Tri-Cities wrestling preview
Tri-Cities scouting report
Top area teams: Marmion, West Aurora, St. Charles East, Kaneland, Geneva, St. Charles North, Batavia
Projected starters: (vacant weight classes indicate either no clear-cut candidate or potential forfeits)
Marmion: Anthony Bosco, soph., 106; Johnny Jimenez, soph., 113; Jake Field, jr., 120; George Fisher, jr., 126; Eddie Greco, sr., 132; Angelo Silvestro, sr., 138; Sam Kellett, sr., 145; Luke Reifsteck, fr., 152; Pat Knudtson, sr., 160; Cody Snodgrass, jr., 182; Alex Fritz, jr., 220; Oscar Garza, jr., 285. West Aurora: Carlos Jacquez, fr., 106; Sean Anthony, fr., 113; Sam Fox, soph., 120; Nate Zinzer, sr., 126; Greg Jacquez, sr., 138; Nate Pealstrom, sr., 145; Bradon Farias, soph., 160; Trevon Williams, jr., 170; Brandon Warren, sr., 183; Julian Lopez, soph., 195; Austin Beebe, sr., 285. St. Charles East: Ryan Rubino, jr., 106; Jason Weber, soph., 120; Isaiah Vela, soph., 126; Nick Ruffino, sr., 132; Peter Bellino, sr., 138; Ramon Lopez, fr., 145; Brad Kearbey, jr., 152; Cameron Carlson, jr., 160; Jordan Meadows, jr., 170; Ian Crawford, jr., 183; Tyler Sullivan, sr., 195; Peter Banks, jr., 220. Kaneland: Stephen Gust, jr., 106; Connor Williams, jr., 113; Luke Kretizer, jr., 120; Esai Ponce, jr., 126; Sonny Horn, jr., 132; Dan Goress, jr., 138; Kyle Ocasio, jr., 145; Austin Paulson, sr., 152; Josh Rogers, sr., 160; Matt Price, jr., 170; Austin Brummel, sr., 182; Steve Hlatko, sr., 195; Zach Theis, jr., 285. Geneva: Eric Jackson, fr., 106; Brad Martens, jr., 113; Colin Parsons, fr., 120; Kristof Larsen, sr., 132; Nate Donati, fr., 138; Mark Henriksen, jr., 145; Mike Villanueva, jr., 160; Tony Castelvichi, jr., 170; Alex Kunkle, jr., 182; Bobby Byker, sr., 195; Jake Boser, jr., 220; Henry Zupke, sr., 285. St. Charles North: Conrad Noverini, fr., 106; Anthony Perelli, fr., 113; Mike Perelli, jr., 120; Jordan Scalice, soph., 126; Thomas O’brien, soph., 132; Kevin Deisher, jr., 138; Mike Mason, sr., 145; Tim Noverini, sr., 152; Mike Mougros, soph., 160; Alex Bartolatta, sr., 170; Zach Zenner, sr., 182; Greg Dierking, soph., 195; Sean Meaney, sr., 220; Wes Pasholk, jr., 285. Batavia: Matt Patton, fr., 106; Ricky DeSimone, soph., 120; Joey Shump, jr., 132; Charlie Smorczewski, jr., 138; Anthony Scaccia, soph., 145; Marc Goodin, soph., 152; Laren Eustace, soph., 160; John Wagner, jr., 170; Noah Frazier, fr., 182; Mickey Watson, jr., 195; Connor McKeehan, soph., 220.
Scouting report: Two completely incongruous elements have been the talk of wrestling circles as the new season begins. The sport has undergone significant change as the state adopted the new national guidelines for weight classes. Ten of the 14 weight classes have been altered. There has also been a number of prominent transfers that will impact the season in general and Marmion in particular. Three of the five Class 2A state champions Marmion produced last season are no longer with the program, including two-time champion Ben Whitford, who has returned to his native Michigan. Two other key point-earners also transferred to public schools in their home districts. But the Cadets should still be a force in the middle-tier of the three-class system. Jimenez and Fisher are the Cadets’ other returning state champions; Greco seeks to become the first three-time medal-winner in program history, and fellow senior Silvestro had a monster off-season. Fritz is the Cadets’ other state returnee. “I think they’re excited for the season,” Marmion coach Dean Branstetter said. “I’ve liked the work ethic so far. It’s going to be an interesting December.” The Cadets have unquestionably the most difficult schedule among the local schools, with national tournaments in Iowa, Wisconsin and the Dvorak in Harlem. Branstetter is brutally frank when discussing the Cadets’ meteoric rise; the program had never even had a state qualifier until three years ago. He readily admits class expansion has benefited Marmion handsomely. “We’re in a class where we can compete,” Branstetter said. “Look at the golf team (second in Class 2A earlier this year), the soccer team (Class 2A Final Four this fall). Would we have had five champions in (Class) 3A last year? No way.” Marmion was also impacted by the reconstituted weight classes. As currently constructed, the team will have to forfeit two classes. “I voted against (the proposal) last spring,” Branstetter said. “I’m not for it. It’s hard to come back from 12 points in a dual meet (as the result of the twin forfeits), especially considering some of the schools we’re going to be wrestling.”
