Northwest/Scouting individual sectional tournaments
By Mike Garofola
Daily Herald Correspondent
Class 3A
At Barrington
When: Friday, 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m., finals 2:30 p.m.
The lowdown: Year-after-year, this superb venue always provides the best for its entertainment dollar, and no doubt, another packed house will be glued to field house floor where 4 giant mats will welcome another terrific cast throughout the 14 weight divisions. Last weekend, Barrington and Machesney Park Harlem ended the hopes of rivals looking to upset the twin state powers, and each advanced easily into the dual-meet sectionals, along with New Trier, and Grant. Now its about the journey from promise to reality, with a trip to Champaign the wrestling utopia all here are after. It’s difficult to rate one weight class over another, so let’s take a look at a handful.
Worth the weight:
106 — Adrian Gonzalez (Barrington, 31-2), Mike Cullen (Cary-Grove, 36-2), Austin Ryan (Jacobs, 32-3), Zack Stenger (Huntley, 32-11), Nick Kramer (Grant, 30-11), Mark Jolcover (Stevenson, 29-9), Sam Lobono (Prospect, 23-14): So maybe the much anticipated Gonzalez-Cullen regional final didn’t quite live up to the pretournament billing last weekend at Stevenson — the guess is it just might Saturday if they meet again. Both wrestlers and coaching staffs agree the approach will be different should these rivals come together for the third time this year, but Cullen will need to fight off Fox Valley Conference rival Ryan, who has been itching for a rematch ever since his loss to the Cary-Grove freshman during the regular season.
132 — Conrad Bugay (Hersey, 31-5), Brian Egan (Buffalo Grove, 28-8), Ronnie Hauser (Fremd, 30-6), Joe Abu-Bakr (Prospect, 36-8), Mike Underwood (Cary-Grove, 30-10), Charlie Meyer (Libertyville, 23-17), Brandon Arteaga (Lake Zurich, 31-12), Abel Rios (Zion-Benton, 28-1): Its déjà vu all over again — one last time, as this all-star group decides which four wrestles one last weekend. The highly anticipated and likely Friday lineup looks like this: Baxter vs. Hauser, Abu-Bakr vs. Egan, Bugay vs. Underwood, and Arteaga vs. Abel.
“I know my guy (Abu-Bakr) has put all of the time in, and extra effort, and has met the challenge of improving himself, and I am looking forward to see how (he) responds to the challenge at hand, as well as all my other guys here,” said Prospect coach Tom Whalen. The head-to-head results in the group can leave one dizzy, and in truth, likely don’t mean a thing this weekend.
160 — Hunter Rollins (Hersey, 34-3), Matt Zabrin (Buffalo Grove), Michael Lurz (Barrington, 26-8), Scott Hoff (Lake Zurich, 34-5), Sal Ayala (Libertyville, 29-12), Charles Williams (Grant, 23-15), Zack Benkovich (Harlem, 28-7): Being the favorite isn’t always the desired position to be in, but Rollins, the junior from Hersey, deserves the extra recognition after dominating the field in back-to-back weekends of the postseason to be anointed the one to beat. That’s not to say MSL rivals Zabrin and Lurz cannot stake their claim nor Hoff, who has gone from a 16-match winner to 34 in one season. Zabrin was magnificent last week in his 8-1 decision over Hoff to win a regional crown, while Lurz earned third overall, after dropping a 9-7 decision to Hoff in the semis. Rollins and Zabrin are on the opposite side of the bracket.
