Glenbard West's great start continues

Glenbard West 182-pounder Jack Vesevick has had an individual wrestling season to almost approximate the fortunes of his team.

The senior extended his season-long winning streak to 15 matches in leading the Hilltoppers to a clean sweep of their quadrangular against Hinsdale South, Naperville North and Andrew on Saturday in Glen Ellyn.

Glenbard West has lost only to Jacobs in improving to 14-1 on the season.

“This is definitely the best start since I became head coach,” Glenbard West's Nick Posegay said.

“It's pretty good motivation,” Vesevick added after missing the state series last year with an elbow injury. “I didn't think I would have this good a start. The team is doing well. It's just been a good time.”

The Glenbard West-Naperville North dual was the most competitive on the afternoon.

Hinsdale South and Andrew were addled by forfeits; the Hilltoppers enjoyed one-sided wins over each program in their bookend duals.

Glenbard West senior heavyweight Darien Kaufmann, headed to Northern Illinois University, had a first-period fall to cap a 12-0 run.

The Hilltoppers' Michael Mutton and Max Hufnagle had back-to-back pins at 120 and 126 pounds to give Glenbard West a 15-point spread with three matches remaining.

But Harvard-bound senior Aaron Kruk, undefeated on the day for the Huskies, brought Naperville North within striking distance with a fall.

Jake Hoffmann, also unblemished for the Huskies, reduced the deficit to 6 points at 138 pounds.

Naperville North (6-5) needed a fall in the final match at 145 pounds to send the dual into criteria, but Andrew Howard prevailed by a simple decision to cement the Hilltoppers' 36-27 victory.

“Every year Naperville (North) is a test for us,” Posegay said. “It's always a fight. We had a nice group of seniors come through (in all three matches). We haven't beaten (the Huskies) in a while.”

Kauffmann, a returning state qualifier, is rounding into shape after starring for the Hilltoppers' Class 7A football champions.

“You have to get your stamina up for wrestling,” Kauffmann said. “Every day is a work day. I was just working on my shots and takedowns today.”

Kruk and Hoffmann combined for four pins for the Huskies, who also had lopsided wins over Andrew (6-5) and Hinsdale South (0-7).

“Buying into the things the coaches tell you in practice and going out and executing them (was the key),” Kruk said. “It was really just coming out and the doing the things we work on in practice.”

“We put our guys in situations (against Glenbard West) where we had to wrestle their match,” Hoffmann said of the Huskies' second match.

Experience was the difference in the marquee match, according to Naperville North coach Tom Champion.

“We've got some kids on the team who have not had a chance at the varsity level,” Champion said. “They have to learn things are different between wrestling varsity and JV.”

Naperville North sophomore Lucas Van Poucke improved to 11-1 with three wins at 113 pounds.