Northwest/Scouting Class 3A regional wrestling
By Mike Garofola
Deerfield regional
When: 9 a.m. Saturday
Cast: Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Fremd, Hersey, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Lake Zurich, Palatine, Stevenson, Wheeling.
Advancement: Team champion advances to TBA dual-team sectional Feb. 22. Top three from each weight class advances into Barrington individual sectional Feb. 11-12.
Team to beat: Barrington (19-0, No. 5 in state), as the Mid-Suburban League champs have too much firepower and depth for any other to challenge and appear to be on course to make a serious run to its second straight appearance at the dual-team state tournament in late February. “It’s a battle of attrition this time of the season, and Barrington has way too much depth for anyone, and not a weakness at all in its lineup,” says Hersey coach Jim Wormsley.
MVP candidates: Luke Smith (Wheeling, 34-0, 140), Danny Sabatello (Stevenson, 33-0, 125) — the top-rated star duo may be at their best heading into the stretch run of their final season, and each would like to leave little doubt in the minds of their eventual sectional opponents of what’s ahead for those in their path.
Dandy divisions:
112 — Jared Parvinmehr (Barrington, 29-5, MSL champ), Eugene Blackmon (Buffalo Grove, 24-4, 2nd, MSL), Emilio Nava (Lake Zurich, 16-11), Christian Hoogheem (Deerfield, 25-11, 2nd, CSL). Could be a rematch of the MSL final.
135 — Ronnie Hauser (Fremd, 26-6, MSL champ), Alex Nigro (Lake Zurich, 23-8, NSC champ), Lenny Bloom (Deerfield, 34-1, CSL champ at 140), Steve Polasik (Barrington, 25-9). Three conference champions here, let’s see what the draw brings.
145 — Mike Smith (Wheeling, 28-8, MSL champ), Dakota Wapotish (Barrington, 31-6, 2nd, MSL), Zach Ullman (Lake Zurich, 28-5, 2nd, NSC), Todd Zimmerman (Deerfield, 19-12, CSL champ), Jorge Castellanos (Highland Park, 20-13, 2nd, CSL). Another potential MSL rematch possible, but the Ullman, who lost 2-0 to Wapotish earlier, might have something to say about that.
160 — Jeff Koepke (Hersey, 38-2, MSL champ), Cameron Thomson (Barrington, 33-7), Eddie Scanlon (Wheeling, 24-8), Ryan Levine (Stevenson, 18-17), Tyler Pohn (Deerfield, 25-10, CSL champ).: It will take a monumental effort to unseat the state’s No. 1 (Koepke), which makes the race for the last two spots a good one.
189 — Chris Johnson (Wheeling, 31-2, 2nd, MSL), Ryan Wilt Barrington, 24-12), Fred Scales (Hersey, 26-10), Willie Goldberg (Highland Park, 32-4, CSL champ): No. 5 Johnson beat No. 9 Goldberg 3-1 in their first meeting.
215 — Brandon Weber (Stevenson, 29-5, 3rd, NSC), Jason Olson (Hersey, 32-8, second, MSL), Daniel Davidson (Barrington, third, MSL, 26-11), Dan Muehfelt (Fremd, 19-10), Brandon Jagielski (Wheeling, 27-10), Artie Bess (Deerfield, 29-4, CSL champ), Nick VanAntwerp (Lake Forest, 18-10). Too many quality guys here, including Weber and Bess, both top 10 in the state, and the quartet from the MSL just itching to knock-off the favorites.
Lowdown: Lockport and York may be able to tout more star power, but there’s still plenty of upper echelon players here and enough depth in many of the divisions to make for some terrific sectional qualifying matches late Saturday afternoon. “We finished really strong, with wins over Glenbard West and South Elgin to end our regular season at 22-2, so we feel we can make a run at Barrington for the title,” said Deerfield head coach Marc Pechter, whose club lost 48-15 to the MSL champs early on.
The Broncos have beat some very good clubs this season, including state-ranked Lockport and Plainfield Central, and coach Al Strobl’s lads have their sights clearly on the bigger prize ahead. “Our 2010 team was a great team, with so many terrific leaders who helped us to a fourth-place medal at the state tournament, but this team might be even better, and everyone is anxious to get back this season and compete for a dual-team state title,” says Broncos senior heavyweight Aaron Castagna.