171 — Cameron Thomson (Barrington, 34-1), Eddie Scanlon (Wheeling, 31-5), Tony Cashmore (Grant, 34-6), Mike Etchingham (Prospect, 28-14), Danny Hicks (Warren, 30-7), Brandon Mabry (Huntley, 23-15), Sean Jones (Harlem, 32-7), Tyler Pohn (Deerfield, 20-7): After rolling over and through 28 straight opponents during the regular season, Thomson found his unbeaten streak rudely interrupted when Scanlon stunned the state-ranked star 6-5 in the semifinals of the MSL tournament, and nearly doubled when he struggled to win his third-place match. One week later, the Broncos’ captain looked like his old self when he soundly defeated Pohn to capture a regional title. “I think (Cam) is nearly back to being 100 percent,” said Barrington coach Ken Hoving, who figures the medicine he had been taking for a serious skin infection had finally caught up to his top man, who had missed a full week of training leading up to the Neuqua Valley mega duals. This might be bad news for his opponents, but there’s plenty of skill and character in this talented field, including Scanlon as well as Cashmore, who last season bowed out early in the regionals.
220 — Max Triveline (Prospect, 34-6), Daniel Davidson (Barrington), Sergio Hernandez (Palatine, 18-14), Mike Romanelli (Crystal Lake South, 33-8), Quinton Quarles (Grant, 33-3), Artie Bess (Deerfield, 33-1), Cam Baxter (Harlem, 29-9), Dominick Nicosia (Hononegah, 23-17): Bess is the best in the bunch, but a hard-fought, well-wrestled final between the Warriors senior and Davidson in the regional final proved the gap isn’t too far between the 3-time sectional qualifier and the rest of the field. The Broncos’ senior dropped a 3-0 decision, but a week of film work and fine tuning should help. For Triveline who throttled the competition on his way to a regional championship, his biggest test will be, first Baxter, then the winner of a Quarles-Davidson mega battle Friday, which sets up a sensational quarterfinal in the morning.
285 — Ben Calamari (Barrington, 30-5), Igor Romanowski (Wheeling, 28-3), Shola George (Prospect, 33-8), Dan Haeffele (Grant, 33-11), Chris McDermand (Libertyville, 28-3), Justin Zybinski (Warren, 13-3), Mark Mamola (Jacobs, 26-11), Eddie Haro (Buffalo Grove, 20-20), Jared Carlton (Harlem, 20-10): Can the MSL send a full complement through and into the program book of the state tournament? In this true land of the giants, where anything can and will happen, it is quite possible the league’s top three from the conference tourney of Calamari, Romanowski and George can break free from the competition and book their place in Champaign. Either Calamari or George will need to come back through the consolation bracket, as the two big men will likely meet in Friday’s second round, while the Wheeling senior has a difficult task ahead with McDermand, who has come on strong of late for his well-respected head coach, Dale Eggert. Grant junior Haeffle was the man of the moment at the regionals last weekend, as his victory sent the Bullodgs up and over Libertyville, and he sits just atop Calamari-George in the bracket, and would be a quarterfinal opponent for one of them.
At Glenbard North
When: Friday, 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m., finals 3:30 p.m.
The lowdown: Conant came this close to taking the regional title from host South Elgin last weekend. Despite the disappointment, Cougars head coach Chad Hay still had plenty to be proud of with 10 of his wrestlers advancing into this sectional and four by winning their third-place match. “It was a tough one to swallow, losing the team battle with South Elgin, but we could not have gotten a better effort out of everyone, so I am extremely proud of this team to say the least,” said Hay. State power Glenbard North mashed the competition at the West Chicago regional, and bring 12 of 14 here this weekend. There will be plenty to watch over the two days, but no doubt, the match of all matches will be the 220-pound final, which features No. 1 vs 2 in reigning state champion Josh Marchok of Schaumburg (37-0) vs. Mike Swider of Wheaton North (38-0) in what could be a preview of the state championship in Champaign.
Worth the weight:
113 — Adeel Afshar (Maine West, 28-13), Ivan Gomez (Schaumburg, 26-13), Cory Pych (South Elgin, 27-7), Chris Gonzalez (Glenbard North, 39-7), Angelo San Juan (Glenbard East, 36-2): This high-profile bracket took a big hit Wednesday when Rolling Meadows standout Aaron Kohlberg (36-2) saw his hopes of a state title or medal come to a shocking end when he broke his hand in practice. No. 3 Gonzalez is at the top of the bracket, along with Pych, who is at his best right now, while the junior Gomez will look to spring another surprise with San Juan, much like he did at the MSL tourney with Kohlberg.
