Time to go on a roll
The wrestling regular season is in the books, yet there is still much to be decided in coming weeks.
The only sport with separate state tournaments for individuals and teams, the initial stage for inclusion to the individual state finals two weeks from today at the University of Illinois' famed Assembly Hall becomes reality for the eight area programs.
"It's the most exciting time of the year," said West Aurora coach Mike DiNovo, whose school hosts one of two area Class 3A regionals.
The stakes are as high as the competition is brutal.
"It's not supposed to be easy in the postseason," said St. Charles East coach Steve Smerz. "If you have an off-weekend, you're going to be staying home the next weekend."
Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles North are in the field at St. Charles East's Class 3A regional Saturday; the programs' possibilities for a coveted berth in the Leyden team sectional the Tuesday after the individual state finals have two considerable roadblocks: Glenbard North and Lake Park.
The respective DuPage Valley and Upstate Eight champions are the unquestioned favorites in the 10-team field.
The top-three individual place-winners at St. Charles East feed into the Glenbard North sectional next week; they will be joined by an equal number of competitors from the corresponding regionals at West Aurora, Hinsdale South and Schaumburg.
"Anyone who gets out of (St. Charles East) has earned it," Geneva coach Tom Chernich said. "I think every weight (class) has at least four 20-win wrestlers. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a state-qualifier-caliber wrestler sent home."
When the powers-that-be expanded the wrestling state tournament to three classes last year, they introduced a significant change: four, instead of the traditional three, competitors advance to state out of the sectional.
That, however, does not make the process any easier than the former two-class tournament.
"There are more teams in the sectional," said DiNovo.
"There are going to be a lot of outstanding individuals (at Glenbard North)," Batavia coach Tom Arlis said.
Arlis' son, 119-pound senior Logan, has the finest pedigree of any of the combatants from the four local schools.
Arlis has had back-to-back unbeaten regular seasons, captured four tournament crowns this winter and is the reigning state runner-up at 112 pounds.
But Tyler Patton could very well be the Bulldogs' ace in the hole this postseason.
After narrowly missing a state berth last year, the 135-pound senior has been on a mission in recent weeks, claiming the Western Sun Conference tournament title as his main impetus for a successful February.
"He is putting it all together," coach Arlis said of Patton. "He has been finishing all his shots. What a great time of the year to put it all together."
Arlis also has high expectations for Joey Shump (103 pounds), Augie Watson (140) and Luis Campos (189).
Host St. Charles East has several top-notch wrestlers, particularly in the lower to middle weights.
Senior Brandon Rubino, undefeated on the year at 112 pounds, is looking to duplicate his Champaign trip from a year ago.
"I think at 12 (Rubino) will be a force," predicted coach Arlis. "He will do some damage."
"I've been waiting for this the whole year," Rubino said.
The Saints' other returning state qualifier, senior Nick Scimeca, has dropped to 145 for his final campaign.
Nick Ruffino and Alex Maynard are the Saints' other top hopes at 125 and 135; senior heavyweight Rafael Flores is also a strong contender.
"We have guys who are definitely capable of having a good postseason and getting downstate," said Smerz.
St. Charles North coach Ken Moromi has simple hopes for his numbers-addled North Stars.
"Realistically, I'm looking at possibly getting three kids out," Moromi said.
Sophomore 130-pounder Tim Noverini is the North Stars' top winner this season; Noverini looks to eclipse the 20-match barrier Saturday.
"Every match at 130 is going to be tough," said Moromi.
Sam Gustafson (140) and Trevor Illogic (189) also anchor St. Charles North.
Ryan Ward knows there is no tomorrow this time around.
The 189-pound Geneva senior has been a force all season, and he attempts to garner his first trip to the state finals.
"He will unquestionably be the No. 1 seed," Batavia coach Arlis said.
"That's no pressure," Ward said of his lofty status. "I know all the guys that are going to be there. I know what I have to do to win. I don't have another year. This is it. It would mean everything (to reach state)."
Chernich also has high hopes for Will Duerr, who will drop two weight classes to 171 pounds, Keith Reilly and Nick Bradberry.
West Aurora juniors Nicholas Drendel and Miguel Venecia are the most logical candidates to land at state in coming weeks for the Blackhawks.
Drendel is up a weight from his state-qualifying berth of 103 last season, and Venecia, the only West Aurora conference champion, has designs at 119.
Sophomore transfer Greg Jacquez (140) qualified for Aurora Central last year in 1A.
"I didn't make it to state last year, so that's what I'm really shooting for this year," said Venecia.
In the middle-tier state tournament, Marmion and Aurora Central travel to Oswego as part of the Lemont sectional complex; Kaneland is headed to Belvidere for a berth in the Sterling sectional.
Marmion had a breakout season, and the Cadets' strength of schedule figures to be a prominent factor.
Montini snapped the Cadets' 18-match winning streak at the Suburban Christian Conference tournament last week, but the Cadets are a prohibitive favorite to capture their first regional title in program history.
"I really have not idea what to expect," Marmion coach Dean Branstetter said. "Our schedule is set up with all 3A schools. The only drawback is that we haven't seen any 2A schools, except Montini and Aurora Central. I haven't seen anybody (at the Oswego regional). We don't have any common opponents."
Brothers Pat and Eddie Greco broke through the glass ceiling last year to end the Cadets' state drought; the two, with plenty of able company, return for a second go-around.
"I'm trying not to think of individual or class differences," said Pat Greco, the Cadets' Northwestern-bound four-year starter at 145 pounds. "I'm just thinking about my wrestling. The one thing that I learned from last year (at state) was that you have to wrestle to win. You can't wrestle conservatively."
Eddie Greco won the first medal for Marmion last year with his fifth-place showing at 103, but the Cadets' lineup is stacked with several ranked athletes.
"I think these kids know what it takes to win a tournament," Branstetter said. "I would like to win the regional and let the individual (state tournament) play itself out. It should be a good month."
In addition to the Greco brothers, Marmion boasts undefeated and top-ranked freshman sensation Ben Whitford at 119 pounds.
Angelo Silvestro (130 pounds), Eddie Breen (135), Dan Rowland (152) and Nico Jimenez (171) are all state ranked for the Cadets.
Marmion is on a potential collision course with Yorkville, the Western Sun tournament champion and reigning state runner-up, for a sectional-championship showdown. Kaneland had the best showing at the final Western Sun tournament, and the Knights have a pair of standout freshmen and upperclassmen to led their squad at Belvidere.
Ninth-graders Esai Ponce, the lone conference champion, and Dan Goress have made dramatic strides at 103 and 112 pounds.
Deven Scholl (125) is state-ranked, while heavyweight Jimmy Boyle enters the postseason with a gaudy 33-3 records and a top-five ranking.
"You're not going to get any better conditioned or learn any new moves at this time of the year," Boyle said. "Everybody is beatable this time of year. Everybody is 0-0. I hope to make it to state."
Kyle Davidson (145 pounds) and Nick Michels (171) also bear watching for Kaneland.
No coach in the area has had as many state champions as Arlis produced while at Naperville North, including three undefeated athletes his final year.
"The No. 1 ingredient to winning in the postseason is heart," Arlis said. "That's what the postseason is all about, putting together several good matches in a row."