Scouting Fox Valley area wrestling sectionals
Both Jacobs and Huntley made a valiant run in their attempt to overcome Hononegah last weekend at the Class 3A DeKalb regional, but neither club was able to do so, with the Golden Eagles falling 17 points short of their second consecutive regional title.
"We were close to getting it done, but we were a little weak in a couple of weights this season, and we weren't able to advance in those divisions to earn more points along the way," recounts Jacobs head coach, Gary Conrad. "But the good news is we had five in the finals, celebrated three individual championships, and now we look forward to the sectionals."
Conrad admits strange things happen here, with himself watching in agony the past two seasons as one after another of his athletes were eliminated from the competition.
"We've beaten more quality opponents than ever, including Conant just before the FVC tournament, but you have to step on the mat ready to go this weekend, or your in trouble right from the start," he said.
Let's take a look at the sectionals involving Fox Valley area athletes as they vie for a berth in next weekend's state finals at State Farm Center in Champaign.
Class 3A at BarringtonWhen: Friday, 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. (finals, 1:30 p.m.)
The lowdown: Dominic Swanson and Josh Stenger have been the thunder and lightning in the Huntley lineup this season, and the dynamic duo appear ready to provide plenty of energy for themselves when the Barrington sectional opens up Friday afternoon.
Stenger has shocked many an opponent with his lightning quick moves. He can leave his opponents tumbling, as if dizzy, on his way to yet another victory to help himself and the 2016 FVC champion.
"When I saw myself rated last year, I thought wow, it was such a surprise," Stenger said. "This year there was the same feeling, but as the year has gone on, and I find myself rated No. 7 in the state, and want it to be higher, and there's no reason why I can't do that in the next couple of weeks."
Truth be told, the junior has accomplished more than he will admit, including four tournament championships already this season, including the FVC and regional, plus a trip downstate last year with 40 wins, two of which came at the state tourney.
"Those two losses at state, one in the front draw, and my second which eliminated me were not easy to take, especially that major to end things for me, but you learn from it and move on and I feel like I've done that really well."
Stenger was one victory short of going to Champaign as a freshmen, yet finished with 33 wins, to give him 112 heading into this weekend.
Stenger, who owns two regional crowns to his name, would capture a championship trophy along with Swanson, at Granite City over the holiday break,
His teammate Swanson is your classic what a year a difference makes player after a 21-8 season a year ago, which included a trip to sectionals here in Barrington.
"I've turned things around with a lot of extra work during the offseason, most of it with my dad who has trained kids in wrestling for a long time and just spending a lot of time working with coach (BJ) Bertelsman, who has taught me a lot of one-on-one moves and throws from his experience," says Swanson.
Bertelsman, who won a state heavyweight title at Belleville West has physical and mental pressure up on his star big man, and the extra push has paid off.
"He lets me know what I'm doing right and wrong, and in these last couple of weeks, coach has brought in these 300-pound JV football players to give me guys my size to work with in the room," Swanson said.
It has all paid off for the two-year starter. At one time Swanson was a high as No. 2 in the state; he's currently at No. 4, with a chance to move up in the polls should he successfully walk out of Barrington with championship ring.
To do so, he'll likely meet No. 2, Tony Cassioppi (Hononegah, 37-2) who he is now 1-2 with this year after dropping a 4-0 decision in the final of the DeKalb regional last weekend.
"I've wrestled and beat a lot of state-ranked guys along the way, and have lost a few to those same guys, but that's the way it is as a heavyweight, and at this point, you have to beat the best to get downstate," Swanson said.
Worth the (weight) 113: Beau Harrier (Jacobs, 26-4), Zach Spencer (Huntley, 34-11). The junior Harrier has caught fire in the latter stages of the season, and what a great time to do so. FVC and regional titles give the three-year starter an opening round bye here, and after a tune up Friday night, he is set to face Holden Heller (Deerfield, 36-4) who himself has been on a bit of a tear down the stretch, en route to back-to-back championship trophies at the CSL and regional tournaments to help his club win both team titles. "Beau and Dean (Lane, 160) are both peaking at the right time, and even though each is on the toughest side of their bracket, I know if they wrestle like they have, they'll go through," says Conrad.
