Step in the right direction for Vernon Hills

Host Vernon Hills wanted to get the wrestling season started off on the right foot Wednesday night against Wauconda.

And after building a commanding 35-7 lead after nine matches, the Cougars did just that as they held off a determined Bulldogs team for an exciting 41-31 North Suburban Conference victory in this Prairie Division battle.

Wauconda (1-3, 0-1) was a bit short-handed and hamstrung as far as cutting weight in its second meet of the season as the Bulldogs were forced to forfeit five weight classes, as opposed to only one forfeit by Vernon Hills (1-0, 1-0).

A 10-0 major decision by 106-pound sophomore Justin Mitchell gave Wauconda an early 4-0 lead.

Then Wauconda junior Edgar Ruano posted a hard-fought 11-8 decision over Vernon Hills freshman Scott Harris at 113 to boost the lead to 7-0.

But that would basically be the end of the road for the Bulldogs as forfeit victories by Vernon Hills teammates Cristian Vargas (120), and Angel Tino (126) got the Cougars started on a 35-point unanswered run.

Vernon Hills 132-pounder Max Rickard posted a 9-5 decision over Wauconda sophomore Jose Munoz, who qualified for the state meet at 113 as a freshman.

Vernon Hills 138-pounder Jeff Echeverria extended the lead to 18-7 with his 9-4 decision over sophomore Tyler Husko.

Then the Cougars got an impressive 16-1 technical fall from senior Peter Vanderbloomer at 145. Vanderbloomer is returning from a state-meet appearance at 126 last winter.

Then came two more forfeit victories for Vernon Hills by sophomore Dylan Geick (152), and Colin Alexander (160) to give the Cougars a commanding 28-point lead at that juncture.

"It was a big win for us because it was nice to see how all of our hard work paid off right off the bat and we're just going to get better as the season goes along," said Vanderbloomer, whose team will be hosting a 12-team meet this weekend. "I definitely feel I can make state this year and I hope to get a (top six) place at state."

Vanderbloomer learned from one of the best wrestlers in the state the past few years as he practiced with three-time state qualifier Jordan Reich, who is now wrestling at Princeton.

"He (Reich) just made the kids that he worked with better and it was nice to know that I had six points going into every meet," said Vernon Hills coach Jerry Miceli. "He (Vanderbloomer) learned a lot from Jordan and now Peter has to make the kids in the room better this year."

Trailing 35-7, Wauconda started its huge comeback attempt when 170-pound sophomore Tyler Stankiewicz (4-0) pinned his opponent in 5:22.

Then 182-pound senior Steve Ciolek recorded a pin in 3:51 before senior teammate Tom Stolt's forfeit victory at 195 cut the gap to 35-25.

That set the stage for another huge bout as 220-pound Wauconda senior Jake Conour added yet another pin in 2:48 to pull to within 35-31 with one match remaining.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Vernon Hills 285-pound senior Joe Blitstein won by forfeit to account for the final score. Blitstein is a two-time state qualifier for the Cougars and seems poised to make another trip downstate.

"I think they (Blitstein and Vanderbloomer) will both be down there," added Miceli. "That is the goal, and they will be trying to get on that (top-six) podium."

After competing in the powerful Barrington tournament for many years, Wauconda will be heading north for the Antioch Invitational instead this weekend.

The Bulldogs are also to learning to live without a very elite wrestler as four-time state qualifier Nate Magiera is now playing football at Augustana. Magiera won the 220-pound state title last year in Class 2A. Wauconda also lost state qualifier Alex Schwickrath to graduation.

"We're a young team and it will be fun to see where we will be in February," said Wauconda coach Tom Nance. "Nate (Magiera) was a presence in the room and he led by example more than anything. Because of the body-fat restrictions, some of our kids could not move down a weight class tonight."