Ready for their second chance
CHAMPAIGN - Austin Gomez and Matt Rowland had their hopes fulfilled to the fullest on the second day of the Class 3A wrestling finals.
The Glenbard North 113-pounder and the 152-pounder from Willowbrook dropped sectional-final matches last week.
But the duo will have the ultimate chance for redemption Saturday at the University of Illinois' State Farm Center.
Gomez and Rowland captured their semifinal matches on Friday to earn finals berths against the powerful Oak Park-River Forest twosome of Jason Renteria and Walter White.
"I dominated the entire six minutes of the match," Gomez said of his 16-6 major decision over Lockport sophomore Abdullah Assaf.
"I knew I was going to win that match if I kept pushing the pace. (I) can't wait for the rematch (with Renteria). I have been looking forward to it the entire week."
Rowland will also have an opportunity to reverse the results of the Glenbard North sectional finals last weekend.
The Warriors' junior will face White, ranked No. 1 in the nation, for the third time in as many weeks Saturday.
The Huskies' junior is the only wrestler to defeat Rowland this season.
Rowland, also a junior, did not allow Alton 50-match winner Nicholas DeLoach to score in the semifinals.
"I have to attack (White)," Rowland said. "I can't be hesitant."
Glenbard North and Willowbrook each advanced another competitor to the finals.
The Panthers' Luke Greenberg, the DuPage Valley Conference champion at 195 pounds, will face off with East Aurora senior Tim Young, who captured the Upstate Eight Conference title.
Willowbrook freshman Jack Jessen also will have local competition as the sensation will knock heads with Marmion junior Riley DeMoss at 170 pounds.
"It was the most incredible feeling I have ever had in my entire life," Jessen said after his semifinal win over Belleville East senior Matthew Striegel. "I have been dreaming of this moment ever since I was a little kid."
After the Greenberg win at 195 pounds, two Hinsdale athletes made it three straight semifinal victories for local athletes.
Hinsdale South 220-pounder Josh King is 47-1 after a quarterfinal fall and a major decision in the semifinals.
But Matt Allen truly has a unique opportunity at heavyweight.
The Hinsdale Central top-rated 285-pounder can become the third heavyweight to win the title in the last five years not only for the Red Devils' program but also for his family as well.
Jack and Brian Allen won titles in 2011 and 2013.
"That would be pretty amazing," Allen said. "I would be ecstatic (if I won) for a week - and then it would be back to work."
In the Class 2A semifinals Montini advanced half of its 14 weight classes onto the grandest stage.
Real Woods (106 pounds), James Pawelski (126), Dylan Duncan (132), Vince Turk (145), Luke Fortuna (152), Xavier Montalvo (182) and heavyweight Michael Johnson will all compete for state championships.
"(Montalvo) is fast and strong," said Kaneland junior Austin Parks, whom Montalvo stopped in the third period with a technical fall. "He is an all-around good wrestler."