Wrestling: Scouting Lake County
NORTH SUBURBAN CONFERENCELake ZurichCoach: Dan Strickler (24th season)
Last year's record: 15-7 overall, seventh in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Pete Baldaccini
Top returning competitors: seniors Nick Swanson (132/138), Maxx Wayne (126/132), Derrick Juarez (145/152), Kyle Fleming (195), Billy Busse (182), Josh Dyer (220/285), Eric Brown (220/285), Nate Bass (182); juniors Joey Stutzman (138/145), Josh Goldberg (160/170)
Key newcomers: juniors Joe Trudeau (132), Matt Grom (152), Nick DiMaggio (160) Ian Fitzgerald (285); sophomores Justin Wollard (106), Jason Wollard (113), Ian McGee (120), Vince Tursi (138), George Gritsonis (145)
Outlook: With only one key senior lost to graduation, the Bears should have an experienced nucleus to build around as they embark upon the long and grueling 2016-17 season that awaits them. As usual, Lake Zurich will have many difficult obstacles to overcome in the newly-aligned NSC. But the Bears will still be facing many of those familiar opponents and rivals that they were so used to challenging from their previous NSC Lake Division.
LibertyvilleCoach: Dale Eggert (30th season)
Last year's record: 10-12 overall, 3-3 in Lake Division, 5th in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Mike Beck, Will Johnson, Mike Hogan, Kyle Smith, Brian Vickers
Top returning competitors: seniors Alex Mitchell (113, state qualifier, two-time NSC champ), Jack Damenti (152, sectional qualifier), Drew Onufer (120), Ryan Cleary (182), Adam Koziol (220); juniors Tyler Padilla (160), Will Bertaud (138); sophomores Michael Gunther (132), Brandon Murphy (113)
Key newcomers: senior Konnor Lindsey (195); sophomores Peter Kafkis (106), Peyton Sartin (145), Ryan Damenti (160), Bennett Whitney (170); freshmen Ian Riley (106), Danny Pucino (126), Brian Stacy (138)
Outlook: The Wildcats have some top-notch individuals to fall back on this season, including Alex Mitchell who is poised to have a great senior year with a berth to the historic 80th Annual IHSA state wrestling meet clearly in his sights. Now the task at hand for Libertyville will be to get its top wrestlers to advance as far as possible in the state series while successfully developing some of the inexperienced weights as the new campaign unfolds. This marks the 30th year for Hall of Fame coach Eggert, who enters the season with a 532-136-2 career record, including 95 state qualifiers.
MundeleinCoach: Mark Stewart (second season)
Last year's record: 11-10 overall, eighth in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Alec Riportella (state medalist), Cesar Obispo, Kamil Olechno, George Konstantinidis.
Top returning competitors: seniors Marco Rosales (120), Alex Hendon (152); junior Dane Durlacher (106/113); sophomores Reese Durlacher (106/113), Logan Kvien (160/170), David Preston (182/195)
Key newcomers: juniors Agustin Cirilo (126/132), Ivan Muniz (152); sophomores Shameir Austin (160/170), Maliki Nunez (132/138), Erik Santoya (132/138), Carlos Marchan (138/145); freshman Jason Guadarama (195/220)
Outlook: The Mustangs are super-young and inexperienced according to coach Stewart, but they have a lot of talent in their wrestling room. On paper, Mundelein looks like it is a middle of the pack type of team in the newly-aligned, eight-team NSC. If the Mustangs can stay healthy and at their proper weights, Stewart believes his squad has a bright future ahead of them.
