Scouting weekend sectionals
Class 3A at Barrington
When: 4:30 p.m. today; 10 a.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. finals
Attention getters
103: Nick Fontanetta (Crystal Lake South, 34-0), Connor Lewis (Dundee-Crown), Adrian Gonzalez (Barrington, 34-2), Cameron Kennedy (Grant, 26-7), Nick Dudzinski (Mundelein, 31-7). A young and talented group is headed by No. 2 Fontanetta, who in the first week of the season recorded a 10-1 major decision over Gonzales at the final of the Moore-Prettyman tournament. If they meet here, one of the supersophs is headed to the consolation bracket, after their semifinal bout.
112: Miko Villanueva (Dundee-Crown, 36-4), Aaron Ryan (Jacobs, 26-12), Nick Peters (Crystal Lake South, 23-13), Derek Elmore (Machesney Park, 34-1), Matt Ornoff (Mundelein, 35-4), Robby Schultheis (Warren, 35-4), Josh Boggess (Prospect, 36-4). One year ago, Villanueva went on a spectacular run at the Barrington sectional which ended in a state medal at 103 pounds. The senior will need to be in top form over the next two days as a star-studded cast awaits all here. "From the very beginning, the coaching staff has been on me to improve, improve, improve," said Villanueva, "and I have, and right now I am were I need to be heading into the two most important weeks of my season." The No. 1 rated (Elmore) sits at the bottom of this bracket, while Villanueva has a pair of state qualifiers (Ornoff, Schwartz) and the upstart freshman (Boggess) on his side.
119: Colt Claudio (Huntley, 32-5), Danny Sabatello (Stevenson, 32-3), Joe Schwartz (Highland Park, 36-2), Colin Dodd (Hononegah, 38-4), Lenny Bloom (Deerfield, 33-6). A tough road awaits Claudio, who will see No. 4 Schwartz in the second round, however the senior, who may need to come back through the back-draw in order to secure his place downstate, still likes his chances. "It's all about winning that first match, and being prepared and wrestling smart for every (other) match after that," said the 3-time sectional qualifier.
140: Frank Abitua (Dundee-Crown, 36-5), Mark Mohler (Crystal Lake South, 30-9), Terrence Fox (Cary-Grove, 16-9), Mike Smith (Wheeling, 34-5), Travis LaShiava (Fremd, 28-5), Michael Braswell (Zion-Benton, 36-2). It might be a case of déjà vu all over again in the top half of this bracket, if Abitua and LaShiava meet Saturday morning in the semifinals in a rematch of the regional semis from a week ago, in which the DC junior was overwhelming. The Gators' Mohler appears to be on the toughest side of the bracket, but his coach (Ross Ryan) is confident his senior will be right in the mix of it all. "(140) is really tough, but (Mohler's) style of wrestling is tough, and he will frustrate his opponents because of it."
160: Kean Loupee (Crystal Lake South, 32-5), Mike Rust (Dundee-Crown, 29-6), Josh Symbal (Huntley, 28-14), Jeff Koepke (Hersey, 44-5), Josh Ronne (Libertyville, 35-7), Shane Siefert (Carmel, 29-2). The Gators' Loupee wouldn't meet ESCC and regional champion Siefert until the semifinals, while DC senior Rust will look to use momentum gathered after coming back from way behind in the consolation bracket to nab third and final spot at Fremd regional to advance. Symbal, who upset the then No. 2 seed at the Machesney Park Harlem regional last weekend, will need to work his magic once again in a top-heavy bracket which includes the state-ranked duo of Koepke and Ronne, whom Loupee is 1-1 on the season against (loss to Koepke).
Class 3A at Glenbard North
When: 4:30 p.m. today; 9 a.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. finals
Attention getters
160: Eric Moreno (Bartlett, 33-2 Upstate Eight, regional champ), Ivan Ceballos (Elgin, 28-13), Nick Proctor (Neuqua Valley, 34-2), Chris Pack (Maine West, 16-1), Josh Ellingwood (Plainfield Central, 31-11), Willie Anaya (DGS) 34-6. Although No. 1 (Proctor) sits on the same side of bracket as Hawks' star Moreno the senior arrives with plenty of confidence after winning titles at the UEC meet and the St. Charles East regional with ease.
