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Fenton takes league championship

Fenton and Riverside-Brookfield have been the class of wrestling since the Metro Suburban Conference expanded in recent years.

Saturday afternoon at Glenbard South High School in Glen Ellyn, Fenton and R-B had four champions apiece to dominate the 11-team field.

Fenton, which captured its fourth straight West Division regular-season championship, prevailed for the tournament team title with an 8-point margin of victory.

Fenton finished with a 243.5 points.

Glenbard South was a distant third, followed by Walther Christian, Elmwood Park, Ridgewood, Aurora Central Catholic, Illiana Christian, IC Catholic Prep, Wheaton Academy and Guerin Prep.

"We had some rough matches early where I didn't think we were ready to go," Fenton coach Brian Hastings said. "I felt like we did a great job later in the day to win some big matches. We had some huge victories from our finalists. A lot of guys really stepped up."

Dan Warren and Nikko Castaneda had the most dramatic of the four Bison championships.

Warren was on the wrong side of three first-period takedowns, but the 138-pound senior abruptly altered his match with a second-period fall against R-B junior Maxx Reese.

"I generally am good on top," Warren said. "I knew if I could tire him out that I could turn him and get the win. After a while, (my opponents) get so tired that I am able to turn them."

Castaneda, meanwhile, seemed destined for overtime in his 160-pound collision with Walther junior Asher Eichert.

But the Bison junior caught his counterpart in a move to secure a takedown in the final second to earn the 6-4 win.

"Seven seconds (remained), we were tied up," Castaneda said. "He tried a shot, and I defended it and got an under-hook. I put him on his back."

Dylan Butts' victory for the Bison in the following weight class almost appeared pedestrian by contrast.

The sophomore improved to 26-5 at 170 pounds on the season after employing a half nelson to secure a second-period fall.

"I wanted to stop it early because I got slammed," Butts said. "I had to keep my cool. I am hopeful to get downstate."

Ryan Mencini almost felt cheated when he captured the first title on the day for Fenton at 126 pounds.

In defending his title, the Bison junior was declared the champion when Walther junior Nick Peterson had to endure his first loss on the season due to illness.

"I would have liked to wrestle (more than one match)," Mencini said. "It would make you feel better (about winning)."

Angel Nava, Joe Garcia and Isaiah Brock dropped championship matches for Fenton at 145, 220 and 285 pounds, respectively.

IC Catholic Prep had the only other local champion in sophomore Joe Bianchini.

In avenging his sole loss of the season, the Knights' 106-pounder had a pair of first-period near-falls in scoring the opening 6 points of the match against fellow sophomore Tommy Russell of R-B.

The cushion was needed as Russell staged a heroic comeback, only to fall 9-7.

Bianchini is 29-1 on the season; Russell fell to 31-2.

"I lost to him earlier in the season pretty bad," Bianchini said. "I got out there and got on the attack. I got my points and was able to dominate (early)."

Mike Bertone had the first opportunity to win a championship for Glenbard South.

But Jesse Ellis' reversal in overtime was the difference for the Illiana junior in the 6-4 final at 138.

The Raiders' Numan Ayhan also had a heartbreaking overtime loss as the 182-pounder surrendered final-second takedown at 182 pounds.

Jordan Drake was unable to score any offensive points for the Raiders' in the 195-pound final.

"It's all about getting downstate now," Glenbard South coach Derrick Crenshaw said. "We have a chance to get some kids downstate for the first time in a while."

Wheaton Academy freshman Rylen Hershey led the Warriors with his fourth-place effort at 106 pounds.

Aurora Central Catholic had eight wrestlers place in the top six in finishing in seventh place.

Tony Cepeda and Chris Pedersen both had third-place falls, at 106 and 182 pounds, to lead the Chargers.

"I won 10-1 and pinned him the second time," Pedersen said of his twin victories over R-B sophomore Carsen Moreno. "I started off kind of slow. I should have pinned (Moreno) the first time instead of winning 10-1.

Cepeda had back-to-back falls after dropping his opener.

"The first round (against Bianchini) I came out as I expected," Cepeda said. "Unfortunately, I didn't get the win. I came out strong after that."

"We started slow and gained momentum as the day went along," ACC coach Randy Glaudel said. "Tony Cepeda, he has really turned the corner for us. He is becoming a high-quality 106-pounder for us. I think we're going to be a handful to deal with (at the Class 1A ACC regional)."

  Mike Bertone of Glenbard South gets inverted during his match against Rocco Caringella of Ridgewood at the Metro Suburban Conference wrestling meet Saturday. This was a 132 pound match. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
  Tommy Russell of Riverside -Brookfield and Rylen Hershey Wheaton compete in a 106 pound match during the Metro Suburban Conference wrestling meet Saturday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
  Joe Bianchini of IC Catholic Prep wins a 106 pound match during the Metro Suburban Conference wrestling meet Saturday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
  Manny Morales of Fenton and Joey Giurini of Riverside-Brookfield dual in the a 113 pound match at the Metro Suburban Conference wrestling meet Saturday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
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