Wrestling: Scouting Fox Valley sectionals
Class 3A at Barrington
Times: Friday 4:30 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. (2:30 p.m. finals).
The lowdown: The FVC had a rough go of it last weekend, as high-profile clubs Barrington, Deerfield and Harlem took all of the fun out of team races at both Stevenson and Jacobs regional sites. Perhaps the biggest disappointment from the weekend was the abrupt end to Nick Fontanett’s brilliant career at Crystal Lake South as the 2-time state medalist was deemed physically unable to go at 120 pounds. The 4-year star finished with a dazzling 125-18 record, and was one of the true stars in the FVC all throughout his four years at South for head coach Ross Ryan.
Worth the weight: 106- Mike Cullen (Cary-Grove, 36-2), Austin Ryan (Jacobs, 32-3), Zach Stenger (Huntley, 32-11), Adrian Gonzalez (Barrington, 31-2), Mark Jolcover (Stevenson, 29-9), Nick Kramer (Grant, 30-11), Anthony Munoz (Zion-Benton, 25-11): Cullen vs. Gonzalez II was the story last weekend at the Stevenson regional, and one week later it could happen again, but not without Ryan having something to say about it. The sensational sophomore likely circled this date on his calendar after falling to Cullen in a dual late in the regular season, so a potential rematch is looming. Stenger will have to go through to stay alive in the championship bracket, but Huntley head coach BJ Bertelsman isn’t concerned about the junior. “He’s in a tough bracket, but he’ll go and wrestle as hard as he can, that’s what he does.”
132- Mike Underwood (Cary-Grove, 30-10), Eric Barone (Crystal Lake South, 26-13), Conrad Bugay (Hersey, 31-5), Brian Egan (Buffalo Grove, 28-8), Ronnie Hauser (Fremd, 30-6), Joe Abu-Bakr (Prospect, 36-8), Abel Rios (Zion-Benton, 28-1), Jake Baxter (Harlem, 38-3): The Cary-Grove junior Underwood was introduced to one of the 4 stars in the weight class from the MSL (Egan) last weekend in the regional final, a group which has beaten each other up all year long, including the postseason. This weekend, the Trojans’ star will meet the Dvorak runner-up (Bugay) in his second-round bout, and if successful Rios, who is coming off a NSC, and regional championship run.
182- Jimmy Kuczynski (Dundee-Crown, 32-7), Max Kersten (Cary-Grove, 24-15), Josh Symbal (Huntley, 34-2), Jimmy Kuczinski (Dundee-Crown, 32-7), Max Kersten (Cary-Grove, 24-15), Mark Shealy (Barrington, 31-4), Dan Fiumetto (Prospect, 17-4), Jonathan Wells (Grant, 9-4), Michael Paolian (Loyola, 26-5): There are a lot of very good wrestlers in this weight class, but none as good as Symbal, who enters as the clear favorite. “Josh appears to be in very good shape, and there’s no reason to believe that he won’t win the sectional championship,” said Bertelsman of the state’s No. 4 rated 182-pounder, who comes in with 25 pins in his 34 wins.
Class 3A at Glenbard North
Times: Friday 4:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. (3:30 p.m. finals)
The lowdown: With the business of winning the first regional title in program history behind them, South Elgin, and head coach Mark Cameron can now focus on the task at hand, and that’s getting as many of the 8 who advanced (another program record) through and into the state tournament on Thursday in Champaign. The Storm ended a wild and crazy space roller-coaster ride last Saturday just far enough in front of Conant to grab the big team trophy on its home mats, and setoff of an equally wild celebration. “That was an amazing day for our team, and the program, and one that all of us will never forget, but now we go from team to individual, as we try to get guys downstate,” said Cameron. The same goes for Elgin, which had 4 sectional qualifiers, the first time the Maroons have done so since 1996, and just the second time in the last 12 years, according to head coach Terry Stroh. “Last week was an exciting time for Elgin wrestling, but we also know we’re heading into one of the toughest sectionals around, but we went into this week of practice with the idea of being to practice and wrestle, not only this weekend, but next as well,” said Stroh.