Notre Dame regional
When: 9 a.m. Saturday
Cast: Glenbrook North, Glenbrook South, Loyola, Maine East, New Trier, Niles North, Notre Dame, Prospect, Rolling Meadows, St. Viator.
Advancement: Team champion advances to TBA dual-team sectional Feb. 22. Top three from each weight class advance into Barrington individual sectional Feb. 11-12.
Teams to beat: Notre Dame (29-1), Rolling Meadows (25-3), Prospect.
MVP candidates: Joe Caprio (Meadows, 160, 32-5), Kory Jauch (Meadows, 135, 30-4), Aaron Kohlberg (Meadows, 103, 29-4, MSL champ). After wrestling all of last season under 100 pounds, Kohlberg has caught up to everyone in his class to become one of the best, while teammates Jauch and Carpio will be eager to erase second-place MSL finishes — making them more dangerous than ever.
Dandy divisions:
103 — Kohlberg, Matt Sommers (Notre Dame, 2nd, ESCC), Chris Alcock (New Trier, 28-4, CSL champ). Breakout season for Kohlberg makes him the strong favorite. Alcock beat Sommers 5-4 this season.
140 — Joe Randazzo (Prospect, 30-9), Nick Calandra (Rolling Meadows, 24-12), Jim Briancofiore (Notre Dame, 2nd, ESCC), Andrew Maksimovic (GBN, 22-4, two-time CSL champ), Cris Pazmino (Niles North, 19-4), Jack Conner (New Trier, 25-12). Deepest weight class here, Randazzo beat Maksimovic 9-5 for Dick Mudge title.
145 — Marc Herff (Rolling Meadows, 32-10, 3rd, MSL), Jim Wallenberg (Notre Dame, ESCC champ, 2010 state qualifier). Great chance for veteran Herff to win crown and automatic sectional bye.
160 — Caprio, Charlie Doyle (Notre Dame, ESCC champ). Most of the season at 171 gives the junior Caprio the advantage.
Lowdown: Notre Dame has moved fast during the past two seasons under Augie Genovesi and former MSL head coaches Jim Cartwright (Conant) and Bill Scully (Hoffman Estates), who between them have over 100 years of coaching experience. However, while the Dons have quickly moved up the ranks in the ESCC and in state polls, they can be beat this weekend. MSL East co-champ Rolling Meadows should be at full strength today after going into battle at MSL tourney without its 215- and 285-pounders in its lineup, while Prospect could provide an extra lift or two for its division rival. “I don’t know if we have enough to challenge for the team title, but we’ve got some guys who could do very well at this tournament, and in doing so, help (out) Meadows in certain weight classes,” said Knights coach Tom Whalen.
Schaumburg regional
When: 9 a.m. Saturday
Cast: Bartlett, Conant, DeKalb, Elgin, Hoffman Estates, Lake Park, Larkin, Schaumburg, South Elgin, Streamwood.
Advancement: Team champion advances to Hinsdale South dual-team sectional. Top three from each weight class advances into Downers Grove North sectional Feb. 11-12.
Teams to beat: Schaumburg, South Elgin, Lake Park, DeKalb. The race for the team trophy truly is up-for-grabs, with the aforementioned clubs each capable of winning of it all, in what should be a closely fought battle. “We think we can even be in the mix if we come to wrestle, and have a few guys have better days than their performance at the MSL tournament,” said Conant coach Chad Hay, who celebrated Mitch Alexander’s championship at 130 pounds.
South Elgin finished strong down the stretch, and with its victory over Neuqua Valley in its season finale, the Storm would earn a three-way tie with the Wildcats and Lake Park for the top spot in the UEC Valley division. Schaumburg surprised the MSL field last weekend and was right there with upstart Wheeling for the runner-up trophy behind Barrington. “We’ve come on of late, and have been getting some solid performances from others (besides) Josh (Marchok), Joe (LaManna) and Pat Felde, which has made us a little more dangerous than we were earlier in the season,” said Saxons coach Matt Gruszka.
MVP candidates: Josh Marchok (Schaumburg, 215, 28-0), Joe LaManna (Schaumburg, 189, 33-1). This list begins and ends with the No. 1 wrestler in the state (Marchok), while his teammate (LaManna) is just a click behind the nation’s No. 9 rated 215-pounder, according to Intermat magazine.
