Marmion sends entire team to Hinsdale Central sectional

Tyler Perry had bonus points on his mind in the 182-pound Class 3A Naperville Central regional wrestling championship match on Saturday afternoon.

The Cadets were well on their way to an eighth team title in the last nine attempts when he began a closing run of five straight titles for the Aurora program.

"It meant a lot sending out every kid we could to get bonus points and extend the (team) lead," Perry said of Marmion advancing all 14 of its athletes to title matches in

Naperville. "We were upset that some people weren't seeded as high as they should have been. It was exciting to see the Marmion team step up."

Marmion claimed 10 championship victories in securing a 293.5-179.5 triumph over West Aurora, which was also runner-up with 10 qualifiers to the two-day individual sectional next weekend in Hinsdale.

Naperville Central had eight qualifiers in its 153-point performance in placing third; Waubonsie Valley and Naperville North had seven combined qualifiers after tying for fourth with 97 points each.

Wheaton Warrenville South advanced three individuals as part of its sixth-place showing with 70 points.

East Aurora and Metea Valley both failed to secure any Hinsdale Central qualifiers.

The fourth-ranked Cadets, runner-up in the Catholic League, will face conference rival and No. 3 Mt. Carmel at the TBA team-dual sectional in 16 days.

The Cadets were dominant at both the lower and upper weights in the championship matches.

Following the Perry fall at 170 pounds, Jack Leshert, Teddy Perry, Sean Scheck and Jerred Durrian all secured wins for Marmion to close out the day in a four-weight run at 182, 195, 220 and 285 pounds.

Only Teddy Perry failed to pin his championship-title foe.

"Freshman year, I wasn't able to wrestle," said Schenk, a junior who improved to 30-9. "I am trying to come back and try as best as I can."

At the opposite end of the weight spectrum, Danny Pigoni, Jameson Garcia - the Cadets' coaches' association-sponsored state champion last year - and Tyler Aters began the

championship competition with wins between 106 and 120 pounds, respectively.

Three weight classes later, Santino Scolaro defeated Naperville Central senior Tommy Porter 9-2 in the 138-pound final.

"I was really excited for this match," Solaro said. "I knew Naperville Central is a big rival. I knew I would win the match and do well for my team."

Naperville Central, which entered the tournament ranked No. 7, sent Ayden Lutes to the title match at 152 pounds.

But the Redhawks' senior had his season-long 17-match winning streak snapped as Marmion sophomore Collin Carrigan improved to 20-2 with a first-period takedown and second-period escape for a 3-0 shutout win.

"I knew it was going to be a battle to get it done," said Carrigan, a Glen Ellyn resident. "I like scoring a lot of points. My coaches kept telling me (to concentrate) on defense. It worked."

West Aurora was one of four programs with a sole champion.

Ashton Massaro scored the only point of the 132-pound championship when Marmion junior Connor Thompson was called for a foul in overtime.

"I was trying to shake him," the Blackhawks' senior said. "He ended up getting the penalty, I got the point and then from there it was all about riding him out."

West Aurora passed Naperville Central in the finals largely by winning six consolation titles for third place.

The highly-regarded triumvirate of Dom Serio, Noah and Moses Quintana all prevailed in must-win scenarios between 138 and 152 pounds for West Aurora.

Naperville Central top-seeded 126-pounder Ethan Olson bested the Cadets' Christian Favia 9-3 for the Redhawks' lone championship.

The DuPage Valley Conference champion was trailing before exploding with a takedown and 4-point near-fall.

"I was really slow right off the bat," Olson said. "I threw (Favia) to his back and got the lead. I started pushing the pace harder than him."

Naperville North 145-pounder Cam Clark became the lowest-seeded champion when the senior defeated the Cadets' Tegan Chumbley 4-2 in overtime.

Clark was the fourth seed.

"We were only favored by seeds to get two guys out," Naperville North coach Tom Champion said. "But I don't know if you can call it a regional if Marmion is here. Marmion has kids representing lots of areas."

Antonio Torres' status as an undefeated Class 3A wrestler is certainly still intact as the senior - all-state at the last IHSA-sanctioned tournament two years ago - pinned Marmion

senior Kenny Siwicki in the first period to improve to 25-0 at 160 pounds.

"Originally, I took him down," Torres said. "I got a little too excited, too eager."

Siwicki reversed Torres as a result, only for the Warriors' 2020 sectional champion to return the favor as part of his move to secure the fall.

"He put me to my back but ultimately I got him to his back," Torres said of the exchange of momentum. "I worked him into a cradle and end up sticking him."

Aarav Ledvora, Jaidyn Buziecki and Sedeeq Al Obaidi won consolation titles for WW South to advance to Hinsdale Central.