132 — Colin Gratz (Maine West, 36-2), Alex Mertes (Elk Grove, 24-12), Nico Gottardo (Conant, 11-7), Sal Annoreno (Bartlett, 32-3), Cullen Cummings (Downers Grove North, 14-1), Zak Hassan (Glenbard West, 36-3), Johnny Gosinski (Glenbard North, 31-6): Something will have to give in what might be the best of the 14 divisions here, with everyone taking aim at Annoreno, who made his case after beating Gosinski and Hassan on his way to a regional crown. A Gratz-Cummings second-round match Friday will be worth watching, as will a Mertes-Hassan bout at the same time. Gratz was cruising along on an 18-match winning streak when Mertes stunned the West senior 3-1 to win his regional title and get one step closer to a second consecutive trip downstate. “I am expecting (Colin) to come out with a lof of fire after losing to (Mertes) in triple overtime,” said West coach Lance Weber.
138 — Jake Korbecki (Maine West, 35-3), Mitch Alexander (Conant, 25-5), Zach Schultz (Rolling Meadows, 22-8), Blake Santi (Lake Park, 36-3), Greg Jacquez (Aurora West, 32-4), Robert Svetska (West Chicago, 27-5), Anthony Scaccia (Batavia, 33-6): Breakout year from Santi finds the senior as the No. 2 rated 138-pounder in the state, and the favorite to win it all, but not if either Korbecki or Alexander have anything to say about it. If one of these two gifted stars does face Santi, it will be in the final, after the dynamic duo face off tonight in the second round, and before one of them meets Jacquez in the morning.
170 — Joe Caprio (Rolling Meadows, 37-1), Jon Ebert (Elk Grove, 22-15), Alex Tooren (Hoffman Estates, 30-12), Cody Pych (South Elgin, 32-2), Wardell Rosemon (Elgin, 26-5), Steven Franke (Wheaton Warrenville South, 32-3): Conversations with Froehlich, and South Elgin coach Mark Cameron on the potential of a Caprio-Pych final found each admitting to remind their top guys of one thing — don’t look past any opponent here this weekend. “Joe and I were at Barrington two years ago when top-rated Lee Munster was caught and pinned by Sterling Hecox on that Friday night, forcing him to fight his way back through wrestlebacks, so there’s no easy way through any bracket at sectionals,” offered Froehlich. With his victory in the final last weekend, Caprio took over the lead for victories in the program with 137. He is one ahead of Kohlberg, whose brother and Meadows assistant James held the record before.
195 — Greg Johnsen (Elk Grove, 24-9), Zack Watson (Maine West, 19-13), Mike Baumhart (Schaumburg, 28-9), Ryan Berg (Naperville Central, 30-6), Kellen Cleveland (Wheaton North, 32-10), Jorge Zavalla (Elgin, 21-6), Dan Eldridge (Glenbard North, 23-8): Grens’ senior Johnsen, who was named to the all-state football team last fall, will be looking to add another state award to his resume, if he can navigate through a very difficult field here. “We believe Greg has a terrific chance to advance, but it is so important for him to win his first match to stay alive in the championship bracket, and far away from wrestlebacks, where the road gets tougher,” said Grens coach Craig Johnson. On tap for his captain is likely to be Cleveland, who everyday is in the room, and taking a beating from his teammate Swider — so the Wheaton North junior will be ready for anything. In his maiden voyage into the sectionals, Baumhart could meet No. 10 Berg, who was runner-up to Eldridge at the DVC tournament.
At De La Salle
When: Friday, 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.; finals, 4 p.m.
