Glenbard North keeps rolling
Glenbard North continues to make mincemeat of its wrestling opponents this winter, but coach Mark Hahn was not entirely pleased after the Panthers' latest pair of one-sided wins.
The coach, who picked up his 500th win with a DuPage Valley Conference victory over West Aurora on Thursday, scheduled a practice in the aftermath of the Panthers' respective 52-12 and 50-13 triumphs over Oak Park-River Forest and Neuqua Valley.
“To be honest, there were quite a few things we were disappointed in,” Hahn said. “There were a lot of opportunities to score in singles and we didn't do it. Sometimes in big matches you might get one shot and you need to finish it. And I don't think we were hungry for pin like we've been.”
With its pair of victories at its quadrangular Saturday, Glenbard North, the consensus top-ranked Class 3A program in the state, improved to 9-0. West Aurora also had one-sided wins against Oak Park and Neuqua Valley.
In the final match of the day, Neuqua Valley suffered its third defeat at the hands of a state-ranked team. The Panthers' Joey Gosinski had two first-period falls to improve to 12-0 on the year.
“I have had 11 falls and one tech fall,” the defending 125-pound state champion said. “We're not worried about anything except winning a state title.”
The grandest prize has proved ever-elusive to Glenbard North, which has seven top-three finishes in the last decade.
“They're the real deal,” said Oak Park coach Mike Powell, whose club won the inaugural Class 3A title two years ago. “We've had two great teams (in recent years). They've been doing it for years. I have modeled our program after them.”
The Panthers are also anchored by 112-pounder Johnny Gosinski, also undefeated on the season. But the sophomore has a way to go to match his older brother's 64-match winning streak.
Brayan Gonzalez is another state-title contender at 119 pounds, and even without state medal-winner Brian Murphy at 145 pounds, Glenbard North was still an efficient machine. Alex Keca (171 pounds), Danny Eldridge (189), Zach Durkee (215) and heavyweight Dan Buyle have solidified the Panthers' upper weights, the lone weakness from last year.
“You give (the Panthers) credit, but you still have to compete against them,” Neuqua Valley coach Mick Ruetiger said. “I thought we could win six matches against them.”
But the Wildcats (6-5) could only manage four wins in the Panthers' second rout of the day. The Wildcats' Luke Pigott was the lone wrestler to win all three of his matches.
“I was looking for the majors today but just couldn't get any,” Pigott said. “I have to learn from my silly mistakes.”
Nicholas Drendel was not wrestling in his customary 125-pound slot, but the West Aurora reigning state runner-up at 119 is undefeated on the season after two dominant performances. In the Blackhawks' 43-23 victory over Neuqua Valley, Drendel had a first-period fall as part of an extended West Aurora winning streak. The senior did not wrestle against Glenbard North in the teams' dual meet Thursday, but he is convinced the league tournament could be a different story.
“The coaches keep saying that it is probably going to be like a big dual meet (with Glenbard North),” Drendel said.
David Pequeno (135 pounds), Javonte Black (215) and Brandon Walz (112) also secured pins against Neuqua Valley.
“West Aurora has a very solid lineup,” Ruettiger said. “(Drendel) is very creative. He transitions very well.”
The Blackhawks were even more triumphant against Oak Park.
“We got outhustled and out-toughed,” Oak Park coach Mike Powell said of the 51-19 loss. “They've got a good thing going. (West Aurora coach Mike) DiNovo does a great job with their program. He has so much energy.”
West Aurora returning sectional qualifier Nathan Pealstrom was undefeated at 140 pounds. Returning state qualifier Miguel Venecia missed the quad due to the ACT.