Jessen, Villalobos doing big things again this season
Wrestlers venturing into the West Suburban Gold have a most unenviable task when drawing either Jack Jessen or Sergio Villalobos.
Jessen, a Willowbrook senior headed to Northwestern, and the uncommitted Villalobos, from Downers Grove South, are once again in rarefied territory among local athletes.
The top-ranked wrestlers in Class 3A at 182 and 195 pounds, respectively, both are undefeated after vanquishing all comers last weekend at Sycamore.
Jessen has been extraordinary in his four seasons at Willowbrook in searching for an ever-elusive first state championship.
"He has never lost to anyone but (an eventual) state champion," Willowbrook coach Brandon Murphy said of Jessen.
In his first three years at the Villa Park high school, Jessen has two runner-up finishes and a third-place result at the individual state tournament.
Jessen has an opportunity to rewrite the state record books.
"He is a kid who likes records," Murphy said.
The senior has an overall record of 184-7 after extending his season-opening winning streak to 34 matches with his triumph at Sycamore last Saturday.
Jessen recently broke the program record for pins - set by two-time Class AA champion Mike Behnke with 103 - and also has exceeded 1,000 varsity takedowns.
"I don't think that stat (100-plus falls and 1,000-plus takedowns) has ever been reached," Murphy said.
Jessen could become only the fifth wrestler ever to exceed 200 wins by running the table for the remainder of the season.
Former Montini greats Garrett Goebel and Stephen Robertson share the all-time wins distinction with 201 each.
Villalobos, third at 195 pounds last year, is 27-0 after claiming his title right after Jessen in Sycamore over the weekend.
The athletes have drawn raves from the coaches of the two West Suburban divisions.
"(Jessen) is unbelievable," Addison Trail coach Rob Serio said. "In my opinion he's the best kid in the country. He deserves a (state) title. He'll get one, for sure."
"(Jessen) jumped out as a freshman," Glenbard West coach Nick Posegay said. "If it wasn't for him going against our guy, he would be fun to watch."
"I think they both have the ability to be first-year All-Americans next year," Hinsdale South coach Bobby O'Brien said. "They are so far ahead of the competition they have seen this year."
Willowbrook and Downers South will not see each other in their conference dual for 10 days.
"(The coaches and I) were joking that we are going to give Jessen an award for the most takedowns ever against a Downers South wrestler," Mustangs coach Sean Lovelace said. "(Villalobos) has all the attributes to be an elite wrestler. Sergio definitely has tough competition ahead of him. He knows that."
"It's going to be hard to stay No. 1, but I think I can manage to do it," Villalobos said.
Bianchini thinking big again:
Jessen and Villalobos are not the only area athletes atop the illinoismatmen.com rankings.
IC Catholic Prep senior Joey Bianchini is No. 1 among Class 1A 138-pounders.
One year after being runner-up at 106 pounds, Bianchini earned the first state championship in program history in Champaign last winter with his victory at 113.
Bianchini suffered all three of his losses at the famed Dvorak Tournament over the winter holidays.
The uncommitted senior has physically changed since standing atop the podium at the University of Illinois' State Farm Center.
"He grew a couple of inches," IC Catholic Prep coach Kevin Sliva said of Bianchini moving up four weight classes. "He packed on some pounds. He started working out consistently for the first time in his career. I don't think he cares at all about the rankings. It all depends on how you do in February."
The Knights also return Victor Vargas, sixth last year at 195 pounds.
The IC Catholic Prep roster was immeasurably fattened when 19 members of the state-championship football team augmented the six athletes to start the season.
"It's the most we have ever had," Sliva said.
Another Montini juggernaut:
Montini has been a juggernaut this season as no fewer than half of its 14 starting wrestlers are either top-ranked or No. 2 in the latest matmen.com rankings.
The Broncos, ranked sixth in the nation, had seven champions in claiming the prestigious Cheesehead Invitational in Wisconsin over winter break.
Dylan Ragusin and Peter Christensen won titles at 113 and 195 pounds for the Broncos.
Joey Melendez followed Ragusin by snaring the 120-pound crown.
But Montini has one of the most fearsome collections of athletes in consecutive weight classes in recent memory as Real Woods, Fidel Mayora, Jake Stiles and Will Lewan all were crowned champions between 132 and 152 pounds.
The consensus top-ranked Broncos destroyed No. 2 Oak Park-River Forest 806-481 to claim a second national tournament this winter.
"I don't think anyone can beat them in Illinois," said Metea Valley coach Claudio Torres, who opened the season against the Broncos in a triangular. "They are going to cause some major damage."
Like Torres, Neuqua Valley first-year coach Mike Mucha - a former Montini standout - was in attendance at the Cheesehead.
"I'm not surprised (Montini) competed well," Mucha said. "I'm a little surprised by the margin of victory. They were aggressive. They scored a lot of bonus points. They won a lot of close matches."
Jacob Boumans, a junior 170-pounder, and heavyweight Roberto Pena were both fifth for the Wildcats at Cheesehead.
Metea Valley failed to place any wrestlers.
"Our season is going about where I thought it would," Torres said. "We have eight kids new to the varsity lineup. That may be frustrating for some coaches, but I'm a realist."
Waubonsie Valley adjusting:
The first two established Indian Prairie high schools, Waubonsie Valley and Neuqua Valley, have had to adjust to the opening of Metea Valley in many different sports.
"It's tough," Waubonsie Valley coach Brad Caldwell said. "You're hurt on both sides. We're drawing from the same place, but it's a smaller pie. It's been a rough road. Our numbers are low. We're doing pretty well in tournaments, but we're giving up too many forfeits (in dual meets)."
The Warriors are led by senior Lucas Bratland at 145 pounds, and junior 195-pounder Garrett St. Clair, an Aurora Central Catholic transfer.
Winning at home:
Glenbard West and Wheaton Warrenville South both won their home invites over the two-week winter holidays.
The Hilltoppers shared their title with Prairie Ridge as four individual champions for Glenbard West enabled the squad to amass 180 points.
Catron Frazier, Aaron Castellanos, Peyton Nimsakont and Connor Skryd emerged victorious for Glenbard West at 113, 132, 145 and 220 pounds.
Will Vesevick joined his senior teammates with a runner-up finish for the Hilltoppers.
"Our schedule has been pretty tough," Posegay said of an 11-10 dual-meet record. "I think those five guys are really strong. They have a chance to be all-conference and make some noise at the regional and sectional."
WW South turned back Dixon 218-188 behind three titlists: Adam Waszak (106 pounds), Micah Burgess (126) and Lukaz Szudarski (170).
"It helped out tremendously," WW South Matt Janosek said of the Tigers' momentum heading into Geneva last weekend. "It helped the guys get ready and focused for the second half of the season. We know we have a long way still to go."