Neuqua Valley sends 12 through

Neuqua Valley won the team title at Saturday's Class AA Romeoville regional, outpointing second-place Lockport 228.5-187.5.

The Wildcats advanced nine wrestlers to the title mat and got titles from Matt Walters, Brian Epp, Nick Proctor, Jimmy Duffy and Chris Spangler.

"Overall, I was pleased. It was a good day to be a Wildcat," said Neuqua coach Mick Ruettiger, who saw 12 of his wrestlers advance to next week's sectional at Naperville North.

Neuqua's middle weights have been rock solid all year, and the Wildcats won five of six weight classes from 135 to 171 pounds in winning their fourth team regional title in five years.

Walters pinned Romeoville's Julian Brooks at 135 for his title, before Epp won a 5-3 decision over Plainfield Central's Josh Toton at 140. Proctor followed with a 5-2 win over Bolingbrook's Kyle Taylor at 145.

"Kids were staying away from Epp, and he wrestled really well," Ruettiger said. "He controlled his matches."

Duffy is ranked second in Illinois at 152 by Illinois Matmen, and he won his title by technical fall over fifth-ranked Ryan Leibforth of Lemont. Teammate Chris Spangler followed with a technical fall that upped his season record to 37-0 at 171.

"Duffy's mat wrestling was working for him today, and Spangler just continues to control things out there," Ruettiger said.

Neuqua Valley also got seconds from Jackson Robinson (103 pounds), Andy Spangler (112), Mike Zozulia (160) and Adam Stine (130), and thirds from Matt Cavallaris (119), Alex Zozulia (189) and Patrick St. Clair (215).