Noverini dominates on opening day at state
CHAMPAIGN — Tim Noverini stated his intentions loud and clear down on the big floor of Assembly Hall in Champaign late Thursday night after the St. Charles North thumped Nick DiNardo of Plainfield North (37-4) in his opening match of the 3A state tournament with a resounding technical fall at 5:28.
The senior North Star was a shining example of success the area enjoyed as day No. 1 came to a close, with 2A power Marmion sending several of its wrestlers through, while Ben Kovalick kept Kaneland’s hopes alive after the senior came away with a thrilling 1-0 victory to help book his place in Friday’s quarterfinals which are set to begin at 8:30 this morning.
Noverini (35-2) who was rumored to be making a move (down) to 145 prior to the playoffs but won the 152-pound title at the Upstate Eight tourney last month, made quick work of DiNardo, who was a state qualifier last season.
But he proved no match for Noverini who now faces the much talked about, and undefeated Lane Tech senior Max Schneider (37-0) who can throw with the best, and is looking to make a run at a second consecutive state title.
Marmion sophomore Johnny Jimenez (20-1) is looking to do the same, his at 2A, and this season at 113 pounds, where he got off on the front foot late Thursday afternoon with a fall over Jewell Webb of Cahokia.
“There’s a little anxiousness before your first match, just because it’s the state tournament, and because there’s so much nervous energy built up as your waiting to go out (there) and wrestle, but I think that’s a good thing to have, because there’s a lot of very good wrestlers in this bracket, and everyone feels like they have a chance to do something here,” said Jimenez, who followed teammate Anthony Bosco’s (34-7) pin at 106 to record his to set up his quarterfinal bout with David McDonald (32-12) of Tinley Park.
The trio of George Fisher (126, 34-6), Chris Garcia (132, 36-6) and Angelo Silvestri (138, 39-4) were near flawless as each went through their opponents and into the quarters, with Fisher’s hard-fought 5-2 decision against Rudolph Johnson (Chicago Bowen) giving the junior 99 victories for his career.
No. 100 could come at the expense of Mt. Zion freshmen Jake Eckenrod (32-12) if he is successful this morning.
The aforementioned Kovalick (220, 36-5) will have to carry the Kaneland flag alone after three of his mates fell in the first-round, leaving the big senior alone in the championship bracket where he will face Malcolm Watson (Nazareth, 35-4) who escaped with an OT victory to stay alive.
Geneva junior Brad Martens (113, 38-7) ran into a brick wall in the name of Jared Parvinmehr (34-3) and the state ranked senior from Barrington made sure to stay away from any upset bids as he registered a major decision win.
Sophomore Anthony Scaccia (38-8) of Batavia was victimized in the same way as Martens after beaten by Skyler Procasky (34-3) of Belleville East.
Friday will begin at 8:30 with quarterfinal matches in all 3 classes, followed by first-round wrestle-backs.
Semifinals in the championship brackets are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.