Scouting DuPage County wrestling
Top teams: Montini, Glenbard North, Wheaton North, Willowbrook, Metea Valley, Downers Grove South, Naperville North, Waubonsie Valley, Glenbard West, Lake Park.
Top athletes: Addison Trail: Andre Frontier, jr., 145, Karim Fuentes, sr., 285, Guillermo Juarez, fr., 106, Marcus Rias, sr., 126; Downers Grove North: Sky Arend, jr., 195, Nate Cummings, soph., 106, Austin Maher, jr., 152, Jamil Smith, sr., 220, Pat Walker, sr., 126; Downers Grove South: Ahmir Hooks, sr., 132, Tyree Johnson, sr., 145, Zach Muller, jr., 285, Sergio Villalobos, sr., 195; Fenton: Dylan Butts, soph., 170, Sebestian Kaspar, sr., 120, Ryan Mencini jr., 126, Kacper Piskorz, jr., 132; Glenbard East: Bryan Andrews, sr., 195, Nick Donovan, jr., 113, Drew Fugiel, sr., 126, Cole Martin, soph., 145, Scott Szabo, jr., 132, Quantrelle Turner, sr., 220, Nolan Vincent, sr., 120; Glenbard North: Tom Czernek, sr., 160; Brandon Fierro, sr., 152, Austin Gomez, jr., 126, Anthony Marre, soph., 145; Michael Milan, sr., 132; Glenbard South: Numan Ayhan, jr., 195, Mike Bertone, sr., 132, Jordan Drake, sr., 220, Vince Marra, jr., 145, Jordan Powell, jr., 126; Glenbard West: Charles Faber, jr., 113, Nik Hollenshe, sr., 195, Mike Lawson, sr., 220, Jack Vesevick, sr., 182; Hinsdale Central: Matt Allen, sr., 285, Andrew D'Aprile sr., 145, Brett Dougherty, sr., 138, Liam Drury, soph., 132, Josh Del Rosario Riveria, sr., 182; Hinsdale South: Ernest Inglam, sr., 152, Josh King, sr., 285, Mitch Mendel, sr., 160, Danish Qureshi, jr., 126, Zach Zarubin, jr., 195; IC Catholic Prep: Joey Biancinni, soph., 113, Pat Guinan, sr., 160, Brendan O'Brian, sr., 152; Lake Park: Giovanni Chaparro, sr., 106, Marco Ibanez, sr., 285, Vince Libich, soph., 132, Jackson Schoen, sr., 145; Lisle: Christian Lodar, jr., 106, Jack Pawlowitz, sr., 182, Mark Pivick, jr., 152, Drew Sonnefeseklt, jr., 126, David Starnes, jr., 138; Metea Valley: Uri Ariza, sr., 120, David Beitch, sr., 152, Dylan Ervin, sr., 195, David Rojas, sr., 220, Jake Toepfer, sr., 145; Montini: Dylan Duncan, sr., 138, Holden Heller, soph., 120, Caleb Fortuna, sr., 145, James Pawelski, sr., 126, Real Woods, soph., 113; Naperville Central: Cameron Hayes, sr., 126, Alex Hunter, sr., 195, Jake Keating, jr., 120, Shuji Mizoguchi, sr., 113, Christian Nussbaum, jr., 220; Naperville North: Jake Hoffman, sr., 138, Aaron Kruk, sr., 132, Steve Schmult, sr., 170, Lucas VanPoucke, soph., 113, Dalton Weber, sr., 160; Neuqua Valley: Zach Greenberg, sr., 170, Moe Mitchell, sr., 126, Jackson Modaff, jr., 160, Anthony Schoedel, 285, Austin Singer, sr., 152; Waubonsie Valley: Tyler Caldwell, sr., 285, Max Ihry, sr., 195, Mason Kroenin, jr., 182, Michael Scalgione, jr., 138, Nick Sondag, jr., 170 West Chicago: Juan Aceves, sr., 145, Josh Conlon, sr., 160, Trey Lally, jr., 182, Alexis Low, sr., 152, Mason Otzwirk, sr., 170, Luis Perez, sr., 120; Wheaton Academy: Charlie Gieser, jr., 145, Rylen Hershey, fr., 106, Derek Johanik, fr., 195, Aidan Naylor, sr., 170, Zack Wakely, sr., 220; Wheaton North: Devin Donovan, jr., 160, Jalyn Griffin, sr., 126, Frankie Indelli, jr., 145, Duncan Nelson, jr., 145, Bryce Thurston, sr., 132; Wheaton Warrenville South: Jake Jones, jr., 126, Andrew Leonard, jr., 195, Marcello Macellaio, sr., 152, Adam Shutz, sr., 170; Willowbrook: Trevor Bell, sr., 120, Jack Jessen, soph. 182, Elijah Rochel, sr., 195, Matt Rowland, sr., 170, Andrew Veer, sr., 113; York: Tommy Helton, sr., 285, Austin Hoffmann, jr., 138, Demetri Karabelos, sr., 120; Brian Nudera, sr., 195, Luke Wagner, sr. 152.
