Neuqua Valley shines at Glenbard North
Spartacus Chino summed up the second day of the Class 3A individual wrestling sectional at Glenbard North with simplicity.
"It's better (to lose) here than at (the University of Illinois') Assembly Hall," the 140-pound Wheaton Warrenville South junior said after winning his third-place match to advance to Champaign.
On a Saturday afternoon and evening marked by monumental upsets, riveting success stories and brilliant performances, Neuqua Valley had four champions to lead the field.
"Unofficial sectional champs," Neuqua Valley coach Mick Ruettiger said after his four state qualifiers - Matt Cavallaris, Alex Cizek, Nick Proctor and Andy Spangler - all claimed titles at respective weights of 119, 145, 160 and 171 pounds.
Cavallaris and West Aurora junior Miguel Venecia met in the finals for the second weekend in a row. Cavallaris dispatched Venecia for a second straight postseason title, using a late takedown to secure a 5-3 victory.
"This week I focused on getting more takedowns (against Venecia)," Cavallaris said. "(Winning the sectional) is important. It's another check on my list that I wanted to get."
Cizek turned back Conant senior Gino Castiglione, allowing a mere escape in his 5-1 victory. It was their first meeting since they were eighth graders at the middle-school state tournament.
"My dad was telling me about (their last meeting) earlier today, but I really didn't remember it," Cizek said. "It's nice to see people stick with the sport."
"I thought I would come away with a win but I didn't," Castiglione said. "I came up short."
Proctor and Spangler then had back-to-back titles for the Wildcats at 160 and 171 pounds. The former was awarded the title when Maine West senior Robert Pack withdrew after an injury; Spangler improved to 44-2 on the season with a 12-4 dismantling of Glenbard East senior Sam Pennisi.
Glenbard North boasted a pair of champions as junior Joey Gosinski needed overtime to extend his season-long unbeaten streak to 44 matches. Gosinski secured a takedown over Downers Grove North junior Jimmy Nehls 47 seconds into the extra session to record a 4-2 win at 125 pounds.
"It's all a matter of heart, and how much you need it," Gosinski said. "When I went to overtime I felt pretty good that I could take him down."
Freshman John Gosinski also made the state cut after falling in the 103-pound championship against Plainfield Central sophomore Nathan Davis. But it was the Panthers' other celebrated freshman, 130-pounder Brian Murphy, who pulled the stunner of the finals. Murphy avenged a pair of regular-season losses to WW South junior Mark Savenok with a tactical 3-1 triumph.
Savenok had his 37-match winning streak snapped with his first defeat of the year.
"The first time (we wrestled) I got out of my stance a lot," Murphy said. "The second time it was just his day. (The biggest win) of my high school career so far."
The most impressive underclass achievement was once again turned in by Willowbrook sophomore Steve Congenie; the 152-pounder had no problem extending his unblemished season, whitewashing Rolling Meadows' Joe Caprio in the championship.
"I have been working on staying aggressive at all times," Congenie said. "I try to prevent as many comebacks as possible."
WW South, Naperville Central, Downers Grove North and Glenbard East all had two state qualifiers.
Nathan Pealstrom was unquestionably the feel-good story of the tournament. The West Aurora 135-pounder began the season on the Blackhawks' underclass team, only to earn a promotion to varsity at the beginning of January.
The sophomore realized his ambition was unlimited, storming to the sectional title at 135 pounds with a takedown-icing 6-2 victory over St. Charles East senior Alex Maynard.
"All the coaches were like, 'He's got a ton of ability,'" West Aurora coach Mike DiNovo said. "He was winning at every level we gave him."
"Nobody (at the sectional) really knew anything about me," Pealstrom said. "I realized about two weeks ago that I could (go downstate). It's been so much motivation from (my coaches and teammates)."
Nicholas Drendel became the first West Aurora champion when the junior punched a return ticket to state with a 3-1 victory over Bolingbrook senior Frankie Campos. Drendel overcame a 1-0 third-period deficit with an escape and takedown with 12 seconds to go to turn back Campos for the second straight week in a championship match.
"I wasn't going to take second this time," Drendel said of his fate last year at the sectional. "He was looking at the clock, and I took advantage of a scoring situation."
Venecia fell in the championship match to Cavallaris at 119 pounds, but the Blackhawks' junior was still state-bound for the first time. Friday night Venecia stunned the field by ending Batavia senior Logan Arlis' 34-match winning streak.
"I just tried to think about that match (against Arlis) like it never happened," Venecia said.
Arlis rebounded with his customary resilience that has marked his sterling four-year career. The defending state runner-up at 112 pounds had back-to-back falls in the two preliminary wrestle-backs and then handed St. Charles East junior Joe Dede his third loss in as many weeks with a 6-3 victory in the third-place match.
Tyler Patton also advanced for Batavia; the 135-pound senior denied Lake Park senior Robert Babej, a 39-match winner, with a late takedown in his 7-5 win.
St. Charles East senior Brandon Rubino booked another trip to Champaign after downing Glenbard North junior Bryan Gonzelez for third at 112 pounds.
Ryan Ward was the lone hope remaining for Geneva to avoid a second straight year without a state qualifier. But the senior 189-pounder left no doubt, earning his first career trip to the state finals with a come-from-behind 8-7 victory for the championship over Schaumburg junior Joe LaManna.
"I wouldn't have been happy with a second-place finish," Ward said. "I caught him on his back on the way down (to earn a takedown and 3-point near fall). That was a big point in the match."
Glenbard North was the site for an ultimate grudge match pitting state-ranked juggernauts Josh Marchok of Schaumburg and South Elgin junior Jake Randich. Marchok beat the third-period buzzer with a fall over Randich in the semifinals; the sophomore then had the lone pin of the championship round over Glenbard East senior standout Parker Settecase for top honors at 215 pounds.
"Both of us (he and Randich) knew it was going to a big match," Marchok said. "We kind of know each other's styles. I still had to be focused for the finals."
It was still a historic day for Randich as well. The junior transfer from Driscoll became the first state qualifier in Storm history when he waltzed to the top consolation award.
"I think it's awesome," Randich said. "I'll be the first wrestling picture up on the wall (at South Elgin). I knew I could have beat (Marchok). Hopefully we'll see each other in the state finals."
In addition to Marchok and LaManna, Schaumburg also received a state-qualifying performance from Danny Malik at 171 pounds; the senior improved to 33-3 with a dominant 14-2 major decision over Glenbard North senior Chris Wahrman in the third-place match.
"A mixed bag," Schaumburg coach Matt Gruszka said. "I was real happy to see Josh pick it up. We got our heavy weights through."
Pat Scully was the Saxons' major casualty. The senior bowed out with a 35-7 record in the brutally fierce 119-pound division. Eric Moreno suffered his third loss of the season in the 160-pound semifinals, but the Bartlett senior, the lone representative of the Hawks in the field, turned away talented Downers Grove South sophomore Willie Anaya to earn state inclusion.
"My coaches really pushed me this week," Moreno said after his third-place triumph. "I was really hoping to get to the first-place match. I would like to carry this momentum over and have a good state tournament."
Conant had the final two local state qualifiers, literally at opposite ends of the spectrum. Freshman Ben Clifford eclipsed the 30-win plateau in finishing fourth at 103 pounds; heavyweight Nate Benedetti needed a mere 22 seconds to terminate the third-place match at 285 pounds.