Arroyo, Schoenfelder will go for state titles
CHAMPAIGN - Joe Arroyo and Patrick Schoenfelder each enjoyed an exceptional night and in doing so, both will have the chance to bring a state wrestling title home Saturday night.
The stars from Grayslake North and Antioch delivered clinical finishes in their semifinals - Arroyo (43-1) at 113 pounds and Schoenfelder (47-2) at 160 - to advance into the Class 2A state finals on the big floor of State Farm Center.
"After losing in the final last year all I've been thinking about is getting back into it again but this time coming away with a state championship," said Schoenfelder, who left little doubt in his semifinal contest with Porfirio Perez (35-3) of Danville who would be in the Grand March alongside head coach Wilbur Borrero.
Arroyo, just as his counterpart, has had his Class 3A sixth place finish a year ago fresh in his mind as well, and from the very onset of this, his senior year, it's been the focus of where he wanted to be on the third Saturday of February.
"It was here last year at this time when I realized I could go with the best, and that's been my motivation all throughout the offseason," said Arroyo, who last year collected only the second state medal in program history.
No. 2 Arroyo walloped No. 4 Tristan Dougherty (37-2) of Peoria Notre Dame, using a variety of moves, shots, and takedowns to build a 4-0 advantage early on his way to an 8-0 shutout.
Earlier in the day, it was more of the same, when he recorded his 25th pin of the year in his quarterfinal to secure his spot into the semifinals.
The top-rated Schoenfelder never looked better, both in the quarters and later on in his state final qualifier, opening each bout at breakneck speed until dashing the hopes of Kevin Grschwendtner (Pontiac) then Perez.
"I wasn't going to leave anything to chance in either match but in my semifinal, after I was a little more in control, it was all about just being smart to close him out."
The Lake County area had its collective fingers crossed as it looked to put four into the finals but a stunning turn of events did in No. 3 Dylan Geick (160, 41-1), who was in a good spot against Nate Jimenez (39-6) in the semifinals, until the Marmion Academy junior surprised the Patriots' star at the edge to record a pin.
Geick, along with Grayslake North senior Alex Moran (160, 41-9) will begin day No. 3 in wrestleback semifinals, followed by third and fifth place matches.
The always highly anticipated and entertaining Grand March is set to start at 5:30 p.m. with championship matches in all three classes following, beginning at the 152-pound weight division.
Several from Lake County are still alive in the medal hunt, thanks in part to a second chance in the annual follow the winner race sent them into wrestlebacks.
On the flip side, those who lost in the afternoon quarterfinals roared back after disappointing losses to stay in the race as well.
The Mundelein pair of Dane Durlacher (106, 41-6) and Logan Kvien (170, 40-12) were both strong, and are now one match closer to a state medal in their first visit.
"For both of them to still be alive on the third and final day of the tournament says a lot about both of them," said head coach Roy Seeger.
The same can be said for a couple of young future stars: Tommy Frezza (113, 40-5) and freshman, Danny Pucino (126, 41-6), who showed no affects from their lopsided quarterfinal defeats, Pucino to No. 5, Zach Villarreal (41-4) a returning state medal winner.
Stevenson senior Nikita Nepomnyashchiy looked like a potential state finalist after the first day of action, but the Pats' 170-pounder dropped a 5-3 overtime decision to Peter Ferraro of Marmion Academy.
The No. 5 Nepomnyashchiy (170, 21-2) dominated his wrestleback opener, and will now face Josh Torres (43-7) from Oswego.
Warren senior Grant Zamin (41-6) lost to top-rated Will Lewan (Montini Catholic) then endured a wild wrestleback quarterfinal that would end 12-10 in favor over Allen Swanson from Oswego.
Libertyville senior Jack Damenti (38-7), who lost to three-time state champ Austin O'Connor of St. Rita in his Thursday opener, took advantage of following the leader when he won his wrestleback opener to keep his chance of a state medal still brewing.
"I knew the moment I saw I was going to wrestle (O'Connor) that I would have the opportunity to come back through so I figured I'd better do so," said the Wildcats senior, now 39-7 at 152 pounds.
No. 1 George Bessette (220, 27-4) had hoped to be a part of two state championships, along with his longtime teammate Schoenfelder, but the Antioch star 220-pounder suffered back-to-back losses to see his dreams dashed.
"It was tough to see George eliminated, but he had an incredible career at Antioch, and it is not defined by what happened here this weekend," said Borrero.
From around the 2A, Christian Valadez (106, 36-10) and Riley Palm (126, 17-6) are still in the race, as is Vernon Hills junior Jessie Goldfufsky (113, 42-11) however, the Cougars terrific senior captain, Collin Turley (220, 42-12), was bounced from the competition following his wrestleback first rounder.
"Collin is an amazing young man who pretty much went from nothing to something this season with 40-plus wins," said a proud Cougars head coach Jerry Miceli.
North Suburban Conference big men Xavier Sanchez (Antioch, 37-9) and Wauconda senior Michael Turzynski (36-14) are out as well, along with Lakes senior Xavian Girona (152, 26-12), who came this close in his semifinal before dropping out in wrestlebacks.