Scouting Fox Valley area conference meets
Fox Valley Conference tournament
When: Friday, 5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. (Finals, 2 p.m.)
Where: Grayslake Central High School
2009 team champion: Crystal Lake Central
Fox facts: Crystal Lake Central snapped a long streak of conference titles by Dundee-Crown two years ago, and the Tigers appear ready to produce several championships of their own, thanks to a powerful lineup filled with plenty of state-ranked wrestlers, with plenty more coming down through the pipeline from local youth clubs. Crystal Lake South, Prairie Ridge and Dundee-Crown will battle for the second-place trophy, as each has talent to burn in and around the room.
Bracket snap shots: 103 - Nick Fontanetta (CLS, 28-0), Brian Cullen (Prairie Ridge, 24-5): Fontanetta has won 3 tournaments this season, and is currently rated No. 2 in 3A, while Smith is No. 2 in 2A polls. 112 - Miko Villanueva (Dundee-Crown), Aaron Ryan (Jacobs), Zach Synon (Prairie Ridge): Match-day decision on where D-C head coach Al Zinke installs 2009 state medalist Villanueva but wherever the 2009 state medalist lands (112-119) he'll be considered the favorite. 119 - Colt Claudio (Huntley, 27-4), Mike Smith (Prairie Ridge, 20-7): Claudio lost (5-4) to Villanueva (5-4) earlier this season. 160 - Kean Loupee (Crystal Lake South, 26-4) vs. Justin Peate (Johnsburg). Maybe best final of the weekend. 215 - David Vinton (Prairie Ridge, 25-3) vs. Gage Harrah (Crystal Lake Central). Nos. 2 and 3 in 2A, Vinton d. Harrah 6-4 in OT just 2 weeks ago. 285 - Dan Lutz (Grayslake North, 25-5), Tim Zegers (Prairie Ridge, 23-10), Zac Didriksen (Johnsburg). Head coach Tom Frye says his captain (Lutz) leaves it "all out on the mat" each time out, and there's no reason why he cannot win the FVC this weekend.
SCC Mega-Dual Tournament
When: Saturday, 9 a.m.
Where: Montini High School
Schedule: 5 dual-team matches per team.
Storyline: If the Vikings-Saints game was a viewing audience winner last weekend, wait until the numbers come in after Saturday's Montini vs. Marmion Academy match. The No. 1 and 2 rated teams in the state will meet inside the main gym at 10:15 a.m. Saturday to decide the conference championship, as well as bragging rights for supremacy in the world of 2A wrestling. St. Edward is here as well, and longtime head coach Shane Kottkamp, despite playing in the shadows of the both Montini and Marmion, is looking forward to the competition with a trio of talented seniors. Shane Finnane (285, 11-6), Price Davis (160, 14-10) and Ben Herrmann (145) will be the wrestlers Kottkamp will be leaning on when his club opens up match play at 9 a.m. "Both Shane and Price were sectional qualifiers last season, and (both) have had some success this season as well, and we're hoping to see each of them get some good matches in, and come away with 3-4 wins at the end of the day," said Kottkamp, now in his 22nd year as Green Wave coach. Finnane, who has been on the injured list a couple of times this season, recently turned in a fine performance at the Geneva Invite, finishing fourth overall in a heavyweight class that featured No. 1 rated Jack Allen (Hinsdale Central) and ESCC top man, and 2009 state qualifier Steve Lester of Carmel.