Dandy divisions:
130 — Alexander (16-11), Matt Adcock (Lake Park, 33-8, second UEC), Evan Jones (DeKalb, 27-10, second NI-Big 12). Alexander missed time midway through the season, but the senior has charged back into contention for a sectional berth after his MSL winning performance.
140 — Bryan Peterson (Schaumburg, 25-6, second MSL), Travis Sylvester (Conant, 27-9), Andrew Marola (South Elgin, 22-12, second UEC), Tyler Easter (Elgin, 16-10), Lucas Laten (Bartlett, 17-12). Sylvester will look for a measure of revenge on his conference rival Peterson, who would prevail 6-4 in OT in the quarters of the MSL tourney. Laten will try to do the same after his 5-2 loss to Easter.
171 — Pat Felde (Schaumburg, 29-6, second MSL), Gino Prestia (Conant, 26-12), Tom Gbean (Bartlett, 23-9, second UEC), Ricky Garcia (South Elgin, 21-14), Richie Santana (Elgin, 13-8). No room for error in this tightly bunched group, which will have a hard time keeping up with Felde, who fell in an upset in the MSL finals, which should help rev the engine of the Schaumburg senior.
Lowdown: Although not the deepest of all regionals, there will be a spirited run for the finish at both the team and individual side of things, where the fans will be hypnotized by the supreme talent of Marchok, while treated to the skill of Sal Annoreno (Bartlett, 119, 32-1) and South Elgin junior Cody Pych (30-3, 160), who each came back from season-ending injuries in 2010 to earn some well-deserved attention in the UEC and around the area this year.
York regional
When: 9 a.m. Saturday
Cast: Addison Trail, Elk Grove, Fenwick, Leyden, Lyons, Maine South, Maine West, Oak Park-River Forest, Proviso East, Proviso West, York.
Advancement: Team champion advances to York dual-team sectional Feb. 22. Top 3 from each weight class advance into Leyden individual sectional Feb. 11-12.
Teams to beat: No. 4 Lyons (17-2), No. 13 York (25-4), No. 21 Oak Park-River Forest (13-8), Maine South (CSL champ).
MVP candidates: No. 1 Matt Garelli (Fenwick, 103, 33-1), No. 3 Matt Nora (Lyons, 152, 30-2), No. 2 Sam Brooks (Oak Park, 160, 16-2), No. 3 Jim Nudera (York, 189, 32-3), No. 4 Rasheen Lemon (Proviso West, 189, 16-2), No. 2 Joe Gonzalez (Lyons, 215, 23-5).
Dandy divisions:
130 — Rico Zayas (Maine West, 29-4, CSL champ), Jesse McCabe (Leyden), Drew Bates (Lyons), Rudy Guthrie (York), (Leyden), Colin Rogers (OPRF). Juniors Zayas and McCabe will have their hands full in this senior-dominated division, led by the state-ranked Bates, who was a 2010 state qualifier.
135 — Jake Korbecki (Maine West, 23-6, 2nd, CSL), Troy Valdez (York), Jack Windmoeller (Lyons), Chirino Watson (Oak Park), Tom Brewster (Maine South, 24-8, CSL champ). More trouble for another one of the best from Maine West, including CSL rival Brewster, whose 3-2 decision gave him the conference crown.
160 — Brooks, Stephen Kunca (Leyden), Max Hanak (Maine West, 20-15), No. 12 Malik Thurman (Proviso West, 23-3), Jack Pearson (Lyons). If Brooks does indeed compete at 160, then the addition of the defending state champ suddenly makes this weight class even tougher for those hoping for a top-three finish.
Lowdown: This venue isn’t fair. It is top-heavy with dual-team talent, with state heavyweights LT and York, Oak Park coached by the well-respected Mike Powell, not to mention recent CSL champ Maine South, as well as Leyden, which last year captured a regional title but is likely a distant finisher when this tournament comes to an end.
It won’t be safe at any weight class, as each has enough impact names to ensure plenty of upsets along the way to keep fans on the edge, and website junkies itching for constant updates. The mats will be rumbling when the upper weights take center stage, with no fewer than a dozen state ranked behemoths on display during the competition.