Scouting the 2A dual-team state tournament for Lake County

34th annual IHSA dual team state tournament

Class 2A

Where: U.S. Cellular Coliseum, Bloomington

When: Saturday, 9 a.m. (quarterfinals), 11 a.m. (second round of quarterfinals), 2 p.m. (semifinals), 5:30 p.m. (state championship and third-place matches)

Quarterfinals:

No. 6 Wauconda (22-4) vs. No. 8 Oak Forest (15-4)

No. 9 Lemont (18-4) vs. No. 12 Cahokia

No. 1 Washington (17-3) vs. No. 2 Crystal Lake Central (17-5)

No. 5 Mahomet-Seymour (19-3) vs. No. 11 Dixon

Semifinals:

No. 6 Wauconda/No. 8 Oak Forest (15-4) winner vs. No. 9 Lemont (18-4)/No. 12 Cahokia winner

No. 1 Washington (17-3)/No. 2 Crystal Lake Central (17-5) winner vs. No. 5 Mahomet-Seymour (19-3)/No. 11 Dixon winner

Wauconda lineup:

• 106 - freshman Lucas Kaiser (28-14)

• 113 - sophomore Evan Husko (33-13)

• 120 - senior Justin Mitchell (41-7)

• 126 - sophomore Delon Kanari (10-3)

• 132 - senior Ryan Zahari

• 138 - senior Tyler Husko (39-8)

• 145 - senior Nick Schomer (22-12)

• 152 - junior Erik Heinzinger

• 160 - junior Mickey Landvick

• 170 - senior Devin Parrish (38-13)

• 182 - junior Zac Finn (33-20)

• 195 - senior Tyler Stankiewicz (22-9)

• 220 - senior Frank Milella (33-15), junior Jared DeWyze (injured)

• 285 - senior Mike Turzynski (37-14)

Outlook: Wauconda is competing in the Elite Eight team tourney for the first time in school history. The Bulldogs' 49-21 blowout of St. Patrick in Tuesday's Crystal Lake Central team sectional included 7 pins.

First-year coach Mike Buhr has been spoiled by the success of his senior-dominated squad throughout this winter as the Bulldogs showed signs of great potential early on by placing fourth out of 42 teams at the Wisconsin-Whitewater tournament. But that was just the tip of the iceberg for Wauconda, as the Bulldogs proceeded to win the new Northern Lake County Conference championship with a convincing victory over archrival Grant. Wauconda kept the momentum rolling into the Grayslake Central regional, where the Bulldogs dominated another archrival in Antioch in the final round. The meet was tied heading into the finals, but Wauconda ultimately won by 38 points to capture its first regional crown since 2009. But unlike eight years ago, the Bulldogs would not be denied a trip to the dual-team state tourney as they jumped out to a 25-0 lead over St. Patrick. "The guys are really excited about being able to go down there for the first time," Buhr said. "Our seniors want to leave their mark on the program." That includes Tyler Stankiewicz, who suffered a hand injury in sectionals. Stankiewicz might be able to compete Saturday. "We'll play that by ear," Buhr said, "and see where he is at and make that decision when we get there."

With seven individual state qualifiers to only six state qualifiers for Wauconda (although Stankiewicz reached state last year), Oak Forest looks like a formidable opponent for the Bulldogs, who have only one dual-meet loss to a Class 2A squad (Antioch) early this season. If Wauconda can defeat the Bengals, it could have a golden opportunity to topple either Lemont or Cahokia in the semifinals, thus setting the stage for a potential trip to the state finals. "We're excited about it, and we like our chances if we just take it one match at a time and not overlook anyone," Buhr said. "The keys are going to be what we preached all year - scoring bonus points when we can and looking for major decisions and technical falls when we can."

Washington is the defending state champion in Class 2A after perennial power Montini was forced to move up to Class 3A by IHSA rules last season.