Woodstock, Marian Central, Woodstock North
Top area competitors:
106 - Justin Mitchell (Wauc)
126 - Jose Munoz (Wauc)
160 - Stevie Ciolek (Wauc)
170 - Tyler Stankiewicz (Wauc)
Outlook: It looks like perennial power Crystal Lake Central is going to be tough to beat in this regional after the Tigers placed third in the FVC meet. Wauconda's Jose Munoz looks to take the first steps toward returning to the State Farm Center in Champaign.