The lowdown: Oak Park-River Forest and York where so dominating last weekend at the Leyden regional, both clubs left just a few spots in this sectional for the rest of the field to gobble up, including the host Eagles, which managed to qualify seven, including their terrific trio of Jake and Jesse McCabe, and Andy Cocozzo. If it wasn’t bad enough that OPRF and York collected 25 of the 42 medals on the day, state kingpins Sandburg and Marist where invited to this sectional location, now giving this South Side of Chicago venue the Nos. 1-2-3 rated teams in 3A on its guest list.
Worth the weight:
132 — Jake McCabe (Leyden, 24-10), Mike Mizaur (Mt. Carmel, 29-5), Cameron Harris (OPRF, 28-9), Troy Valdez (York, 30-4), Dan Garcia (Sandburg, 26-9), Tommy Ward (Hinsdale Central, 26-16): The four-year Eagles star is located on the top half of this bracket, and on course to meet No. 8 Garcia on Friday, then likely No. 4 Valdez, who is likely to be a bit ornery after falling to Harris in the final 11-8 last Saturday in Franklin Park. Mizaur entered the postseason as the No. 2 rated 132-pounder, and it would take a stunning upset to change his status in the polls.
138 — Jesse McCabe (Leyden, 30-8), Tim Corse (St. Rita, 26-6), Ernest Battaglia (Hinsdale Central, 19-3), Blake Tisza (Thornton Fractional South, 34-2), Mitch Cook (Sandburg, 31-7): McCabe’s regional title gives him a much-deserved and important first-round bye, and the chance to keep one eye on his second-round opponent, and another on Tisza, who rarely seems to get mentioned, but obviously has been noticed by others as he comes in as the fifth-rated 138-pounder. Perhaps the most dangerous of all in the field is Battaglia — who would be McCabe’s quarterfinal foe. After missing most of the first half of the season to an injury, the junior, who qualified downstate as a freshman, has hit his stride, including a regional title at Lyons.
152 — Andy Cocozza (Leyden, 26-14), Max Schneider (Lane Tech, 33-0), Peter Andreotti (Marist, 35-3), Davote Mahomes (OPRF, 34-3), Marek Kowal (Argo, 33-5): They’re just about all here, including the reigning 145 state champion in Schneider, whose recent move to 152 sent Internet wrestling fans racing to their laptops to give their input and opinion on the big move. Cocozza is on the same side as the Lane Tech senior, in addition to Andreotti, who is rated No. 4, and was fourth at the prestigious Dvorak in late December. On the other side of the bracket sits Mahomes, who is rated No. 3, and defeated Cocozza (20-8) in the regional final.
Class 2A
At Grayslake Central
When: Friday, 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m., finals, 2:30 p.m.
The lowdown: The St. Viator faithful will be keeping their fingers crossed as Elliot Hilgert, its top wrestler the past two seasons, looks to become the first Lion in three years to reach the state tournament. Danny Sabatello was fourth in 2009 before winning back-to-back state titles for Stevenson and heading off to Purdue to continue to wrestle. If Hilgert hopes to make a run at the sixth state medal in program history, he’ll have to be on top of his game right from the beginning in this dynamic group.
Weight watching:
145 — Hilgert (St. Viator, 26-11), George Gonzalez (Antioch, 29-4), Dylan Hay (Grayslake Central, 32-7), Bruce Pearl (Wauconda, 26-13), Aaron Hoover (Grayslake North, 29-13), Michael Zelasco (Crystal Lake Central, 15-4), Mike Kozyra (Fenwick, 29-8), Roark Whittingham (Notre Dame, 31-6): Gonzalez was fourth last season at 2A, while Hay and Pearl are returning state qualifiers. Hay and Whittingham were both crowned champions in their respective conferences (Fox Valley and East Suburban Catholic). Both stand in the way of Hilgert, a two-time sectional qualifier, first with Hay in his opener and the winner moving on to meet Kozyra, who was third at the Chicago Catholic League tourney.