Branstetter has many cohorts in the area who are of the same opinion. West Aurora had its first Elite Eight appearance in program history last season, and the Blackhawks should once again be viable contenders — even with significant graduation losses — to return to the team state finals. “It took the (male) population at large and didn’t take the wrestling population (into consideration),” West Aurora coach Mike DiNovo said of the new weight guidelines. “(The new system) took away a weight in the light middles.”
“I think (the national committee) got it half-right,” said Geneva coach Tom Chernich.
“I don’t see the purpose of (changing) when most schools are loaded at the lower and middle weights,“ said St. Charles North coach Ken Moromi
Among returning individual state qualifiers in the large-school division, West Aurora senior Greg Jacquez has grand designs. “Obviously, I want to be a state champion,” Jacquez said. “I’m not settling for anything less than top three. I quit football and baseball to concentrate on wrestling full-time.” Warren and Pealstrom, a sectional champion two years ago dogged by injuries last season, are the Blackhawks’ other senior stars.
Vela, the gifted St. Charles East sophomore, is the highest-rated returning medal-winner after capturing fourth at 119 pounds in Champaign last February. Ruffino eyes another state appearance in his final campaign for the Saints, who rate the edge among the four local members of the Upstate Eight Conference River Division. The Saints, too, have issues surrounding fielding a full lineup in their dual meets. “We had to do the same thing last year,” St. Charles East coach Steve Smerz said of potential forfeits. “I think we’ll have a very successful season team-wise. I think we have some individuals who can go very far in the state series.” St. Charles East should be particularly dangerous in its lower middle weights. “I think St. Charles East is going to be tough to beat,” said Chernich, whose Geneva squad won the inaugural River crown last season.
The Vikings, who lost key components to graduation, will look to repeat their divisional success with the likes of Martens, Mills, Larsen, Boser and Zupke, the defending conference heavyweight champion.
Batavia, on the other hand, has a most peculiar team dynamic this winter. “We don’t have a senior on the team,” Batavia coach Ben Morris said. “We’re not sure what happened. If it’s from the (head) coach’s transition from Tom (Arlis) to me, or what.” The Bulldogs will look to veterans such as Shump and Watson to excel at key tournaments and the state series while building up its younger core of athletes.
St. Charles North has struggled mightily in recent years due to low numbers. But it appears as though the North Stars should be markedly improved due to having bodies in all 14 weight classes. “We are a better dual-meet team,” Moromi said. “We closed the gap on Geneva quite a bit (in the teams’ season opener).” The elder Noverini became he first athlete in program history to become a two-time state qualifier last season. “He wants to be a state champion,” Moromi said of his star 145-pounder. “I think if he’s healthy he’s got a strong shot.”
Kaneland will look to replace key graduation losses with the continued development of its junior class, which contributes nine starters. “The junior class is pretty impressive,” Kaneland coach Monty Jahns said. “They’re focused and hardworking. They may surprise some people — even me.”
Key dates: Dec. 1, Glenbard North-West Aurora DuPage Valley Conference dual meet; Dec. 3, St. Charles East Mega Duals; Dec. 9-10, Iron Man Invitational; Dec. 16-17, Hinsdale Central Rex Whitlatch Invitational; Dec. 22-23, Dvorak Tournament; Dec. 28-29, Palatine Berman Invite; Dec. 28-29, DeKalb Team Dual Tournament; Dec. 28-30, Granite City; Jan. 6-7, Cheesehead Invitational; Jan. 7, Geneva Tournament; Jan. 7, Glenbard West Tournament; Jan. 15, Kaneland Margaret Flott Memorial Tournament; Jan. 20-21, Upstate Eight Conference Meet; Jan. 28, DuPage Valley Conference Meet.
Predicted state champions: Class 1A, Stillman Valley; Class 2A, Montini; Class 3A, Oak Park-River Forest.
— Compiled by Kevin McGavin