Barrington, Schaumburg set for West showdown
Something's got to give.
Mid-Suburban League West Division co-leaders Barrington (15-0) and Schaumburg (11-2) meet at 7 p.m. Friday on the Saxons' mats to decide the division championship in what promises to be a turbo-charged filled evening between a pair of evenly matched state-ranked teams.
One year ago, these two programs tied for top honors in the MSL West at 4-1, a remarkable achievement considering how far both had fallen prior to the arrival of then-new coaches Al Strobl (Barrington) and Matt Gruszka (Schaumburg).
They have revived their teams in what is now their third season in charge.
No less than 12 contestants are state-ranked, many in the top eight of their respective weight divisions, making for several terrific bouts when all is said and done.
"Barrington is tough, and well-coached, and they keep coming at you all night long," said Gruszka. "(We) know each other's lineup by heart, and both sides know what's at stake, making each match a key match.' "
The Saxons were tourney champions at both Fenton and Lake Park after opening the season with a fourth-place finish at the Feutz (hosted by Conant).
Their counterparts grabbed top honors at the Mudge (hosted by Prospect) to go with a sixth-place team trophy at the Moore-Prettyman and a 10th place at the prestigious Dvorak in late December.
"Schaumburg is going to be a great test for us," said Strobl. "They have some guys that we don't match up well with, and us the same. And like every big dual, the outcome will come down to bonus points and winning the close bouts."
The Saxons' strength is at the upper weights, with the trio of Danny Malik (171), Joe Lamanna (189) and sophomore Josh Marchok (215) thrashing most of their opponents all season to a tune of a 59-5 combined record.
State medalist Patrick Scully (119, 22-3), who transfered from Hoffman Estates following his junior year, gives the Saxons something extra at the start of the lineup, while teammates John Lombardo (135, 16-8) and Pat Felde (160, 21-5) add experience and staying power.
The Broncos rely on their terrific state qualifiers from a year ago - Adrian Gonzalez (103, 22-2), Luke Miller (152, 23-4) and Dan Santoro (171, 23-3) - but Strobl is quick to say there's more to his team than the aforementioned trio.
"It's business as usual from those (three)," said Strobl, "but we've had many of our other guys turn the corner of late to help add more balance to our lineup."
Dakota Wapotish (140) and Ryne McQueen (160) will join Kalvin Arugeta (189, 22 wins) this weekend as 20-bout winners, with three others also closing fast.
"Tonight is what it's all about, it's going to be fun," said Malik (17-1), who was a sectional qualifier last year with 34 victories and this year is No. 9 in the state with championship belts from both the Feutz and Lake Park invites.
"Since the arrival of coach (Gruszka), there has been an instant change in the attitude and intensity in our room. He expects a lot of all of us, and he never lets up on our training, but he cares about how we are doing in and away from the room."
Malik knows how important his bout with No. 4 Santoro will be, and he is looking forward to what he says should be one of many great matches on the night.
Hersey heroes: During a break in the action at the Berman Holiday Invite, Hersey coach Jim Wormsley said he wouldn't trade the middle of his lineup for another in the state.
A bold statement from a man of few words, but it's hard to argue with the Huskies' chief.
While plenty of teams have a superb 1-2 punch - such as Joey Uccardi and Eric Oyster (Plainfield Central, 145, 152), or Neuqua Valley's Alex Cizek (145) and Nick Proctor (160) - the Huskies' dangerous trio of Demetrios Mitchell, Sean Bonner and Jeff Koepke stands alone with a sizzling 91-13 record from 145 to 160 pounds.
Both Mitchell and Koepke sit firmly in the No. 3 spot in the state rankings, while Bonner (28-8) is No. 11.
This group, along with seven others, have already recorded 20-plus wins as the Huskies (21-3) close in on an MSL East crown after beating Rolling Meadows last week to help keep their division record perfect.
"Almost our entire team has grown up together and matured as wrestlers during the past three years," said Koepke (31-5), who was fifth at the Dvorak and third at the Berman.
"We've all gone about working hard, during and after the season, and all of that hard work is beginning to pay off."
Wormsley said his 2009 state qualifier has improved in his positioning on his feet, while Koepke's handfighting and scrambling is much better than a year ago.
The junior, who lost to the nation's No. 2 -rated Nick Moore of Iowa City West - the eventual champion at the Dvorak - came back through the backdraw to garner his well-deserved medal.
Koepke has 99 takedowns, 9 pins and 7 tech-falls this season.
Mitchell, the champion at both the Dvorak and Berman, enters this weekend with 81 takedowns and 17 pins while earning 182 points for the Huskies.
Mustangs moving forward: After losing seven starters and five sectional qualifiers, including state qualifier Thomas Davidson (NIU) from a year ago, Rolling Meadows is still closing in on 20 wins for the season after reaching that number last winter for the first time in school history.
What gives?
"We always start out slow, but as the season goes on, we seem to get better, as the guys get through a pretty strong nonconference schedule while learning as we go," said Mustangs coach Dave Froehlich.
With two weeks left in the regular season, the Mustangs have an outside chance of 20 victories, thanks in part to a trio of 20-match winners - sophomore Joe Caprio (152, 27 wins), and juniors Kory Jauch (125, 22 wins) and Dennis Caravello (140, 22 wins).
"We've been hit really hard with all sorts of various injuries this season, and as a matter of fact, we've only had our entire lineup together on just two occasions," Froehlich said. "The great thing about this team is that it's so young, and that gives us a lot of hope for the future."
Froehlich had hopes of surprising front-running Hersey last week in Arlington Heights to take command of the MSL East, and use an early December victory over Wheeling as the wedge between the two leaders in the division. But the Huskies had too much firepower and veteran experience for the Mustangs on that night.
"We've got a sophomore in (Aaron Kohlberg) who wrestles at 103, but is really just 90 pounds, and a kid like Nick Calandra (130, 19 wins), who like Aaron has a big heart and has lost some close matches. But those are the type of guys we can build around and count on next season."
'V' is for Vernola: Following his third-place finish at the Central Suburban League tournament in 2009, Jeff Vernola snuck up on his competition to reach the Leyden sectional after earning a title at the York regional.
Vernola ended up finishing just out of the running for a place in the 3A state tournament, but the Maine West senior immediately set the wheels in motion to have a bigger and better 2010 season after recording 35 wins for coach Lance Weber.
"Jeff has really stepped it up this season," Weber said. "His confidence is way up, and he goes out in every match knowing what he has to do to accomplish his goals."
"I think when he beat Joe Brignon (Vernon Hills, ranked No. 9 in Class 2A) he realized he not only could stick with really good guys, but also beat them as well."
Vernola (27-4), who will be one of the favorites in the upcoming CSL tourney at 135 pounds, opened the season 10-0 at the Maine East tournament to help jump-start his year after a grueling off-season.
"I trained at (Overtime) all during the summer, and when you're there with so many elite wrestlers, it really gives your confidence a boost as well as your ability to wrestle," Vernola said.