Worth the weight: 106- Jeffrey Morrow (Elgin, 26-4)), Bobby Alexander (Conant, 32-6), Richard Browne (Glenbard North, 33-7), Tom Sunny (Maine West, 20-17), Raul Ochoa (Aurora East, 17-10): Morrow is here for the second time in as many years, and the sophomore finds himself one victory away from meeting the state ranked Browne Saturday morning. “Jeff has two tournament titles, and two second-place finishes, and has been solid all year, but we’ll work on some things all week to get him ready for this great opportunity to head downstate,” said Stroh.
113- Cory Pych (South Elgin, 27-7), Aaron Kohlberg (Rolling Meadows, 36-2), Angelo San Juan (Glenbard East, 36-2), Adeel Afshar (Maine West, 28-13), Brad Mertens (Geneva, 33-5), Chris Gonzalez (Glenbard North, 39-7): Cameron says his junior is competing at his highest level of the season, and the regional champ will have to with Gonzalez lurking in the quarterfinals.
132- Sal Annoreno (Bartlett, 32-3), Joshua Brooks (Larkin, 20-9), Marco Aguirre (South Elgin), Cullen Cummings (Downers Grove North, 14-1), Colin Gratz (Maine West, 36-2), Zak Hassan (Glenbard West, 36-3), Johnny Gosinski (Glenbard North, 31-6): Annoreno’s double over Gosinski then Hassan to capture the regional crown accomplished several good things for the Hawks’ senior including sending two of the best in this talent-laden division to the opposite side of the bracket. “Sal’s goal is to win a state title, and he is peaking at the right time, and truly believes he can beat anyone in the state,” says his coach, Karl Bratland.
152- Brett Barry (Larkin, 30-7), Alex Anaya (Downers Grove, 32-5), Tim Noverini (St Charles North, 32-1), Brian Murphy (Glenbard North, 24-0), Jacob Krueger (Willowbrook, 30-14), Jordan Pasah (Maine West, 25-5): The Royals’ captain is here for the third consecutive year, and finds himself on the other side of No. 1 (Murphy) and No. 4 (Noverini) and in favorable spot on the top half, where a victory sends him against (Anaya) and one win away from earning his first trip downstate.
170- Cody Pych (South Elgin, 32-2), Wendell Rosemon (Elgin, 26-5), Joe Caprio (Rolling Meadows, 37-1), Steven Franke (Wheaton-Warrenville South, 32-3), David Johnson (Glenbard North, 21-21), Jon Ebert (Elk Grove, 22-15), Kyle Klass (Naperville Central, 26-14): The biggest and best test to date awaits Pych. “There’s no way Cody is looking past anyone, beginning with his opener on Friday against either (Johnson or Ebert),” says Cameron. “He might have done that at the Upstate Eight (tournament) against Rosemon from Elgin, and he nearly got caught. So believe me, he’ll take each and every opponent very seriously.” The Maroons’ captain is on course to meet Caprio, a state qualifier two years ago as a sophomore, and potentially a medal winner next weekend. Says Stroh: “Wally has been a great leader in and out of the room all season long, and we/he feels he’s in a great place in the bracket, with an excellent opportunity to advance one more week.” Rosemon enters the weekend with 22 pins to his name.
Class 2A at Grayslake Central
Times: Friday 4:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. (2:30 p.m. finals)
The lowdown: Hampshire wrestling continues to make strides forward, witnessed by a solid showing last weekend when senior Tyler Espino claimed a regional crown, and 3 others grabbed spots alongside their captain at sectionals. “Tyler is a great story for us because he’s one of those guys who came into our program 4 years ago without any previous experience, and then put in all of the extra work during the offseason, and regular season to not only become a terrific wrestler, but a fantastic leader, and 4-year star for us,” says head coach Terry Wilkinson. “He truly proved that hard work does pay off. Espino, who for much of the year competed at 120, is the Whip-Purs’ best bet to not only book a spot in the 12-man field at 2A in Champaign, but also a state medal at tourney’s end, to become only the second in the program, since 1985 (Jeff Zopfi) to bring home a medal.