Scouting report: Glenbard North has had a remarkable run in its wrestling program for almost two decades. The Panthers won the DuPage Valley Conference last year to extend their winning streak to 17 straight years and went on to capture their own Class 3A regional en route to yet another team dual-meet state appearance. Glenbard North has won 15 consecutive regional championships as well. But veteran Glenbard North coach Mark Hahn views the upcoming season as one of the biggest challenges his program has faced in a while. "We are inexperienced in parts of the lineup," Hahn said. The DVC also has a new look this school year with the addition of the three Indian Prairie high schools. "One of the three schools is going to be capable of winning (the conference)," Hahn said. "It's probably going to be one of the most balanced conference tournaments we have had in a long time."
"I saw this coming a few years ago," Neuqua Valley coach Mick Ruettiger said of sister schools Waubonsie Valley and Metea Valley leaving the Upstate Eight Conference for the DVC. "The only thing we are going to do is strengthen (the conference)." It was an inevitable decision for the three schools to join the league, according to Naperville North coach Tom Champion. "I think it is good to finally consolidate the conference," Champion said. "(The Indian Prairie schools) are part of Naperville. They should be in our conference." Champion, like Hahn, sees the prospect of Glenbard North hegemony being severely tested this winter. "Wheaton North may be the team to beat," Champion said. "I see Glenbard North, Wheaton North and Naperville Central vying for the title." Like many of his league counterparts, Champion marvels at the unprecedented Glenbard North accomplishment for the last 17 years. "There is not a head coach in the conference who knows what it is like to win (a league championship)," Champion said.
Claudio Torres has quietly built Metea Valley into a formidable position in recent years. The Mustangs could very well dramatically influence the events of the DVC this season. "I want to have multiple state qualifiers," Torres said. "I am hoping my kids rise to the occasion." Metea Valley had a strong start to the season as Ervin and Rojas were crowned champions at the prestigious Conant Invite over the Thanksgiving weekend. Lake Park coach Anthony Cirrincinoe is a Glenbard North alumnus. The Lancers' coach welcomes the addition of his former Upstate Eight partners. "It will add great depth to a conference with great numbers," Cirrincinoe said of the league expanding from six to nine schools. The second-year coach has grand ambitions for Schoen in particular. "Our plan is to compete for a state title," Cirrincinoe said.
Waubonsie Valley, meanwhile, has one of only a handful of returning all-state performers in Ihry. The Northern Illinois recruit had a late start to the season due to the Warriors' extended postseason football run. Waubonsie Valley coach Brad Caldwell, whose senior son, Tyler, is a returning state qualifier at heavyweight, has already noticed the cultural change with conference realignment. "I foresee this helping the wrestlers handle the pressure at the end of the year," Caldwell said. "It paid off for us in football." Waubonsie Valley will be especially potent in the upper weight classes this winter.
The two West Suburban Conference divisions will never suffer from a dearth of talent. Willowbrook possesses the most formidable 1-2 punch among Class 3A schools behind Rowland and Jesson. The two are both reigning state runners-up. "We want to put them in positions to be at their best," Willowbrook coach Brandon Murphy said. Rowland, who has signed with North Carolina, lost his only three matches of the season last year to nationally renowned Isaiah White of two-time defending team state champion Oak Park-River Forest. "I'm not sure what weight (White) is at, but he's back," Murphy said. Jesson, on the other hand, was one of the top-ranked freshmen in the nation a year ago.
Hinsdale South boasts the one returning Class 3A state champion in King. The Michigan State football recruit won 45 of 46 matches last year in claiming the 220-pound crown. The senior will be at heavyweight this year. King has a future collegiate teammate in Allen from Hinsdale Central. The Red Devils' heavyweight was state runner-up last year; his older brothers, Jack and Brian, both won state titles at the heaviest class in recent years. In the Silver Division the local programs have the unfortunate task of trying to compete with Oak Park-River Forest. The traditional power was ranked No. 1 in the nation last year. "I have never seen anything like them," Glenbard West coach Nick Posegay said. Murphy predicts a slew of close duals in the Gold. "It was as if every dual meet came down to the last match," Murphy said of the Gold a season ago. "I expect it to be very similar this year. Downers South is probably the favorite."
There will be a different Class 2A team champion this season. Montini is the only program to win at the level since the sport expanded to three classes in 2007-08. But the Broncos have been elevated to Class 3A due to the new initiative of the IHSA for private schools with prolonged success. Woods and Duncan were Class 2A state champions last year for Montini; Pawelski was a runner-up and Lewan finished fourth. Many of the local coaches are heavily speculating if the Broncos will be placed in the same regional as Glenbard North.
John Ruettiger returns to head the program at Lisle. Ruettiger took back the reigns after a nine-year hiatus. Ruettiger headed the program first in 1983. "I'm excited about it," Ruettiger said.
Key dates: Dec. 5, Wheaton Warrenville South Mega Duals; Dec. 11-12, Ironman; Dec. 12, Prospect Invite; Dec. 12, Lake Park Invite; Dec. 18-19, Hinsdale Central Rex Whitlatch; Dec. 22-23, Dvorak; Dec. 29-30, Berman Winter Classic (Palatine); Jan. 1-2, The Clash; Jan. 9, Glenbard West Invite; Jan. 16, Batavia Invitational; Jan. 23 and Jan. 30, Conference tournaments.