Wauconda just keeps winning

Wauconda put an exclamation point on its record-setting season by sweeping a trio of opponents Saturday afternoon in Antioch.

The NSC Prairie Division champion Bulldogs (17-4, 6-0) completed a 4-0 weekend after pounding Huntley, Freeport and Johnsburg in this annual triple-dual hosted by its conference rival — and in doing so, tied a program record for victories set two seasons ago.

Vernon Hills moved its record to 14-6 after the Cougars matched Wauconda with a trio of victories.

Antioch engineered an exciting late rally to defeat Huntley to also go 3-0.

The Red Raiders were to crack the win column and went 0-3 for the day.

“We’re very proud of the accomplishments this team has achieved thus far,” said Bulldogs coach Tom Nance, who fields a young starting lineup.

The Bulldogs are led by a pair of seniors — Pete Koostra (160) and Brian Kent (215) — who both appear to be on course for bigger and better things when the postseason begins in two weeks.

“Peter has been our lone captain all season long, and he sets a perfect example as our leader in that role,” Nance said. “Brian has put in so much extra work to become one of the best at his weight, and we feel real good to have them leading the way and for our chances in the NSC tournament next weekend and state tournament which begins after that.”

“Wauconda is very impressive, and a team that can be a real force at (our) conference tournament,” said Vernon Hills coach Jerry Miceli, whose dynamic duo of Gideon Yim (34-2) and Dan Klima (145, 36-5) combined to go 6-0 on the day.

The Bulldogs opened with a convincing 44-24 victory over Huntley, fueled by a fall at 2:26 from Koostra (28-5) and another from Kent (25-1) — whose inside cradle did the trick to blow open a match that at one time was 27-21 in favor of Wauconda.

“This is an exciting time of the season for (our) team, and (for) me as well because I am looking to finish strong, make a name for myself in this sport, and hopefully earn an opportunity to play football in college somewhere next season,” said Kent, the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback.

Wauconda took a big bite out of the depleted Pretzels from Freeport with a 48-18 victory, then went on another pin frenzy to close out Johnsburg 51-27 as Nate Magiera, Kent and heavyweight Shawn Sundquist each recorded a win by fall.

“It was a real team effort today, and it was great to see guys like Nate (Magiera) come back from an early season loss to the Huntley kid and wrestle so hard in his rematch,” Nance said. “When you see your guys continue to improve, even in defeat, then you know you’re making progress, and that becomes really important in our conference tournament or at regionals, when every point you can get could make the difference in the final team standings.”

The Bulldogs’ captain Koostra is locked into the NSC championships and beyond, after a concussion last year robbed him of a chance to compete in the regionals and ended his junior season far too quickly.

“I feel like my chance for a trip downstate was taken from me, but it has also been the motivation needed to drive me each and everyday, either in the room or during my training,” said Koostra, who in his sophomore season was a state alternate after finishing just out of the top four.

Koostra believes his club has the firepower to compete for a regional crown with state ranked Richmond-Burton as well as Grayslake North.

Miceli praised David Pierce (140, 20-11) and heavyweight Jeremy Brazil (27-5) for their efforts, as each went 3-0.

“It was a good day for us, but we’ve still got a lot of work ahead of us if we want to be there with Wauconda, R-B, North and others in two weeks,” Miceli said.

Yim, a state qualifier last season, and currently the No. 3-rated 125-pounder in Class 2A according to Illinois Weekly Magazine, still hasn’t forgotten his major decision loss to No. 1 Danny Sabatello of Stevenson in the Leyden Invite finale two weeks ago. He used that 17-6 thrashing as a reminder to keep his training regimen at the highest possible level.

“He (Sabatello) showed me that my shots have to get better, as well as my leg defense,” said Yim, a senior.

Yim could meet the Patriots senior next weekend in an NSC final, but he is quick to note that Luke Gaeth of Libertyville, Antioch’s Mike Gussarson and others will all be ready to take on the likely Nos. 1 and 2 seeds.

Klima, who has gone undefeated since winning an individual crown at Leyden, sees the likes of Antioch’s junior star George Gonzalez (34-4) in his sights at the NSC tournament at 145 pounds.

“George is a great wrestler, and last year we had a tight 9-8 decision, so I am anxious to compete against him next weekend, and then (maybe) two more times at regionals (at Grayslake North) and during sectionals here at Antioch,” said Klima, who was ranked 8th in this week’s state poll — just spots behind Gonzalez, who with his 3 victories reached 30 wins for the second straight season.

“It’s a big deal for me to get to 30 wins again,” said Gonzalez, who was one-and-done in Champaign during his first visit downstate last February. “I remember getting in on (his) leg during that match (against Adam Butler of Glenwood), then I just froze, and it was all downhill after that, but I know I’ll be ready when I get there again this year.”

Gonzalez’s teammate Zach Epker shared the same story as his fellow state qualifier, as the 189-pound junior came within one match of the medal round before falling.

“Coming out (onto) the floor of Assembly Hall was kind of overwhelming to me, and probably contributed to my eventually being eliminated in the backdraw,” says Epker (30-2) who was beaten by Adam Archeson (5-2) of Champaign Centennial but later crushed the senior 16-3 at the state team duals a week later in Bloomington.

“I feel like my first trip downstate was kind of a trial run, and that this year, with (me) having total confidence in myself that my second trip there will be a very successful one.”

Epker and his mates outlasted Huntley in the final dual of the day when it overcame a fall by Red Raiders senior Matt Zeis (28-7) at 215 that pulled the FVC team close at 27-24.

But sophomore Mark Lyman recorded a fall to push the Sequoits’ lead to 33-24.

“Mark came out to wrestle because of football, but I think he’s really turning the corner and finding out that he really enjoys the sport,” said Sequoits coach Wilbur Borrero of his rookie heavyweight.

“I tell the guys this time of the year is all about the postseason and getting yourself in a position to get downstate — because once you are there anything can happen. That’s what the focus is from here on out.”

A fall from Huntley’s Zac Stenger made it 33-30 until Antioch’s Pat Unida sealed the deal with a hard-fought 6-3 decision over Chris Jaggers.

“That last dual (with Antioch) kind of sums up the year we’ve had so far,” said Huntley coach BJ Bertelsman.

“We’ve had 8-9 underclassmen — 90 percent of the time making up our starting lineup, and in a conference like the FVC, you’re going to struggle at times with so much inexperience.”

Bertelsman can lean on seniors Lucas Rogers (135) and Matt Zeis (285) as well as junior Josh Symbal (171) — this trio has combined for 81 victories this season after going 8-1 Saturday.

Rogers (25-2) — a state qualifier last season, appears to be nearing top form after his 2 pins and technical fall at Antioch.

“Lucas was at his absolute best of the season today,” Bertelsman said.

“I feel that my focus is finally where it needs to be and firmly on advancing through regionals and sectionals and into the state tournament where a state title is the only thing to be after,” said Rogers, who won 36 matches at 130 pounds a year ago.

Red Raiders big man Zeis (28-7) likes his chances in the FVC tournament, which features the likes of Cody Churkey of Dundee-Crown, Jimmy Prince of Grayslake North and nationally ranked Austin Marsden of Crystal Lake Central.

“Marsden is the best, but I lost to Prince 4-1 but pinned Joe Gonzalez (Lyons) who is rated No. 4 in 3A,” Zeis said.