StevensonCoach: Shane Cook (11th season)
Last year's record: two-time defending NSC champions, second in regionals (lost tie-breaker to Deerfield)
Top graduated seniors: Michael Kordek (state qualifier, University of Northern Iowa), Alec Nolan, Nick Grujanac, Jared Bukowski
Top returning competitors: seniors Dylan Geick (160, fourth in Class 3A), Nikita Nepomnyashchiy (170, state qualifier, NSC champ), Robert Pavlovics (182, state qualifier), Eric Carter (145, 2015 state qualifier), Brandon Zisman (138); sophomores Tommy Frezza (113, sectional qualifier), Max Gomez (195)
Key newcomers: senior Jake Simon (152); juniors Michael Karp (126), Charles Longsworth (220); sophomores Anand Baatbatar (285), Matthew Zimring (120), Nick Lyubenko (132); freshman Andrew Chang (106)
Outlook: After winning their second NSC crown in school history last winter, the Patriots are being pointed towards by many people as the team to beat again in the newly-aligned NSC as well as overall in Lake County this season. With the new Northern Lake County Conference intact for the 2016-17 campaign, Stevenson will only be facing arch rival Grant in non-conference action on the wrestling mat. But the Patriots will still see a lot of familiar opponents like Libertyville, Warren, and Mundelein as the new season unfolds. With only eight teams in the NSC now, and eight teams in the NLCC, the conference champions will be based on the dual-meet records. Then on Jan. 27-28, there will be a new, two-day Lake County Invite at Zion-Benton with 14 teams from the NSC and NLCC competing. Antioch and Grayslake North will not be in the tourney this year due to previous commitments.
WarrenCoach: Jake Jobst (second season)
Last year's record: 17-3 overall, third in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Sergio Sosa (state qualifier), Zach Khoury, Brandon Escamilla (Harper), Chris Presberg
Top returning competitors: seniors Grant Zamin (145, state qualifier, NSC champ), Andrew Demos (195), Chris Love (170), Richard Howard (120), Nick Burke (152), Jared Pompilus (195), Kendell Bell (152); juniors Keyante Howard (120), J.T. VanderVere (120), Ryan Thomas (126), Jariston Clarke (152)
Key newcomers: seniors Ronnie Rightweiser (285), Brandon Hergenreder (170), Tyler Gano (220); juniors Kelvin Cupay (160), Ornell Napier (145), Jack Moen (170); sophomore Austin Nash (106)
Outlook: With leaders like Zamin, Demos, and Love in the fold for their senior years, the Blue Devils are really hoping to make some noise again this season as they have 11 returning varsity starters from last year. Warren will miss the presence of key wrestlers like Sosa and Khoury in its lineup, but the Blue Devils should have a lot of depth to fall back on at the upper weights.
NORTHERN LAKE COUNTYAntiochCoach: Wilbur Borrero (13th season)
Last year's record: Elite Eight qualifiers, sectional champions, regional champions, fourth in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Nathan Dlugopolski (two-time state medalist, UW-Whitewater), Jake Gross (two-time state qualifier, sixth in Class 2A, wrestling at Dubuque, Iowa), Jeremiah Reyes
Top returning competitors: seniors Pat Schoenfelder (160, three-time state qualifier, second in Class 2A, fourth in 2015, two-time NSC champ), George Bessette (195/220, three-time state qualifier, fourth in Class 2A, fourth in 2014, NSC champ), Greg Kane (170/182), Xavier Sanchez (285); juniors DeAndre Burns (138), R.J. Vasquez (138/145), DeShawn Williams (170/182); sophomores Jackie Sistrunk (132), Mikey Volkmar (145/152)
Key newcomers: senior Cody Matonik (106/113); junior Alex Scheider (220/285); sophomores Justin Stevens (120/126), Nico Garcia (152/160); freshmen Alex Babarise (106), Devin Nobling (106/113), Luke Menzies (113), Elijah Reyes (113/120)
Outlook: After reaching the team sectional five times in the past seven years under now Hall of Fame coach Borrero, the Sequoits will once again be trying to bring home a state trophy in 2017. Antioch was eliminated by perennial power Mt. Carmel in the Elite Eight quarterfinals last year, but the Sequoits are hoping to get into the Final Four this time around. Schoenfelder and Bessette are on track to become the first three-time state medalists in school history after Antioch had four individual-placewinners for the first time ever last year. The historic 80th Annual IHSA state meet could be a real showcase for Schoenfelder and Bessette to potentially bring home individual state titles.