138: John Cullen (Cary-Grove, 10-1), Chris Dranka (Jacobs, 29-5). "What is there to say about Cullen other than he's a tough kid," says his head coach, Mike Buhr. "He always seems to find a way to advance, and although the focus is never on the actual bracket, and where he's at in it, we believe he has a chance to make the tournament again to give himself a shot to place." If the senior does so, it would be his third consecutive trip downstate, after a hair-raising experience here last year that saw Cullen come all the way back and through the consolation bracket, needing a 4-2 OT win to stay alive, followed by a nervous 3-2 decision to safely secure his ticket to Champaign.
145: Jacob Sabella (Jacobs, 31-9), Juan Quiroz (Huntley, 28-17). The two FVC rivals are on the top half of this bracket, clearly the toughest side of the two, and with three-time state medalist Andrew Mehrholz (Deerfield, 24-4) just ahead of them, to work their way into the final four will require a little bit of help plus the composure to stay sharp coming back through the consolation bracket.
195: Christian Brunner (Dundee-Crown, 41-0), Michael Bujacz (Jacobs, 28-4), Cadin Koeppel (Cary-Grove, 25-10), Petros Mihalopoulos (Huntley, 29-13). While all eyes will be on the No. 1 man in the state Christian Brunner, the focus for three others from the FVC will be ever present. Brunner never takes an opponent for granted, making him that much more dangerous than most top flight players, but you can bet he'll be extra careful of Jenner Hecox (Harlem, 32-5) who is the last in the line of big-time throwers from the Hecox family, who have shaken the rafters in the Barrington field house with a handful of memorable headlocks, and subsequent pins. The aforementioned trio are on the other side of the bracket from Brunner and Hecox, with Bujacz facing the sophomore Koeppel in the tourney opener, while another highly competent thrower, Mihalopoulos, meets Billy Busse (Lake Zurich) then regional champion Cesar Obispo (30-4) of Mundelein. "Colin has been pretty solid for a sophomore at this weight after missing all of last season with an injury," said Buhr. "He has a great work ethic, and is always willing to put the extra time in to get better." Adds Conrad on Bujacz: "Michael is a dangerous guy, who can pin anyone on any given day, so it's there for him if he wrestles well."
120: Josh Stenger (Huntley, 39-4) vs. Mitch MacTavish (Hersey, 36-3) could be a fun final. While a handful of quality players dot this 16-man bracket, including Khali Johnson (29-1, Zion-Benton) and Alec Riportella (Mundelein, 26-6) it's quite clear this division will be decided when this pair meet for the second time this season late Saturday. Both are returning state qualifiers, while having a little history with each other this season. "It would be great to see him in the final on Saturday. I beat him the first time around (8-3) at the Dvorak, but that was way back in December, and we're both different wrestlers right now," said Stenger.
Class 3A at ConantWhen: Friday, 4:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.(finals at 3 p.m.)
The lowdown: After a strong team performance at the Upstate Eight meet two weeks ago, the expectations of Streamwood head coach Bill Peach to see several of his athletes advancing into this venue were high. Alas, the Sabres as a team struggled at the Lake Park regional, and the lone man from the club still alive is senior, and four-year veteran, Sunny You.
"We were in a tough regional, and even for myself, you feel lucky to get out and continue competing for another week," admitted You, who made it this far last year, despite not being all in at 100 percent.
"I wasn't really focused last year, both mentally and physically, and it showed in some of my results. But I made the commitment to be so much better in every part of my game, and the improvement in my technique, and with the way I attack my opponents have really made the difference," You said.
You says a recent letdown in his UEC semifinal was a quick reminder of how things can go south quickly - and he made sure that feeling lasted just a few short minutes before he turned things around and rebounded with two victories en route to a third-place tourney finish.
"When I'm right, my game is all about attacking, and I did that at the UEC at the end, and leading up to the regional final until running into one of the best in the state (Danny Madonia, Conant) who is so good, that all he allowed me to do was defend. He and (Gabe) Townsell (OPRF) are clearly the top two at our weight so the final two spots are open, and I'll have to get off to a good start on Friday, and be ready for everything else after that," You said.
You, who won 17 a year ago, opens Friday against league rival Stephen MacDonald (Geneva, 20-12) whom he defeated 7-4 in his UEC third-place bout, and would then feed into Scott Pechter (28-12) of Niles West in the second round.
Worth the (weight)160: Leo Martinez (Larkin, 28-10). When you're in a weight class which includes the No. 1 guy in the nation, Isaish White (OPRF) the top spot on the podium is already reserved, making the next three highly sought after. Martinez bounced back from a fourth-place finish at the UEC tourney to get himself into this tournament, and an opening-round bout against Dino Gutierrez (Notre Dame, 21-6) and a chance to meet Prospect senior Bobby Jarosz (25-8) should he win. The Royals' captain is currently tied with Duke Bogicevic and Alex Duran for career varsity wins (66) and also has 36 pins during his time with the big club. "Because of his leadership, Leo is a big reason for the turnaround of our program, which went from 3-15 his freshman year to 15-8 this season," said Larkin head coach Steve Hoyt.
