Huntley's healthy again, wins regional crown
Everything is coming together at the right time for Huntley's wrestling team.
The Red Raiders advanced 12 wrestlers to sectional and handily won the team title at their own Class 3A regional Saturday.
Defending state champion David Ferrante at 170 pounds and Sam Spencer at 126 were among those winning individual weight classes for Huntley.
For various reasons, the Raiders were seldom able to field a full lineup during the season. Then, during a nine-day break, a virus swept through the wrestling room, leaving some wrestlers feeling a bit sluggish on Saturday.
But no matter. Twelve Raiders will be heading to Barrington next week while the team advances to the Glenbrook North sectional.
"We're finally healthy and able to show where we should have been a couple of weeks ago," said Huntley coach B.J. Bertelsman. "It's nice to wrestle tough. We've got a lot of work, though."
Fox Valley rival Jacobs finished third in the team standings behind Belvidere. The Golden Eagles advanced 6 wrestlers to Barrington.
One of the day's most anticipated matchups was at 138 pounds, where Jacobs' Jake Harrier, who came in with a 36-1 record, faced Huntley's Jeremy Jakowitsch, who sported a 36-5 mark. The match lived up to the billing, with Harrier using a late takedown to prevail, 6-5.
"I started moving and getting my takedowns," Harrier said. "I didn't wrestle well. I stood around too much and didn't take my shots."
Alex Epstein at 145 pounds followed his teammate by winning another tight bout. A takedown with 6 seconds left was the difference in a 3-1 decision over Harlem's Kyetin Lindquist.
Ferrante had little trouble with Harlem's Chad Richards, winning 10-0. An early takedown left Richards with a bloody nose and the match had to be stopped 3 times in the first period as the bleeding recurred.
"Chad's a very strong opponent, so I just wanted to get on my attack, when I saw my openings, take the openings, and then get tough on top," said Ferrante, who raised his season record to 39-1.
Other winners for the Red Raiders included Andrew Lira (132) with a third-period pin, Rukkus Hunkins (160) with a 14-2 decision, and Matt Burba (185) with a second-period pin.
Zach Rogala (106), Jacob Jensen (113), Sam Henkle (120), Rumyr Sobrepena (152), Joaquin Miranda (182) and Ryder Hunkins (195) also advanced.
Besides Harrier and Epstein, Jacobs' other winners included James Wright (106), with a fall at the 3-minute mark, and Ryan Golnick (220), with a fall at 3:22.
Tanner Ward (120) and Vince Ducato (160) will also represent the Golden Eagles next week. The Eagles just missed having a larger contingent, with 3 wrestlers losing in third-place matches.