GrantCoach: Lenny Grodoski (second season)
Last year's record: 19-4 overall, Elite Eight qualifiers, sectional champions, regional champions, second in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Christian Kanzler (three-time state qualifier, Lincoln College), Cole Berg (state qualifier), Justin Gilich (state qualifier), Kobe Lear (Harper), Dylan Mannes, Adam Nixon
Top returning competitors: seniors Jacob Melton (152, state qualifier), Kris Krey (195/220), Justin Spies (170); juniors Spencer Welter (126), Tucker Rogan (120); sophomore Alex Paz (106)
Key newcomers: seniors Kurt Kratz (138), Frank Urman (145), Eduardo Tapia (220), John Japzyk (285); juniors Sam Maldinado (132), Tony Salinas (182), Alex Larracus (195); freshmen Dylan Rienkinberger (113), Ethan Geist (120), Justin Brown (160)
Outlook: After losing three of their four state qualifiers to graduation, the Bulldogs will be looking for some new leaders to step to the forefront in 2016-17 as they embark on their new NLCC format. Grant was very impressive down the stretch last season under then first-year coach Grodoski, who helped lead the Bulldogs into the state quarterfinals where they were knocked out of the dual-team tournament by perennial power Providence Catholic.
Grayslake CentralCoach: Matt Joseph (second season)
Last year's record: 10-14 overall, ninth in Fox Valley Conference
Top graduated seniors: Larry Augustine (state qualifier), Ryan Mikes, Joey Tarnowski, Collin Pogue
Top returning competitors: junior Austin Connelly (138/145, state qualifier); sophomores Alex Cramer (145/152, state qualifier), Ethan Torres (170/182), Nick Tarnowski (106/113)
Key newcomers: seniors Anthony Magno (220), Alonso Rosas (285); juniors Jason Rosenthal (160), Tyler Cooper (132); sophomores Joe Murphy (132/138), Drew Dziura (170/182), Austin Wagner (195/220), Ethan Lester (170); freshmen Tristan Burch (106), Peyton Gomez (120/126)
Outlook: The Rams do have two of their three state qualifiers back from last season, but other than that they are a very young squad now. "It's a rebuilding year, and we're kind of starting a new era," said coach Joseph, who expects some more freshmen standouts to join the program next season. "I would still say Grant has got to be the team to beat (in conference), they're a 3A school that is always competing for state along with Antioch." Cramer is already off to a perfect 13-0 record to start his sophomore campaign.
Grayslake NorthCoach: Collin McKillip (third season)
Last year's record: 13-13 overall, 3-3 in FVC Fox Division, sixth in FVC
Top graduated seniors: Jake Wright (two-time state qualifier), Blake Wilshire, Sean Pearce
Top returning competitors: seniors Joe Arroyo (113, two-time state qualifier), Alex Moran (160), Justin Bock (220, out for season with torn ACL); junior Zach McCauley (182); sophomore Adam Blonski (138)
Key newcomers: senior Miguel Carrera (132), Wilfredo Caldero (145); juniors Braedan Wilson (126), Angel Flores (195)
Outlook: The Knights hope to have some success in their new conference as they move from the FVC to the NLCC this season. Grayslake North has a many good upperclassmen to provide leadership, including two-time state qualifier Arroyo, who won the powerful Barrington tournament last weekend. Bock would have been a four-year varsity wrestler for the Knights, but he will miss the entire season due to a torn ACL injury he sustained during the past football season. After reaching state in Class 2A as a sophomore, and Class 3A as a junior, it will be back to Class 2A this season for Arroyo and the Knights based on their school enrollment.
LakesCoach: Craig Stocker (first season)
Last year's record: 16-15 overall, 13th in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Jared Smith (two-time state qualifier, Otero J.C., Colorado), Max Hill (state qualifier), Marshall Rice, Chase Deatherage
Top returning competitors: seniors Ishmael Velasquez (132, state qualifier), Xavian Girona (152)
Key newcomers: senior Dylan Terranova (132/138); junior Joe Dillon (138/145); sophomore Camden Frisby (126)
Outlook: The Eagles will be missing a couple of really key state qualifiers in Smith and Hill to graduation, but overall they only graduated four wrestlers from their starting lineup last year. Coach Stocker takes over the reigns of the Lakes program this winter from former head coach Mark Stave. And Stocker is optimistic that his young squad will be able to fill out more of a full varsity lineup than in years past years which should definitely make the Eagles more competitive in dual meets and tournaments.
