One goal remains
Logan Arlis was virtually in unknown territory last weekend at the Class 3A Glenbard North individual wrestling sectional: the wrestle-backs.
But after losing for only the second time in two years, the Batavia 119-pound senior dominated his remaining foes to earn his third straight trip to the state finals this weekend at the University of Illinois' Assembly Hall in Champaign.
After having his dream of an unbeaten state-championship season crumble last year in the 112-pound finals, Arlis has one last chance at bettering his status from a year ago.
"A state title has been my mindset and goal ever since what happened last year," Arlis said. "It's pretty much what I have worked for all season."
Arlis' father, Tom, the Bulldogs' wrestling coach, mentored three athletes to undefeated state championships in his final year at Naperville North in 2003 before taking over the Batavia program the next fall.
"His expectation is to win it all," Tom Arlis said of his youngest of three children. "He has done all the work that is required to win a state title. There is nobody out there who has sacrificed as much as him."
The younger Arlis has integrated his savvy mat awareness with an assortment of new moves this fall and winter. In the process, he has elevated his status to a new level as he looks for the first state title in Batavia history, which spans more than half a century.
"(I am) continually picking up new stuff from my brother (Clint) and the other guys at U of I," Arlis said of his expanded repertoire of moves that has defined his senior campaign.
The younger Arlis is 79-2 the last two years, and his upset loss in the sectional quarterfinals to West Aurora junior Miguel Venecia has only inspired him to reach his ultimate goal.
"I don't think there could have been any more pressure (to a second straight unblemished prelude to the state tournament)," Logan said. "Once you get to state, it's a clean slate for everyone."
"He's improved so much, even from his junior to senior year," Batavia assistant Brian Dyer - one of the elder Arlis' three state champions from seven years ago - said. "His willingness to improve on both top and bottom (has impressed me the most)."
"He has paid the price to be a state champion," Tom Arlis concluded.
Among other local qualifiers, St. Charles North sophomore Tim Noverini became the second wrestler in program history to make the state cut.
"It feels pretty good," the 130-pounder said. "Hopefully I can do as well as (Eric) Justice - he's the other guy who qualified for North."
West Aurora was perhaps the surprise program at Glenbard North last weekend; after their first season with a losing dual-meet record in decades, the Blackhawks had two sectional champions - Nicholas Drendel (112) and Nathan Pealstrom (135) - while Venecia was second.
The other state-bound competitors in the large-school competition include Brandon Rubino (112 pounds), Joe Dede (119) and Alex Maynard (135), St. Charles East; Tyler Patton (135), Batavia; and Ryan Ward, 189-pound sectional champion from Geneva.
Marmion had five sectional champions among its nine total qualifiers for Class 2A; Kaneland has two in the mix with Kyle Davidson (145) and heavyweight hopeful Jimmy Boyle.