Worth the Weight: 113- Espino (35-7), Scott Smith (Notre Dame, 24-11), Dom Panico (Carmel, 21-11), Danny Frietag (Chicago Roosevelt, 23-11), Jalen Reyes (St. Patrick, 13-3): There isn’t one state ranked wrestler in the bunch here, Smith the lone returning state qualifier, but on the other side of Espino’s bracket, while Panico, the regional champ finished out of the medal race at the recent ESCC championships. “There’s a lot of unknown guys in this weight class from the (Chicago) Public League, but what Tyler has going for him is his four years of experience, he’s a real veteran who has see it all, and competed with some of the best in his career,” said Wilkinson.
138- Nick Brown (26-15), Garrett Sutton (Richmond-Burton, 34-1), Sean Keever (Grayslake Central, 26-10), Steve Galliardo (St. Patrick, 36-2), Clayton Lutzow (Crystal Lake Central, 31-4), Tim Donnelly (Notre Dame, 30-8): Whip-Purs junior Brown happens to be in one of the deepest divisions at this venue, with the top-rated Lutzow leading the pack. , “Nick is a tough, year-round wrestler, who has gone against Clay in the finals a couple of times this year, so he won’t be overwhelmed by anyone here this weekend,” offered Wilkinson
160- Travis Keeling (21-15), David Gregory (Lakes, 27-12), Brett O’Kane (Richmond-Burton, 22-6), Antawon McCline (Chicago Marshall, 22-3), Samuel Ogunkoya (Chicago Uplift, 24-3): The junior Keeling came on late after dealing with injuries early on, which on one occasion forced him to default out of the finals at the Richmond-Burton tournament.
285- Zach Oranger (21-13), Jake Cochrane (Carmel, 32-5), Aaron Harris (Chicago Marshall, 27-2), Joshue Tonoco (Mather, 18-7), Jeremy Brazil (Vernon Hills, 38-1), Kasen Christiansen (Grayslake North, 29-8): Whips big man Oranger is caught between a Chicago Public League sandwich of Harris and Tonoco but if the senior can take a bite out of both Friday, he’ll likely face the state’s No. 3 rated Cochrane Saturday morning. Wilkinson’s big man came over from Burlington Central on a transfe, and of late has come alive, much to the delight of his head coach. “Zach sat out all of last year, and even though he has so much raw talent, you can see how good he can really be. He’s a joy to watch and coach, and he’s been really strong down the stretch.”
Class 2A at Sterling
Times: Friday 4:30 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m. (2 p.m. finals)
The lowdown: Rockets’ big 3 (Johnny Major, Buddy Toth and Omar Awad) are one week away from competing on the big floor inside Assembly Hall, but the trio each have a big challenge ahead of them at this highly competitive sectional. “Everyone begins at 0-0 this weekend, but I really believe all of our guys are ready for what lies ahead for them,” says BC head coach Tony Rigitano, who will also be in the corner for both Deshon Rambo (152, 19-16) as well as first-year varsity performer, Andrew Yarwood (18-12) at 182. “Johnny, Buddy and Omar are great kids, who have been terrific 4-year guys for our program, and they have all worked hard on and off the mat to get themselves ready for the challenge ahead.”
Class 1A at Byron
Times: Friday 4:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. (2:30 p.m. finals)
The lowdown: Last year at this time, St. Edward senior Evan Finnane (17-3) began to stomp on his competition on the way to his first state tournament appearance, but the Green Wave big man will have to walk a little more carefully as this venue is filled with dangerous land-mines, disguised as 285-pound heavyweights. “One look around this sectional, and you see the No. 1 and No. 2 rated wrestlers in the state here as well as No. 8 and 10, which is Evan,” said St. Edward first-year head coach Shane Wales. “It is easily the toughest group in the state, but the one thing about heavyweights, anything can happen, and usually does, which means anyone can win here this weekend.”