Challenging road ahead for West Aurora
West Aurora fashioned a new chapter in its wrestling literature when the squad captured its third consecutive Class AA regional last year in convincing fashion.
But the Blackhawks will be hard pressed to extend their unprecedented program feat for a fourth time this Saturday.
West Aurora is once again the regional host in the first postseason preliminary of the inaugural three-class state wrestling tournament.
The IHSA certainly did the Blackhawks few favors when carving its first-ever Class 3A sectional grid, however.
In a geographical swath that extends from the southwest suburbs through Aurora, northwest to Rockford, southwest to the Quad Cities, extending all the way to suburban St. Louis and the farthest southern reaches of the state, the Lincoln-Way East sectional - with the attendant team berth at Pekin following the individual state tournament - is as stern as it gets.
"I would be lying if I said I wasn't happy we don't have to go (to West Aurora)," said Batavia coach Tom Arlis, whose Western Sun Conference champion club will go to Wheaton North for the regional seeking inclusion in the Leyden sectional. "Any coach would be if he said he was. Once in a while it's nice to catch a break. Don't get me wrong, (Wheaton North) is not an easy regional by any means, but it's not as loaded as West Aurora. There's no question it's the toughest in the state."
In order for West Aurora to navigate the treacherous minefields in hopes of advancing to Pekin, the Blackhawks would have to subdue Minooka, Neuqua Valley and Plainfield Central, ranked second, third and sixth, respectively.
East Aurora, Waubonsie Valley, DeKalb, Oswego, Plainfield North and Plainfield South round out the field at West Aurora.
"We like having the tough regional," West Aurora coach Mike DiNovo said. "We have always said that advancing to the sectional in your weight class (meaning a top-three finish) takes care of the regional (as a team). (You have to) fight for every point, every round from whistle to whistle. With so many high-caliber teams, (the team title) could come down to the wrestle backs or to bonus points in the wrestle backs. There are so many what-ifs to consider."
Then again, there are no question marks regarding the Blackhawks' fearsome and resolute leader.
Mario Gonzalez, the only local athlete to advance to the state semifinals the last two years, is on a 28-match winning streak after dominating the DuPage Valley Conference 189-pound class to earn the upper weights' most outstanding wrestler award last Saturday in West Chicago.
The Illinois-bound senior is 33-1 on the season after demolishing all league comers last weekend.
"Every time he goes out there, he's getting better and better," DiNovo said of Gonzalez. "I think he's wrestling great."
The other state-forged veteran for West Aurora is Josh Zinzer; the senior is 34-2 at 125 pounds and is looking for a return trip to Champaign after an injury-plagued postseason last February.
Zinzer was sixth in the state at 119 pounds as a sophomore.
"This will be the hardest of the four to win," Zinzer said. "It's going to take everyone wrestling to their seed or better for us to win."
West Aurora is also banking on strong performances from Nicholas Drendel (103 pounds), Brandon Walz (112), Miguel Venecia (119), Sam McKinney (130), Vince Morris (135), Sam Pealstrom (140) and Jesse Pena (152).
Drendel and Venecia are a combined 61-11 at the top of the Blackhawks' order.
St. Charles East and St. Charles North are in the mix at Elgin, which also includes the Maroons' four sister schools along with Lake Park and Schaumburg.
Brandon Rubino (112 pounds) and Danny Mercadante (152) are the Saints' state-ranked gladiators, but Nick Ruffino (125), Cody Crawford (130) and heavyweight Blake Griffiths cannot be overlooked.
St. Charles North will seek to shed its greenness behind C.J. Miller (145) and Kasey Ro (189).
Batavia, Geneva and Marmion are the local entrants at Wheaton North, which has a strong DuPage Valley Conference flavor with six schools headed by Naperville Central and the host Falcons.
"It's a very balanced regional," Arlis said. "There are a lot of highly-ranked individuals in the field."
The Bulldogs are on a roll, not only state-ranked after sweeping their tournament plus the league crown but also energized behind the superlative triumvirate of Logan Arlis, Danny Watson and Andrew Rudd.
Charlie Ryan, Tyler Patton and Luis Campos have invigorated the Bulldogs the entire second half as the squad seeks its second regional title in program history.
Marmion is seeking its ever-elusive first state qualifier, but junior Pat Greco is prepared to single-handedly remove the symbolic gorilla off the Cadets' backs.
"I'm getting my priorities straight," said Greco, who is ranked 10th at 140 pounds with a 26-3 record. "We really want to get that first state qualifier and state-place winner. I have been working hard all summer for that one day in February. That's what it's all about in wrestling."
Eddie Greco is also making a name for himself at 103 pounds for the Cadets, who have high hopes for Angelo Silvestre (119 pounds), Eddie Breen (125) and Nico Jimenez (160).
Geneva has been decimated by injuries all season, but the Vikings' hopes for a glimmer of salvation largely rests with Collin Callahan and Ryan Ward at 130 and 189 pounds, respectively.
The Wheaton North regional champion advances to Willowbrook for the team dual-meet state series.
Elgin is hosting the third local large-school regional, and Glenbard North is the prohibitive favorite to advance to Villa Park as a team.
The two Class 2A area squads - Kaneland and Aurora Central Catholic - are headed to Sandwich, with a trip to the Peoria Woodruff team sectional on the line.
The top three from each weight division earn spots to the LaSalle-Peru individual sectional.
Senior 145-pounder Jay Levita and sophomore heavyweight Jimmy Boyle are the Knights' best bets to advance, and Aurora Central has freshman Greg Jacquez carrying its banner at 135 pounds.
"He's a dark horse," Aurora Central coach Eric Fulara said of the Chargers' main weapon at the Suburban Catholic Conference tournament last Saturday. "Nobody knows about him. I think (the regional) will help to get him some attention."