Round LakeCoach: Mike Hruska (eighth season)
Last year's record: 12th in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Juan Arteaga (state qualifier), Sergei Wawrzyniak, Angel Landa, Tyvone Barfield (graduated early, Harper)
Top returning competitors: senior Noah Castillo (132); juniors Andre Neal (138), Cesar Monsivas (170), Josh Jackson (220), Javier Ambriz (285); sophomores Alex Coronado (120), Zach McCain (126), Tony Williamson (152), Aaron Cuellar (160)
Key newcomers: freshman Dan McPherson (113)
Outlook: After becoming the Panthers' first individual to qualify for the state meet since 2008 last winter, Round Lake's squad will really miss the presence of Arteaga in the wrestling room this season. But with a significant increase in their numbers compared to last year, coach Hruska is pretty optimistic that his team can be very competitive by season's end if his young wrestlers continue to show steady improvement.
WaucondaCoach: Michael Buhr (first season)
Last year's record: 15-18 overall, 10th in NSC, second in regionals
Top graduated seniors: Jake Conour, Erik Tabaka, Yael Garcia, Allan Bastea
Top returning competitors: seniors Tyler Stankiewicz (195, state qualifier), Justin Mitchell (120, sectional qualifier), Carlos Hernandez (132, sectional qualifier), Devin Parrish (170, sectional qualifier), Tyler Husko (138), Nick Schomer (145); juniors; Jared DeWyze (182, sectional qualifier), Mike Turzynski (285, sectional qualifier), Mickey Landvick (152); sophomores Evan Husko (113, sectional qualifier), Delon Kanari (120/126)
Key newcomers: juniors Erik Heinzinger (145), Zac Finn (182); freshman Lucas Kaiser (106, IESA state qualifier)
Outlook: After 32 seasons at the helm of the Wauconda wrestling program, long-time coach Tom Nance retired at the end of the 2015-16 season. New coach Michael Buhr will have some big shoes to fill as he takes over the Bulldogs' "Work Hard and Think Big" motto this winter. Returning almost its entire varsity lineup from last season, Wauconda hopes to compete for the title of the new NLCC along with perennial powerhouses Antioch and Grant. The Sequoits will also be a potential roadblock for the Bulldogs in the Class 2A post-season.
CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTHVernon HillsCoach: Jerry Miceli (17th season)
Last year's record: 19-11 overall, 11th in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Jeff Echeverria (state qualifier, Elmhurst College), Connor Wood, Angel Tino, Max Rickard
Top returning competitors: senior Collin Turley (220); juniors Jesse Goldufsky (113), Blake Teschky (120), Scott Harris (132)
Key newcomers: freshman William Darling (126)
Outlook: After spending their first 16 seasons of existence in the North Suburban Conference, the Cougars will be facing a lot of new teams and individuals as they enter the Central Suburban North Division for the 2016-17 campaign. And while Vernon Hills does have an experienced senior captain in Turley to lead them into battle, the Cougars were hurt pretty hard with four outstanding seniors lost to graduation.
EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLICCarmel CatholicCoach: Bob Kuykendall (ninth season)
Last year's record: 5-16 overall
Top graduated seniors: Mike Tortorice (two-time state medalist, UW-Whitewater), Nathaniel Morris (two-time state qualifier, UW-Whitewater), Kenny Barber (three-time state qualifier, Elmhurst College)
Top returning competitors: seniors Bobby Pryhocki (145/152, state qualifier), Will Martin (170/182); juniors Anthony Schaer, John Ivan (195/220); sophomores Riley Palm (113/120, sixth in Class 2A), Tommy Hoy (145/152)
Key newcomers: freshmen Christian Valadez (106/113), Luis Guzman (132/138), Yovaniel Garcia (138/145)
Outlook: The Corsairs struck gold last February by sending a whopping five wrestlers to the Class 2A individual state meet in Champagin. And while Carmel's team is now young and learning due to the absence of three multiple-time state qualifiers to graduation, it still has two state qualifiers to fall back on in Palm and Pryhocki heading into the 2016-17 season.