Antioch leads the pack at Grayslake Central

It was not an easy road, but 21 area wrestlers will be making the trip south for the Class 2A wrestling state meet next weekend in Champaign.

Considered the toughest sectional in the state with 19 wrestlers ranked in the top six, Antioch led the area with six individuals advancing out of the powerful Grayslake Central field.

Under the new rules in Class 2A this season, the top four finishers from each weight class Saturday advanced to state.

The Sequoits were paced by three individual champions, including three-time state qualifier George Gonzalez (32-4). Gonzalez won the 145-pound title with a 4-2 decision over Grayslake Central’s Dylan Hay (35-8), who also reached state in 2010.

Antioch 170-pound champ Zach Epker (12-2) overcame an injury-plagued season to reach state for the third time while teammate Mike Gussarson (37-5) is going back to state after winning the 126-pound crown.

At 182 pounds, Zach Freundt defeated Grayslake North two-time qualifier Jimmy Prince 7-2 to reach state for the second time while teammates Briley Schultz (106), and Mike Morales (132) both placed fourth to earn a berth downstate.

“Morales is a hard worker and we’re happy just to have him back and wrestling tough this year,” said Antioch coach Wilbur Borrero. “It would be nice to go down there with six guys and bring back six medals and we’ve got to keep guys focused for the team tournament.”

Besides Hay, Grayslake Central’s Joey Valdivia (18-6) will be making his third trip to state after taking second place at 195.

Senior Jimmy Molitor (34-5) will also compete at the Assembly Hall for the Rams after winning the 220-pound title despite giving up a lot of weight. Molitor started the season in the 182-pound division.

“I’m very excited about winning because this sectional is very hard,” said Molitor, who only weighs 200 pounds. “I just want to go down there and see how I compare to everyone else in the state.”

Lakes also has three qualifiers starting with back-to-back qualifier Jose Collado, who placed second at 132. The Eagles got a third from junior David Gregory (32-13) and a fourth from freshman Levi Smith at 120.

“I’m looking forward to (Collado) doing really well and Gregory kind of came out of nowhere after wrestling a lot in the off-season,” said Lakes coach Curt Onstad. “We have (Smith) for another three years and he listens and learns from his mistakes.”

Vernon Hills top-ranked 285-pounder Jeremy Brazil (41-1) will roll into the state tourney after pinning Hampshire’s Zach Oranger in 1:08 in the finals.

The Cougars’ Dan Klema will be heading to state three years in a row after placing second at 152.

“Klema lost to the Marengo kid (Damon Cloe) a week ago at the regionals, but Danny did his homework and he came ready to wrestle in the semifinals,” said Vernon Hills coach Jerry Micelli. “The key for Jeremy (Brazil) is going to be not taking anything for granted, he’s got to be all business, and I think he is.”

Wauconda has two, two-time qualifiers headed to state with third-place finisher Devin Tortorice (36-9 at 120), and third-place finisher Nate Magiera (39-7 at 195).

“Nate is a sophomore wrestling at one of the upper weights so he’s not going to see many underclassmen,” said Wauconda coach Tom Nance. “Devin came here to wrestle and he showed that on his feet with some of the shots he was taking and that is something we worked on.”

Kasen Christensen will join Prince at state after Christensen toppled Carmel’s Jake Cochrane 5-2 for third place at 285 pounds.

Hampshire 113-pound senior Tyler Espino (37-8) placed second to advance to state along with Oranger (24-14).

They are the first two wrestlers in Hampshire’s young fourth-year program to reach state since the program was discontinued following the 1987-88 season. The program had a total of two state qualifiers in school history prior to this season.

“Tyler’s first day he stepped on the mat was the first year he wrestled, he’s a self-made kid, and he’s looking to be the second medalist (top six) in school history,” said Hampshire coach Terry Wilkinson. “His (Oranger’s) record is not indicative of how well he’s wrestled all year and he’s a first-year senior wrestler.”