Jimenez, Ferrante hope sectional success continues in Champaign
Nate Jimenez and David Ferrante were a rarity last weekend at the Downers Grove North and Barrington Class 3A individual wrestling sectionals, respectively.
They were the only two athletes among the 23 Fox Valley-area qualifiers to the three-day state finals at the University of Illinois' State Farm Center in Champaign who captured titles.
"The sky is the limit for Nate," Marmion coach Donny Reynolds said of his junior 160-pounder who was third in state last year. "When the bright lights are on, he usually shines."
"I'm just going to maintain confidence in myself," Jimenez said. "I am going to stick to my game plan for what I have been doing for the past year. I keep going forward and forward and stick to my offense."
There are three Class 3A first-round matches pitting area combatants.
Jimenez, seeded No. 2, will square off against Huntley junior Juan Quiroz on Thursday.
Ferrante, a 152-pounder, is the fourth seed; the Huntley ninth-grader will face Mt. Carmel senior Dillon Hoey in his opening match.
"I like our chances in the first two rounds," Huntley coach B. J. Bertelsman said. "(Ferrante) got a good draw. He's a special talent."
One-hundred-and-six-pounders Joe Ruffino and Sam Spencer are another local first-round matchup.
Ruffino, a St. Charles East senior, had his season-long 38-match winning streak snapped in the championship at Conant last weekend.
"One loss (going into the state tournament) is irrelevant," St. Charles East coach Jason Potter said. "We don't look at that as a big deal. We just have to be careful and make sure it doesn't happen again."
It will be the 50th match of the season for Spencer (39-10) on Thursday.
There will be another St. Charles East-Huntley collision in first-day action as 120-pounders Justin Benjamin and Josh Stenger face each other.
Stenger, one of five Huntley state qualifiers, is the lone returning all-stater for the Raiders.
Benjamin, like sophomore teammate Ben Anderson (113 pounds), reached the 35-match win plateau at Conant.
"Stenger has a tough road ahead of him," Bertelsman said. "We would like to have been on the other side of the bracket."
"It's an important weekend for (Benjamin and Anderson), regardless if they are sophomores or seniors," Potter said.
Isaac Jacquez is another lower-weight athlete with grand ambitions.
The West Aurora 120-pounder stormed back for third-place at Downers North after being upset in his opening match on Friday night.
"I knew it wasn't the end of everything," said Jacquez, who will make his fourth consecutive state appearance. "My main (state) focus is to be at the top of the podium."
The Blackhawks' lone qualifier faces freshman James Pierandozi of top-ranked Lockport Thursday.
"I have high hopes for (Jacquez)," West Aurora coach Andrew Plata said.
The following individuals also qualified for the Class 3A tournament: Marmion: Michael Jaffe, 106 pounds; Trevor Chumbley, 132; Anthony Cheloni, 138; Jake Polka, 145; Brad Gross, 152; Peter Ferraro, 170; Tyler Surges, 195. East Aurora: Tim Young, 160.
St. Charles East: Cody Glidewell, 182. St. Charles North: Kolbe O'Brien, 132.
Jacobs: Jake Harrier, 113; Beau Harrier, 120. Huntley: Zach Spencer, 126. Dundee-Crown: Chase Raap, 182.
There will be 10 area entrants competing for Class 2A medals.
None of the middle-tier athletes won sectional championships, but Kaneland has half the total out of Sterling: Nathan Orosco, 106 pounds; Austin Kedzie, 120; Hayden Patterson, 170; Riley Vanik, 182, and Colin Gussman, 220.
"As far as (the coaches know), we have never had five down before," Kaneland coach Joe Orosco said. "They all have the potential to win that first match. That's the most important match."
Burlington Central wrestlers Austin Macias and Nick Termini were each handed their second loss of the season in the finals at Sterling in back-to-back weight classes at 126 and 132 pounds.
The Rockets' Erik Hansen will close out his career this weekend at 195 pounds.
Hampshire has the final two qualifiers in Maxwell McGowan and Pawel Barnas at 160 and heavyweight.
Aurora Christian had a revealing start for its program.
"We have never had wrestling before," Aurora Christian coach Justin Pearch said.
But the Eagles captured the Class 1A Aurora Central Catholic regional, and three freshmen survived the Byron sectional in consecutive weight classes.
Cameron Johnson has the distinction of being the last undefeated wrestler as the 106-pounder looks for a 32nd straight win against Hayworth ninth-grader Levi Neuleib.
Zeke Marshall and Noal Villarreal are in the mix for Aurora Christian at 113 and 120 pounds.
"(Johnson) got a great seed (No. 2)," Pearch said. "Having that undefeated season really helped.