Wheaton North remains perfect in DVC
Travis Cherry was a star wrestler at Glenbard North a decade-plus ago.
There has been widespread speculation in the local wrestling community that Cherry would return to his alma mater to replace legendary coach Mark Hahn.
The Wheaton North coach categorically denied any possibility of accepting the Glenbard North position next season Thursday night in the aftermath of the Falcons' 57-15 dismantling of Waubonsie Valley in a DuPage Valley Conference dual meet in Wheaton.
"I have no interest in going back to Glenbard North," Cherry said. "I have got something special here."
It is beyond an irony that Wheaton North is in prime position to end the Panthers' 18-year conference winning streak next weekend at Lake Park.
The Falcons are 17-5 and 7-0 after their one-sided win over Waubonsie Valley.
"We've got to show up ready to go (at conference)," said Wheaton North senior heavyweight Nick Yanan, who had one of three falls for the Falcons. "There are schools other than Glenbard North to worry about."
The ultimate outcome of the Falcons' latest league triumph was pretty much preordained as Waubonsie Valley (8-13, 2-5) had to forfeit five weight classes.
The Falcons opened the night with a 33-point unanswered burst in the opening six classes between 132 and 170 pounds.
The first half-dozen Wheaton North athletes won in all sorts of fashion.
The Falcons' Jett Dowell was awarded a 6-point win via disqualification for a flagrant foul to conclude the outgoing run.
Quinlan Nelson had a reversal at the buzzer to win 2-1 at 152 pounds.
His big brother, Duncan, had a second-period fall at 145.
Riley Lomenick also had a fall for the Falcons at 138; Frankie Indelli (132 pounds) and fellow state-ranked Wheaton North wrestler Devin Donovan at 160 pounds received forfeits.
Anthony Indelli had the last Wheaton North victory in a contested match with a 40-second fall at 120 pounds.
But Waubonsie Valley is far from bereft of talent.
Mason Kroening (24-0) and Nick Sondag (27-1) claimed second-period falls at 195 and 220 pounds for the Warriors.
Waubonsie Valley scored all 15 of its points in succession after Zach Grosch had a takedown and 3-point near-fall in the last seconds of the third period to win 9-8 at 182 pounds.
"I don't worry about my record," said Kroening, ranked No. 2 in his Class 3A weight class. "I didn't go into the season telling people that my goal was to be undefeated. But it's great to be undefeated and not field any losses."
"My focus is to keep going, keep winning and dominating," Sondag said. "I don't want to win by 1 or 2 (points)."