170: Alex Montbriand (Bartlett, 23-7). This division is all about two of the best in the state, Logan Gruszka (Schaumburg) and Rollian Sturkey of Oak Park-River Forest, who should meet in the final, thus leaving the last two spots for a trip to Champaign available to the rest of the bunch, including the Hawks' senior who outdistanced the field at Glenbard North to win his first regional title.
182: Zack Crosby South Elgin, 32-4. The South Elgin senior got this close last winter, only to fall short in his state qualifying bout with Colton Wegner of Glenbard North, suffering a tough 2-0 loss. This season, after a masterful performance at the UEC tourney, followed by another, where he won his division at the Glenbard North regional, the three-year star has set himself up well with a first-round bye, and a winnable match Friday, before taking on Matt Wroblewski (Prospect, 36-0), the fourth-rated 82-pounder in the state. "Zack is wrestling his best of the season, which is good, because you need to be your best in order to make it out of here," says head coach, Mark Cameron of his captain, who went 33-14 a year ago. "We all know what can happen this time of the year, so we're looking to focus on the match ahead of us, and taking every opponent with that same focus."
285: Aaron Marshall (Larkin, 20-7), Eric Corder (Elgin, 14-13). The undersized Larkin big man continues to be the story of the year for the Royals, after surviving at Glenbard North last weekend to earn his first trip to a sectional tournament, and a date with Addison Trail's Karim Fuentes (33-3). There are plenty of heavy hitters in this bracket, with three of the Top 10 in the state all here, including No. 5 Darien Kaufman (Glenbard West, 32-5) whom Corder will face in his opener, but as Marshall has shown, even at 220-plus pounds, anything can and will happen at 285 pounds.
Class 2A at WashingtonWhen: Friday, 4:30 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m. (finals at 1 p.m.)
The lowdown: Mention the name of Washington in this sport, and you're talking about the No. 1 rated 2A team in the state, and the overwhelming favorite to win a state title later this month in Bloomington.
It is also the sight of perhaps the deepest and most talented sectional, as well as the place where Burlington Central and Kaneland happen to be on the guest list.
Both clubs will have a combined (11) here after a quality regional performance at Rochelle one week ago, highlighted by a second-place finish by BC, which was led by sophomore Austin Macias (34-1), who earned his second consecutive regional crown following a sparkling effort at 120 pounds.
"The boys wrestled very well last Saturday, they're all peaking at the right time, and this is when it counts," said a proud BC head coach Vince Govea. "We're going into the weekend with the mindset of taking it one round at a time, with the goal of doing whatever it takes to get into the next round and advance. There's no easy road in wrestling, and at what I believe is the toughest 2A sectional in the state, all of the guys need to be dialed in and ready."
The No. 6 rated Macias is that for sure, as the Rockets' star sophomore is no stranger to success after a sensational rookie year that saw him win championship rings at regionals, then sectionals, which led to a strong start at the state tournament, but a disappointing end.
"I did what you should never do and that was to look past my second-round opponent and at the No. 1 guy (Real Woods, Montini) and that led to a 5-3 loss in the quarterfinals (to Kevin Radcliffe, Rich East) and it cost me, and I was never really mentally in it after that," admits Macias, who won his first match in the back draw with a fall, only to see his season end abruptly with a 7-6 loss in his medal qualifying bout to Ashton Meyers of Quincy Notre Dame the next day.
Nonetheless, the talented Rockets' star registered a 39-3 overall record, not bad for his first year on the big club.
"That is all in the past, and I learned from that experience, so I know this year it's the old one match at a time, and at this sectional, which is so tough, that's the only way to go into the weekend," he said.
"There's a whole new atmosphere in the room this year, guys like Adam Mengel (145) one of our few seniors, is on a mission to succeed, and the rest of the guys in the room really care about how they do, as well as the team, so we're all hoping to continue that this weekend," said Macias.
At Hampshire, there's plenty of optimism as well with first-year head coach Brian Iossi, whose Whip-Purs would shine from the middle of their lineup on up, beginning with junior Casey Allen (132, 27-8), who won his second consecutive postseason crown in as many weeks.
