A tough regional draw at Leyden
The six local programs at the Class 3A Leyden regional over the weekend had one insurmountable task with defending state champion Oak Park-River Forest in the nine-team field.
Ranked No. 1 in the nation, Oak Park crowned 11 of the 14 champions to more than double runner-up Wheaton North.
"It's hard not to admire how (Oak Park) throws that all together," Glenbard West coach Nick Posegay. "They sat there during the regional finals, and it was like an Oak Park dual meet. I haven't seen that many schools (ranked) in the nation, but I can see how they can make a case for being one of the best."
Glenbard West 106-pounder Charles Faber was the lone athlete to defeat an Oak Park competitor during the teams' regular-season West Suburban Silver dual match.
The sophomore defeated Glenbard East sophomore Nick Donovan for the regional championship.
The Hilltoppers also advanced Nate Orrison at 182 pounds to the Glenbard North individual sectional on Saturday.
In a classic tactical match, Glenbard East senior D'Andre Johnson had the only point in the Leyden final against the Hilltoppers' heavyweight, Darien Kaufmann.
Johnson, the Rams' lone returning state qualifier, led Glenbard East to third overall at Leyden with his 1-0 championship.
The senior has not lost since dropping his championship match at Palatine over the holidays in his first action of the season.
"(Johnson) has the potential to win it all," Glenbard East coach Kevin Carlson said. "He can go with anyone. It's going to be an interesting state tournament."
Kaufmann is also ranked for the Hilltoppers.
"(The coaches) knew (the Johnson-Kaufmann final) was going to be decided by a takedown, and it never came," Posegay said. "It was back and forth the whole way for a 1-0 match."
Glenbard East also advanced Upstate Eight Conference champion Nick Donovan at 106 pounds.
Drew Fugiel also lost in the championship round for Glenbard East at 120 pounds.
Fred Morris' ticket to Glenbard North was punched with his third-place triumph at 160 pounds for Glenbard East.
Sean Corey was the Rams' final sectional qualifier at 182 pounds.
Two tough sectionals:
The 152-pound championship at Leyden featured two of the top-three ranked competitors in the state in Willowbrook junior Matt Rowland and Oak Park defending state champion Walter White.
The latter is ranked among the best in the nation in his class.
Three-time all-stater Juwon Edmond of Hinsdale Central is ranked No. 2 in the weight class.
"We wanted to take the match as a learning experience," Willowbrook coach Brandon Murphy said of White ending the season-long winning streak Rowland enjoyed. "If you can compete against (Oak Park), you can compete with anyone in the state. Hopefully, (White and Rowland) meet in the state finals for round No. 3."
Glenbard North and Downers Grove North will be the host schools for all the local large-class participants from the area - with the exception of Normal-bound Neuqua Valley.
"The semifinals at Glenbard North are going to be better than (Downers North)," Naperville North coach Tom Champion said. "But the finals at (Downers North) will be better than Glenbard North."
Prized freshman Jack Jessen defeated Oak Park senior Maxwell Metzgar to earn the Warriors' lone championship at Leyden.
The 170-pounder is ranked No. 2 in the state for Willowbrook.
Christian Chavez dropped the 220-pound championship for the Warriors to yet another Oak Park competitor.
Following the Falcons:
Wheaton North had seven competitors advance to the Glenbard North sectional.
"I'm pretty happy about it," Wheaton North coach and alum Travis Cherry said of the Falcons' 70 percent success ratio. "Not too many teams can say they got seven (wrestlers) out. I'm looking forward to Glenbard North on Saturday."
Bryce Thurston (126 pounds), Dylan Thurston (132) and Micah Volle (160) advanced to the finals - only to be turned back by Oak Park athletes - for the Falcons.
Going to Normal:
Neuqua Valley 126-pounder Maurice Mitchell and senior DJ Warkenthien, a 195-pounder, will represent the area at Normal on Saturday after advancing out of Bolingbrook over the weekend.
"Our expectations are for them are to go to Normal and then get to Champaign," Neuqua Valley coach Mick Ruettiger said.
After struggling to field a complete lineup for much of the regular season, the Wildcats sent out athletes in 13 of the 14 weight classes.
"We got some kids some mat time on varsity," Ruettiger said.
Wrestling big:
Lisle and IC Catholic Prep represented the small-school contingent for the area last weekend at Lisle.
The six combined qualifiers for the two programs will compete at the Class 1A Wilmington sectional on Saturday.
Drew Sonnefeldt and Jack Pawlowicz won titles for Lisle at 120 and 170 pounds.
The Lions were fifth, and the Knights were one spot behind in the field, captured by Chicago Hope Academy.
Joey Biancinni and Brendan O'Brien were the Knights' two champions at 106 and 145 pounds.