Montini has a big day
Some of the top wrestlers in the state from a variety of teams were on hand at Saturday's Class 3A regional at Downers Grove South, but one team again flexed the most muscle.
Montini, the only team to win the state's Class 2A title since the sport expanded to three classes in 2007-08, competed in its first 3A regional and used six champions and nine sectional qualifiers to top the nine-team field with 217 points. Downers Grove South finished third at 147.5 points and will send seven wrestlers on to the next round.
"We just did a great job all the way around," Montini coach Israel Martinez said. "Our four freshmen all placed top four. One first, one second, one third and one fourth. It was unfortunate one of them didn't qualify out, but they all did great."
While the newcomers helped the Broncos score some key points, the team's veteran all-staters also did their part, and the squad even got a boost when football player John Embrey joined the program this week to fill a void at the heavyweight spot. Embrey didn't place but he did score 11 team points by reaching the semifinals.
Sophomore Joey Melendez routed Downers Grove North's Nate Cummings 23-10 for the title at 106 pounds as Montini started the championship round strong, picking up titles at 106, 113, 126, 132 and 138, and qualifying with a third-place finish at 120 pounds after Nicky Amato recorded a pin.
Melendez, a sophomore, is 37-4 on the year.
"I was pretty much in control," he said after picking up nine takedowns in the finals. "We learned that you want to keep putting points on the board. Even if you're up by a lot of points you can't let up. I felt pretty good."
At 113 Real Woods, a state champ a year ago at 106, remained perfect this season with a pair of pins and an injury default victory in the final. The Broncos sophomore seems as excited about his team's chances of winning a 3A title as he is of picking up another individual crown.
"I told someone at the beginning of the year that this team was going to excel," the 36-0 Woods said. "That's our only choice, especially at Montini with our coaching. I'm never really worried about who I have (to face), but I'm always aware."
Fellow returner state champ Dylan Duncan won the 132 regional title for the Broncos by following a pair of pins with a technical fall over Lyons Township's Tyler Zeman in the championship bout. Jim Pawelski (126 pounds), Will Lewan (138) and Matt Ortiz (152) also earned titles for Montini.
Willowbrook's dynamic duo of senior Matt Rowland and Jack Jessen kept up their great campaigns. The two state runners-up from last year were mighty strong while claiming regional titles. Rowland had a trio of pins - including one of Downers South's Ramarro Lamar in the finals - to improve to 47-1, while Jessen, a sophomore at 182, also improved to 47-1.
"I had one little messup at the Dvorak (meet), and I lost to a Florida kid," said Rowland, who is unbeaten against Illinois wrestlers. "But Jack and I are definitely a good duo."
Glenbard East senior 120-pounder Nolan Vincent picked up the Rams' lone title after winning by fall three times. He's 34-4 on the year.
"Last year I actually didn't end up wrestling (at regionals)," he said. "I had a concussion a week before regionals. So this was my first regional since fifth grade.
"It's been injury after injury after injury, so today I was pretty pumped up."
Hinsdale Central heavyweight Matt Allen, who will follow two older brothers to Michigan State to play football, picked up his third regional crown with a 3-1 defeat of Downers South's Zach Muller. Allen, second in the state a year ago, is now 40-1 on the year.
The host Mustangs picked up championships from Tyree Johnson at 145 and Sergio Villalobos at 195.