Fremd's Jacobs, Barrington's Guhde win sectional titles
Fremd's Alex Jacobs and Barrington's Max Guhde have completed their postseason wrestling trifecta.
And as sectional champs Saturday at Barrington, they've earned coveted top-four seeds in the Class 3A state tournament, which begins Thursday at State Farm Arena in Champaign.
Jacobs, ranked No. 3 by IllinoisMatmen.com, sure looked the part of a state finalist after a marvelous effort in his 220-pound final with Blake Zalapi (Rockton Hononegah, 36-5), which ended with a well-orchestrated pin, his second over the No. 2-rated Zalapi.
Guhde joined Jacobs as a Mid-Suburban League, regional and now sectional champion after his 4-2 OT win over Justin Gilich of Grant.
Guhde will have plenty of Broncos company in Champaign - Markus Hartman (126), Nick Zawisza (145) and Jake Meyer, who came out of a deep and talented field at 152 which included Wheeling junior Jaylen Shaw, who finished second against No. 3 Fernie Silva of Hononegah.
Wheeling sophomore Mason Skloot (113) earned a second straight state appearance, while Fremd senior Aaron Cortez (195) will make his first trip downstate following a quality two days that ended with a fourth-place medal.
Hersey senior and four-time sectional qualifier and 2015 state qualifier Mitch MacTavish (120, 37-5) saw his superb career cut short when he was eliminated in an 8-6 decision to Lucas Busse (McHenry) in his state-qualifying bout.
Jacobs (35-1) and Zalapi completed an opening period that seemed more like a chess match than a wrestling bout. But the Vikings senior slowly built up a head of steam until putting one of his chief state-level rivals onto his back, quickly closing him out moments later at 4:52.
"I knew from our first meeting that Blake had a good gas tank, but I've worked to have one of the best," said Jacobs. "So my movement and fakes were starting to come together, and when the opportunity to strike was there, I went for it."
Jacobs' lone defeat of the year was came to top-ranked Eric Johnson of Plainfield East, who won a sectional title at Bolingbrook on Saturday.
Guhde (39-4), a sectional qualifier a year ago but at 182 pounds, slowly grinded his way his opponents beginning on Friday afternoon, defeating once-beaten Dean Lane (32-2) of Jacobs in the semifinals before putting away Gilich with a takedown in the first extra session.
"I've pushed myself hard ever since sectionals here last year and put a lot of time in during the off-season to give myself a chance to get downstate," said Guhde, who also defeated Gilich last weekend in the final of the McHenry regional.
Hartman (38-6) faced three-time state qualifier Christian Kanzler (36-2) for a second consecutive week, and once again the Grant senior came out on top, this time with a 2-1 victory.
"Markus is a very tough opponent, and it's always hard to wrestle someone for the second straight week in a final, so I just tried to play it safe and be smart, because winning a sectional title is so important for next weekend at state," Kantzler said.
Zawisza, a senior, grabbed the fourth and final state spot at 145 after winning his wrestleback opener by fall and following up with a 12-5 triumph over Mid-Suburban League rival Andrew Lara (28-10), who last weekend captured a regional title at Glenbrook South.
Zawisza, who was 1-5 in his few matches with the big club, will head downstate with a 39-13 record after dropping a 10-2 major decision to Cole Berg (36-5) of Grant for third-place honors.
Skloot (29-11) was thrilled to be heading downstate for a second time, despite needing to endure wrestlebacks to do so.
"I didn't have a very good start at this tournament," he said.
Skloot dropped his opener to Huntley's Zach Spencer before getting pins in his next two matches before beating Beau Harrier (Jacobs) his state-qualifying contest.