Area's best ready for state
After battling through regional and sectional competition, the stage is set for the Class AA individual wrestling state meet this weekend in Champaign.
Nineteen Lake County individuals made the cut for the state meet at the Assembly Hall beginning today at 9 a.m.
Third- and fifth-place matches are Saturday at 4:30 p.m. before the Grand March of Finalists at 6 p.m. Championship matches begin at 6:30 p.m.
Round Lake and Grant lead the way with three individuals each reaching state while Libertyville, Mundelein, Stevenson, and Lake Zurich have two individuals apiece.
After winning the 119-pound title as a freshman, undefeated Grant sophomore Lee Munster (26-0) is one of the main area wrestlers to watch at 140 pounds.
Grant senior Izzy Montemayor is making a third straight trip to state at 125 after winning the Barrington sectional last weekend. Grant's Josh DeLuca is also headed downstate after placing second at 171.
"I thought I did pretty well (at sectionals), but this is all just a warm-up to state," Montemayor said. "I know I'm going to wrestle hard and I plan on being on top of the podium."
Round Lake senior Dillon Pousson is making a return trip to state after placing second to Lakes junior Matt Holmes (38-3) at 130.
The Panthers will also be represented by freshman Jose Jimenez at 103, and senior Vince Nicoline at 215.
"I'm really happy for Vince, and to miss the whole season last year to come back and make state is unbelievable," said Round Lake coach John Jobst. "Anything can happen down there and I think if a guy gets hot he can place."
After winning tournaments at Barrington, Palatine, conference, regionals, and sectionals, Holmes has put himself in the mix as a top-six medal contender at 130.
"I think he'll place, I really do," said Lakes coach Curt Onstad. "He beat every single guy in the sectional and I think that shows he's going to do just fine."
Mundelein junior Eduardo Dominguez reached state again at 112 after placing second at sectionals. Adam Avalos (189) also placed second to reach state for the Mustangs.
Stevenson has a medal-contender in the fold in 152-pound sectional champion Bobby Vagun (33-2) while senior teammate Taras Martyniouk earned a berth with a third-place overtime victory at 145.
Despite being a long shot, Lake Zurich sophomore Cameron Shaffer reached state with a second at 119 while junior teammate Kevin Fanta qualified with a third at 125.
"I shouldn't have lost my semifinal match (at sectionals) but in the third-place match I got a takedown in the first period and I knew I would win," Fanta said. "My goal all year was to get downstate and it's going to be fun."
Libertyville senior Trey Ayala is making back-to-back trips to state after placing second at 135. Sophomore Matt Bystol (103) will also represent the Wildcats.
"They've had great seasons, and I expect them to go down and compete well," said Libertyville coach Dale Eggert. "They just have to stay active and stay physical because things can happen quick down there, as we know."
Grayslake Central senior Ryan Lund (135) is making his second straight appearance after taking third last weekend.
"I'm just going to try my best and take one match at a time," said Lund. "Our coach (Brent Pitt) has been really supportive because we don't have a lot of numbers or experience, but he does the best he can in the situation we're in."
After losing in the sectional quarterfinals, Carmel 171-pound senior Ryan Williams fought his way back to state again with a narrow third-place decision.
Wauconda senior Scott Carlson placed second after a key 4-3 decision over Grant's Tyler Becker in the semifinals.
And possibly the biggest surprise to reach state out of the Barrington sectional would be Warren senior Bryce Howard at 160.
While Howard (31-8) was on some folks' radar after placing second at conference and second at regionals, he quietly earned the third-place bid to state with two huge decisions on Saturday. Howard gave sectional champ Kyle Czarnecki of Buffalo Grove his toughest match in a 3-2 quarterfinal loss.