D-C's Villanueva reaches semifinals
Dundee-Crown junior Miko Villanueva listed 3 keys to his success at Friday's Class 3A individual state wrestling finals at Assembly Hall in Champaign.
"Game plan, keeping the pace and shooting," said Villanueva, who scored a pair of victories in the 103-pound bracket to advance to today's state semifinals.
Villanueva started the day with a 15-3 major decision over Marist's Dominic Olivieri (28-11) and then notched a 6-4 upset of Hinsdale South's Jake Schramm (40-2) - the No. 3 seed in the division - in the quarterfinals.
Villanueva (35-6) will face No. 2 seed Derek Elmore (Machesney Park Harlem, 36-2) in the semifinals.
Villanueva stuck to the game plan in his win over Schramm.
"The coaches told me not to tie up and shoot, shoot, shoot," said Villanueva. "I shot and took him down and controlled the whole match."
Shooting played a big role in Villanueva's opening-round 12-point triumph.
"I was nervous in the first match," said Villanueva. "I shot and turned him."
Villanueva now finds himself a single match away from the state championship match.
"I'm going to shoot, shoot, shoot and try to get a lot of points," said Villanueva. "I've got a lot of confidence."
Villanueva had plenty of company at state Friday with three of his teammates competing as well. Jeremy Lee (119) lost his first match and then lost by a 3-1 count in his wrestle-back and was eliminated. Jeremy Lee ended the year at 37-9.
Jermaine Lee (125) and Jack Lewis (152) both lost their first matches and were eliminated from the tournament. Jermaine Lee finished the season 33-13, while Lewis ended at 38-6.
Larkin's Tony Feliciano and Cary-Grove's Josh Nelson both lost their openers. Feliciano (130) lost a tough 5-4 decision to Wheeling's Mike Smith, but did not receive a wrestle-back. Feliciano finished the year with an area-best 41 victories. Nelson (35-4) lost his first bout at 140. He did receive a wrestle-back where he lost via technical fall.
In Class 2A, Burlington Central junior Shane Burke scored a 12-8 victory in his opening-round match, but suffered a tough 7-5 overtime decision in the quarterfinals to Champaign Central's Aryn Gilenson (38-0). Burke is now 35-6.
Central freshman 103-pounder Johnny Major lost his opening-round match and dropped to 20-5 on the season.