Wrestling/Scouting Class 3A state (Fox Valley)
The lowdown: The recent decision by the IHSA to turn the state wrestling tournament into a full marathon after a half means extra lodging and food as the tournament is now three days in length. Gone are the smaller 12-man brackets for Class 1A and 2A with each class now at 16-man brackets. The first day of competition is more of a physical and emotional test than anything else as wrestlers are required to weigh-in (early) then sit and play video games, text, tweet or sleep, yet still try to maintain enough of an edge so when they are called (4:30 p.m. for 2A, 6:30 for p.m. 3A) they will be alert and ready to go in perhaps the most important match of their careers.
The Fox Valley produced 16 state qualifiers, many for the first time. The Class 2A preview will appear in Thursday’s editions.
Class 3A first-timers
132: Sal Annoreno (Bartlett, 35-3). Easily earned the right to sit in first-class after capping spectacular 3-week run last Saturday night when the Hawks’ senior climbed atop the podium at Glenbard North to accept his sectional championship plaque after defeating No. 3 Johnny Gonzalez (Glenbard North, 34-7). That after he knocked off No. 7 Cullen Cummings (Downers Grove North) in the semifinals. During the past three weekends, the Hawks’ star has erased the competition one-by-one, beginning with his Upstate Eight title, then a week later at regionals, when his stock began to soar with consecutive victories over Gonzalez and Zak Hassan of Glenbard West. “It’s been an exciting few weeks around here, and for (Sal) and I go back to the preseason, when I told him he was going to be a state champ,” began Hawks head coach Karl Bratland. “We told him that needs to be his goal, and to believe it could happen. I am not sure if he did at that time, but as the season has progressed, you could tell that he began to.” Annoreno is bidding to become just the 4th Hawk to ever medal, the last coming in 2010 when Eric Moreno brought home a 5th-place medal at 160 pounds. He will face Jimmy Davis (35-13) of Waubonsie Valley Thursday night. No. 1 Bobby Zabel of Minooka is out of the tournament, meaning Annoreno takes over the No. 2 spot on the bottom of the bracket.
106: Mike Cullen (Cary-Grove, 40-2). Part of a marvelous freshman class all across the state this rookie phenom might be the declared the best when it is all said and done on Saturday night, as many already believe he belongs in the pole position on the eve of his first big tournament. Tactically, and technically advanced beyond his years, and completely confident in his ability, Cullen would come back from a disappointing effort in the regional final against his rival Adrian Gonzalez of Barrington to win the sectional title He will face Bobby Alexander (35-8) of Conant in the first round.
113: Cory Pych (South Elgin, 29-9). Joins his big brother Cody in his first trip to Champaign, one year after falling short at the Downers Grove North sectional when Ryan Rubino sent him packing in the second round of wrestlebacks. The junior is a 2-time regional champ, and was an Upstate Eight champion as well. He will meet Jordan Northrup (37-3) of Harlem, the state runner-up last season who has 115 career wins.
126: Nick Gil (Crystal Lake South, 40-6). Proving his rookie season was no fluke, the Gators’ sophomore sensation has been nearly untouchable all throughout the season for head coach Ross Ryan, after winning 33 in his rookie season, and falling one victory short of advancing into the state tournament. This skillful, hard-nosed, attacking weapon defeated just about everyone in his way, except for No. 1 Zach Synon (Prairie Ridge, 42-0). Gil faces Chicago Public League champ Nick Jankowski (38-4) of Lane Tech in the first round.
195: Jorge Zavala (23-7, Elgin). Just one year after falling in his sectional qualifying match in OT, ending his season at 19-1, the Maroons’ senior traveled to the Glenbard North sectional last weekend and narrowly lost in the final to state ranked Ryan Berg (Naperville Central, 33-8) to reach the 3A tournament. “Jorge is a tremendous leader of our group, and he had been working so hard the last couple of weeks knowing this was his last opportunity to get downstate,” said his coach, Terry Stroh. Zavala takes on Deon Rice (18-13) of Hersey in the first round.
220: Mike Romanelli (Crystal Lake South): Outstanding 2-year starter went from spectator to one to watch with back-to-back titles at the FVC and regional tournaments, before finishing strong in a top-heavy bracket at the Barrington sectional to earn his first trip downstate. His first-round opponent is Vince Ambrose (34-8) of Providence.
285: Devontae Joshua (Larkin, 25-7). This senior made the most of his chances in the postseason after not even competing in the Upstate Eight Conference Tournament, winning a regional title at South Elgin, then one week later securing his place in the field of 16 with a surprising second-place finish to state ranked Austin Beebe of West Aurora. The unheralded Joshua will face Luis Flores (31-7) of Oswego in the first round.
Returning to state
152: Tom Gerszewski (Crystal Lake South, 40-1). Nowhere to be found in the preseason polls, despite earning his first trip downstate last winter, the South senior vaulted to the No. 2 spot behind top-rated Brian Murphy after falling to the Glenbard North star in the Dvorak final. Since then, he’s reeled off 23-straight victories, including championship belts at the FVC, regional and sectional tourneys with ease. “It’s always been about taking one match at a time, and having respect for your next opponent, and I also know how important it will be for be sharp, and to get out quick if I want to reach my goal of winning a state title,” says Gerszewski, who is looking to perhaps go west next fall to either Cal Poly or the University of San Diego, if he doesn’t stay in the Midwest, and UW-Whitewater. He takes on Brendan Hall (29-11) of Mt. Carmel in the first round.
170: Cody Pych (South Elgin, 170, 34-4). The Storm star ran into a little turbulence last weekend at the sectional tournament where he came in as the favorite to win his third-straight postseason championship. Instead, the senior had to fight his way back through the consolation bracket to earn his second trip downstate after falling to eventual runner-up Steve Franke (Wheaton-Warrenville South) in the semis and later finishing fourth overall. Before this weekend, Pych was rated No. 3 in the state. His tough first-round opponent is Jake Residori (Minooka, 41-2, 2-time state medalist, 146 career victories).
182: Josh Symbal (Huntley, 37-2). Everyone already knows by now this Red Raider star has set several program records as he marched through the competition at 182 this year, winning tournament championships at the FVC and regional meets, and last weekend at the Barrington sectional. “It’s something to be proud of, but now I have to have to get after it in my first match, and not let up until I am done,” says Symbal, who will decide between Augustana or Elmhurst in the next couple of weeks, where he will put wrestling aside for good, and concentrate on his first love, football, and a spot either as a defensive end, or linebacker. “I really want to be close to my parents, who have been there from the very beginning,” he said. “It would be great to have them there to watch me play every weekend.” Symbal takes on Joe Young (30-8) of TF South in the first round.