171: Tom Randich (South Elgin, 29-8), Jordan Perez (Larkin, 26-18), Andy Spangler (Neuqua Valley, 41-2), Danny Balderas (Downers Grove North, 33-4), Sam Penisi (Glenbard East, 36-2), Danny Malik (Schaumburg, 30-2), Chris Wahrman (Glenbard North) 23-13. All-Star cast begins with Spangler, Balderas and Penisi are Nos. 3, 6 and 7 with Malik and Wahrman close by. Randich, who lost in OT to Wahrman in his regional final, will feed into Penisi in the second round, while Perez finds himself in top half of the bracket where both Spangler and Balderas reside.
215: Jake Randich (South Elgin, 41-1), Cam Martin (Larkin, 30-7), Toby Schimel (Elgin, 23-9), Josh Marchok (Schaumburg, 34-2), Parker Settecase (Glenbard East, 36-3), Robby Bain (Bolingbrook, 31-2). Perhaps South Elgin head coach Mark Cameron sums it up best on this weight class when he says, "Maybe No. 1 (Dan Kiebler, Leyden) should come on over (here) then everyone will be here." There would be little room if the big senior decided to do so, with No. 2 (Randich) heading a superb cast of elite players. "I've been looking forward to this weekend for weeks, and now it's finally here," said the 2-time state qualifier, and 2009 state medalist. With No. 5 (Bain) and No. 8 (Settlecase) on the top half of the bracket, that leaves the South Elgin junior on the same side as No. 3 Marchok. "Josh has a great low single shot, but having wrestled against him twice (1-1) coach and I will have a good game plan put together in advance of our match," Randich said. The dynamic duo should meet Saturday morning in the semifinals.
Class 2A at Sterling
When: 4:30 p.m. today; 10 a.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. finals
Storyline: So if the Burlington Central faithful thought the regional it competed in last week at Belvidere, what until they get a gander at this one! Fans are sure to get dizzy with just one glance at the guest list. Here's a few:
Attention getters
130: Shane Burke (Burlington Central, 30-6), Austin Culton (Sycamore, 29-4), Colton Gladwell (Washington, 26-7), Jason Fugiel (Crystal Lake Central, 27-10), Jake Hueman (Johnsburg, 28-9), Trevor Mileur (Peoria Woodruff, 23-8), Evan Jones (DeKalb, 23-13). Culton dropped down from his No. 5 spot in the state at 135 last weekend to stun the Rockets favorite (Burke) in the regional final, and the BC senior finds himself on the more favorable side of a solid group of 12 competitors.
171: Taylor Schuck (Burlington Central, 26-2), CJ Navarro (Rochelle, 26-2), Jared Koch (Woodstock Marian, 20-2), Alex Gutierrez (Peoria Woodruff, 29-6), Joe Dedick (Richmond-Burton, 30-8). Want to see the 3 of the top 4 in the state at 171? Look no further. BC senior Schuck (currently No. 3 in state polls) defeated No. 4 (Koch) 8-4 for the title at the Kaneland tournament, while top-rated Navarro fell to Schuck's teammate Tim Maroder 3-2 in a semifinal bout at 189 pounds during the Harvard tourney.
215: Tim Vincent (Burlington Central, 26-12), Gage Harrah (Crystal Lake Central, 28-3), David Vinton (Prairie Ridge, 26-5), Nate Joseph (East Peoria, 32-0). Vincent's move from heavyweight to 215 has been a profitable one for the BC senior, and one more week of success would mean a trip downstate. With Nos. 2, 3 and 4 in this group, the heat will be on, beginning with a likely second-round match with No. 3 Vinton. The bottom half of the bracket is nasty, with both No. 2 Harrah and No. 4 Joseph on a collision course in the semis.
Bonus footage: Defending state champion Dylan Reel (Washington, 40-1) versus No. 2 Colin Akers (Geneseo), No. 3 Jack Dechow (Richmond-Burton) and No. 5 Justin Peete (Johnsburg) and and several others makes this division the one to watch.
Class 1A at Byron
When: 4:30 p.m. today; 10 a.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. finals
Storyline: Seniors Evan Finnane (285) and Price Davis (160, 20-14) are still alive for St. Edward. Finnane, a sectional qualifier a year ago (4th at Plano), sits at the top half of the bracket, and away from the No. 2 Jake Petersen (Polo, 31-1) and No. 4 Marselle Dunn (Kewanee, 33-4) but would feed into No. 3 Mitchel Keppy (33-2) the sophomore from Port Byron Riverdale Saturday morning in the semifinals. Davis, who advanced last weekend after recording a fall at 0:34 in his state qualifier bout is one win away from facing No. 1 Ethan Ball (Mercer County, 36-0).