"Looking through the brackets at first glance, I truly believe all of four of my guys have a terrific shot to make it to the big dance," began Iossi. "Casey and Max (McGowan) are on fire, Wylie (Allen) is too determined not to, and at heavyweight with Pawel Barnas, you just never know at that weight."
Weight watching126: Nick Termini (Burlington Central, 29-2): The Rockets' freshman has gotten off to a terrific rookie season, as he comes into this weekend as the No. 9th rated 26-pounder in the state, with a chance to make an imprint on the field should he win his opener here against Vince Washowiak (LaSalle-Peru) to set up a date with No. 4 Savion Haywood (35-4) of Bloomington.
132: Casey Allen (27-8). The Whips' junior is rated 11th in the state, but rising after superb efforts at the FVC and regional tournaments saw him lift the big trophy. "Casey is as tough as nails, and so difficult to score on, and with him being down at 132 where we felt he belonged all along, he is now best suited for a run into the state tournament," says Iossi.
145: Adam Mengel (Burlington Central, 29-8). The BC captain finds himself in the land of giants with no less than five of the top rated players in the state, including No. 1 Hunter Grau (Geneseo, 37-0) who is looking for his second consecutive state crown before heading off to Notre Dame next fall. A first-round win pits Mengal against No. 8 Trevor Watkins (36-1) from Manteno.
152: Wylie Allen (32-3). The senior has been consistently ranked in the Top 10 all season long, and comes in at No. 7. "Two of his losses have been to two other Top 10 guys, and he'll likely have to wrestle one or both this weekend, but he really wants it bad so there isn't much that will stand in his way," said Iossi. Allen leads his brother in pins this season, 14-13, while recording 55 takedowns along the way.
160: McGowan (Hampshire, 30-7). The Whips' senior bounced back from a fifth-place finish at the FVC tournament to climb atop the regional podium last weekend, thus earning a first-round bye and one step closer to the semifinals against either No. 7 Marcus Cook (Peoria, 31-6) or No. 8 Josh Bohne (31-7) from Lincoln-Way West. "Max is on fire as well. He pinned the No. 6 ranked guy this past weekend, who also was the top seed, and avenged an earlier loss to Hayden Patterson (Kaneland) in the final, and he seems to be putting it all together at the right time," Iossi said. McGowan is second on the club with 54 takedowns.
285: Pawel Barnas (Hampshire, 27-12). The big man's division always produces plenty of surprises at this time of the year, and although Barnas may have surprised his opponents at Rochelle, his regional title did not surprise. He is one victory away from a likely showdown with No. 4 Dom Tudor (Peoria Notre Dame, 33-1) who was a 2015 state qualifier. "What can you say about Pawel, except he's one of the hardest workers in the room, who always seems to have a little chip on his shoulder when he goes out there," Iossi said. Barnas wrestled only as a freshman, then came back out for Iossi this year and turned in a dazzling year, his first with the big club. Nine pins, 29 takedowns, and 14 near-falls for the junior.
Class 1A at PrincetonWhen: Friday, 4:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. (finals at 2:30 p.m.)
The lowdown: The third time was the charm for Harvest Christian junior Ricky Lattanzio (132, 19-9) who finally advanced to his first 1A sectional following a second-place finish last weekend at the Aurora Central Catholic regional. Teammate Griffin Ellis (126) will join Lattanzio in Princeton this weekend, while ACC is coming off its first regional crown.
In his opener Friday afternoon, Lattanzio takes on Braysen Singleton (21-6) of Taylor Ridge, with a victory meaning a bout with No. 1 rated and two-time state qualifier, Nolan Baker (37-0) from Byron.
The Chargers from Aurora Central Catholic outscored runner-up Genoa-Kingston (169-123) to in their own regional, and in doing so sent 11 wrestlers through.
"I weighed in (12), there's (11) still alive, and we had three champions and five runners-up, and I feel like we're just getting started," said a proud Central head coach, Randy Glaudel. "Success breeds success, at least that's what we're all hoping around here, and the guys have the absolute perfect attitude about all of this."
ACC's top man, Chris Pedersen, won his first regional crown last weekend, and now finds himself in a deep and talented bunch at 182 pounds, which includes five of the Top 10 rated in the state, including No. 8, Dylan Binion (Erie, 20-2) whom the No. 10 ranked Pedersen would see in the semifinals. On the bottom half of this bracket, Nos. 3, 4 and 9 reside, with Jacob Elsbury (Byron, 35-2) the best of them all.