Wrestling: Scouting Dundee-Crown dual team sectional

Scouting Dundee-Crown dual team sectional

When: 6 p.m. today

No. 5 Barrington (19-0) vs. No. 10 Notre Dame (29-1).

Advancement: Winner advances into Saturday’s Class 3A state quarterfinals at U.S. Celluar Coliseum in Bloomington to face either Sandburg or Granite City at 11 a.m.

Storyline: The Broncos won their second consecutive regional crown one week after dominating the field at the Mid-Suburban League tournament thanks to superb depth. That depth is noteworthy, because this is a group that relied on several first-year wrestlers, many of whom sparkled by the end of their rookie season.

The MSL champs finally pulled away from both Hersey and Deerfield to emerge as champions at the Deerfield regional, but that talent-rich field eliminated a handful of the Broncos’ best before that tournament came to an end. Notre Dame gave state-power Marist all it could handle before falling short at the ESCC conference tournament, but bounced back the next weekend to defeat MSL East co-champ Rolling Meadows to win its own regional, while sending 10 ahead to the Barrington sectional 6 days later.

Barrington standouts: Aaron Castagna (285, 41-5), Ryan Wilt (189, 31-14), Matt Sheehy (103, 30-11) Adrian Gonzalez (112, 24-6), Jared Parvinmehr (119, 33-8), Joe Adreani (140, 30-13), Michael Lurz (152, 15-5), Cameron Thomson (160, 38-10), Connor Mannina (125, 28-8), Steve Polaski (135, 27-12), Michael Weisshappel (171, 21-8), Daniel Davidson (215, 28-13).

Notre Dame standouts: Jim Wallenberg (145, 46-7), Scott Smith (112, 36-14), Joe Cortese (34-13), Kevin Stahman (171, 38-9), Charlie Doyle (160, 25-10), Matt Sommers (103, 35-8), Quinn Machain (285, 32-9), Sean Heneghan (125, 33-12), Tim Donnelly (130, 33-10).

Outlook: This dual promises to be a good one, with former long-time head coach Jim Cartwright (Conant) and Bill Scully (Hoffman Estates) in the Dons’ corner, alongside head coach Augie Genovesi to help rekindle the good ol’ days of the MSL when Cartwright led the Cougars to countless postseason titles while in charge.

Barrington was bitten by the injury bug during the last two weeks of the season,but its depth came in handy when coach Al Strobl plugged in replacements from his conference championship junior varsity team.

The Broncos were led all season-long by heavyweight Castagna, who was the team’s lone state medalist last weekend in Champaign, collecting a fifth-place trophy from a terrific field of talented big men, beginning with eventual state champion Jack Allen of Hinsdale Central.

Wallenberg, a two-time state qualifier, won his first state medal over the weekend for Notre Dame.

Castagna is set to meet Machain, who earlier claimed an ESCC title, in the first of a handful of important matches. Broncos’ junior Thomson headlines another at 160, so long as the Dons keep champ Doyle there.

While they did not face one another at the Barrington sectional, both lost to a state qualifier from Warren, TJ Parker, by the same 5-1 decision.

Barrington’s Parvinmehr and Gonzalez have to be thrilled for one more chance in the postseason, as each were eliminated in sectional wrestlebacks.

Dons’ senior Sommers will have revenge on his mind as well, after Sheehy beat the veteran 7-6 in the sectional quarterfinals. Then again, the Broncos’ Mannina, Polasik, Weisshappel and Davidson all have extra incentive to succeed tonight after finishing fourth at the Deerfield regional, one victory short of advancing to the sectional as individuals.

Dundee-Crown vs. No. 7 Machesney Park Harlem (20-0).

Advancement: The winner advances into Class 3A state quarterfinals to face either Mt. Carmel or Lyons at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Storyline: The Chargers came out of nowhere to stun the field at Jacobs three weeks ago and win their first regional title since 2008, when they were led by eventual state medalists Mike Lukowski (state champion) and Ryan Horcher, now an assistant, who helped outscore St. Charles East by 14 points for the championship tropy.

Senior Cody Churkey might have been the only individual champion for head coach Al Zinke, but the Chargers’ depth throughout the 14 weights helped get them past runner-up Crystal Lake South by 4.5 points, and Cary-Grove by 18 points.

Harlem finally broke a six-year stranglehold by rival Hononegah to win the NIC-10 championship, but the Huskies weren’t finished. One week later they ended an 11-year run by Libertyville, overwhelming the North Suburban champs by 53 points to win their first regional title since 2003.

D-C standouts: Cody Churkey (215, 34-7), Alonzo Fuller (145, 24-11), Travel Rounds (119, 27-13), Raymond Griggel (285, 24-15), Chris Lamprecht (160, 23-12), Connor Lewis (112, 21-17).

Harlem standouts: Derek Elmore (119, 45-1), Jordan Northrup (103, 43-5), Josh Anthony (160, 35-5), Zak Denny (112, 41-7), Sage Hecox (189, 37-7), Sean Jones (171, 29-14), Kane Cunningham (145, 24-16).

Outlook: Dundee-Crown will have its hands full with a Harlem club that features a dangerous trio on the bottom end of its lineup. Northrup and Denny preceded state champ Elmore to the awards podium in Champaign, and Harlem features another triple threat later on with the state medalist Anthony ahead of Jones and Hecox.

It doesn’t get much better than the first three the Huskies boast, so the Chargers hope this dual doesn’t begin at 103.

Griggel, who finished fourth at regionals, was elevated from his spot as alternate when Huntley senior Jason LaLuz couldn’t go. The Chargers sophomore took advantage of his opportunity by nearly advancing into the wrestleback semifinals.

As always is the case, handicapping potential match-ups for this event is difficult as the two-week lay off for many leads to plenty of alterations in the lineup, making it a challenge for some to make weight.

With that said, look for a rematch from the Barrington sectional, where Cunningham defeated Fuller (10-7) in the early rounds, as well as another Lewis -Denny bout as well.

Huskies might look to bump Hecox to 215 to offset Churkey’s ability to grab bonus points with a tech-fall or pin, while Zinke will lean heavily on his athletes to stay away from the same when they meet the best Harlem has to offer.