Montini completes title run
MACHESNEY PARK - Montini's wrestling team completed two days of domination at this year's Dvorak tournament on Tuesday, building on its Day One lead to run away with the team title.
Montini scored 227.5 team points to 188 points for second-place Lockport.
"We've been stressing pins in practice, and in those early rounds we had a lot of young guys step up and get us bonus points," said Montini senior Grant Goebel, who won the title at 215 pounds.
Frank Baer won Montini's other individual title on the day, while four Broncos placed second in Stephen Robertson (125 pounds), Colton Rasche (130), Isaiah Gonzalez (160) and Carl Foreside (189).
"We really came together as a team," said Baier, a sophomore. "We've got a lot of young wrestlers, and our coaching really helps us in the room."
Goebel posted a third-period takedown in his title match against Hoffman Estates' Jose Flores to secure a 3-1 decision, one year after placing eighth at the tournament.
Goebel gave up 40 pounds to his opponents at last year's Dvorak, but this year that discrepancy has decreased and he pushed the pace throughout the tournament.
"I haven't been outconditioned yet," Goebel said.
The Broncos will compete in the Class 2A tournament this year, but they showed their mettle against a primarily 3A field at Machesney Park Harlem.
Other Montini placers included Jared Jayne (135) and Ross Ferraro (285).
"We're pretty deep, and we had a couple guys that were only one match away from placing," said Montini coach Mike Bukovsky. "We had kids here like Troy Valdez and Conor Winel that wrestled up in weight and did a nice job."
Neuqua Valley saw five wrestlers earn medals in finishing seventh: Adam Stine (135), Andy Spangler (140), Matt Cavallaris (112), Alex Cizek (145) and Nick Proctor (160).
Stine finished third with a pin of Yorkville's Nathan Messenger, and Spangler placed third with a 4-2 decision over Iowa City West's Justin Koethe.
"I'm happy, but I would have liked to open up more in some of my matches," Stine said.
Neuqua Valley coach Mick Ruettiger expects his entire squad to take Stine's advice from now to the end of the season.
"We had a good tournament, but we didn't have a great tournament," Ruettiger said. "We need to be more aggressive in certain situations."
Waubonsie Valley sophomore Max Garbis went 4-3 in the formidable tournament in placing eighth at 112 pounds. Garbis lost a 6-5 decision to seventh-place Adrian Laskero of Wheaton North.
The Falcons' Dominick Schmit placed eighth at 160, and Harry Myers placed eighth at 171 for Wheaton North.