Seven Montini wrestlers advance to state title matches
CHAMPAIGN - It was the Montini show Friday night in Champaign.
The Broncos busted their competition, sending seven into Saturday night's Class 3A individual wrestling finals, including Real Woods (40-1) at 132 pounds and Will Lewan, both of whom are after a second straight championship.
Montini No. 1-ranked 113-pounder Dylan Ragusin (42-2) will look to add a championship trophy to his impressive collection, as will 138-pounder Fidel Mayora (35-7), Jack Stiles (49-4) at 145 pounds, Matt Ortiz (43-6) at 160 and Peter Christensen (45-5) at 195.
But it's the Michigan-bound Lewan (42-2) who will be a part of perhaps the most highly anticipated final.
The No. 1-ranked 152-pounder meets No. 2 Markus Hartman of Barrington in a repeat of last year's 145-pound final. The Broncos senior prevailed with a 3-1 decision last year.
"Markus and I have separated ourselves from the rest of the field, so I am really looking forward to seeing him again tomorrow night," said Lewan, who admitted to taking a peak at his opponent during the first two days of action. "There's no secrets between us, so we'll just go after each other and see what happens then."
Lewan sits at No. 5 in the nation, Hartman No. 8.
It will be another No. 1 versus No. 2 when Stiles steps onto center stage against Kendall Coleman (39-4) from Mt. Carmel.
The Broncos junior has defeated the Purdue recruit twice.
"With the room that we have, all of us are inspired by each other every day we get together (and) in fact, so if that doesn't get you ready for big tournaments, and this state tournament, nothing will," Stiles said.
Another No. 1 from the area, Glenbard North 170-pounder Abe Assad (46-0) elevated himself to show the big crowd he's the favorite to win it all against 2017 state runner-up Nate Jimenez. Willowbrook senior Jack Jessen won his 50th of the season to remain undefeated.
Jessen, a Northwestern recruit, has won an astounding 200 high school matches, collected three state medals but never a championship trophy.
Wheaton North's Jaime Suarez (41-6) came close to booking his place in the Grand March, falling to No. 1 Robert Precin of Andrew (42-1) 8-5 in a semifinal that saw the Falcons senior draw even at 4-4 midway through the second period only to concede the lead for good as the period neared its end.
Earlier in the day, the No. 3-rated Suarez outscored his longtime rival, Reese Durlacher (40-8), in his quarterfinal to end a two-match losing streak to the Mundelein junior.
Phillip Sims' wonderful run through the front draw came to an end one match after defeating three-time state qualifier Dominick Ambrose from Providence Catholic in the quarterfinals.
Sims fell to No. 1 Trevor Chumbley of Marmion (44-2) in his semifinal.
The Metea Valley (17-8) junior will bounce back down into wrestlebacks, which begin Saturday morning with the third- and fifth-place matches.