St. Charles East, Hinsdale Central seniors cruise to victory in 3A wrestling opener

CHAMPAIGN - The sprint to the finish line officially began for both Austin Barrett (St. Charles East, 285), and Cody Tavoso (Hinsdale Central, 138) as each cruised to victory in their 3A wrestling state opener last night at State Farm Arena on the campus of the University of Illinois.

Both seniors came into the action as the No. 4-rated men in the state in their respective weight divisions, with Tavoso (44-2) looking to join an elite group in program history (Brian Allen, Juwan Edmond) by earning his fourth state medal.

"It would be great to become only the third person in Red Devils history to win four state medals - my goal, of course, is to win a state title," said Tavoso, who set a program record with 30 pins this season.

The Princeton-bound Tavoso will face Maddox Khalimsky (Fremd, 23-2) when the 3A quarterfinals begin Friday morning at 8:30.

The aforementioned Barrett (36-7) is part of a star-powered Saints program that is No. 2 in the state, and headed to the dual-team sectionals next Tuesday with the chance to advance into dual-team state for the first time since 2001.

"I had given some thought to not coming back (and) turning all of my attention towards getting ready for college football - but in the end, I couldn't stay away, and to be on a team like this one, and to have a chance to compete for a state title makes all of the work I've put in well worth it," admitted Barrett, who stands just under 6-7, and will play next fall at Indiana University.

Next up for Barrett in the quarters: Cortez Jones (TF-South, 12-2), with a win likely setting up a Friday night semifinal with No. 1 Ben Bielawski (Downers Grove North, 42-1).

With far too many results, and fascinating 3A quarterfinals to report on, let's (first) take a look at the 152-pound division, which features enough star power to light the State Farm Center alone.

Top six men: Collin Carrigan (Marmion Academy, 23-6) will face freshman phenom Aaron Stewart (40-1) of Warren; Kaden Fetterolf (Batavia, 45-1) takes on Nolan Allen (West Chicago, 27-0); and Harrison Konder (38-4) will see Jacob Luce (38-10) of DeKalb.

Stewart won the Barrington sectional, while Eddie Enright (Mt. Carmel) beat Carrigan for the Hinsdale Central title, and Fetterfolf, with Konder fourth overall.

"This is a crazy-good weight class and, for me, the last couple of weeks have humbled me a little - so I feel like I am really ready for this weekend," admitted Carrigan.

"(Hinsdale) exposed a few things that I needed to clean up - I did this week in the room to get myself (right) for state," added Federolf.

Dominic Ducato (Jacobs, 32-2, 113) will have the chance to avenge a loss here a year ago to Ethan Spacht (38-5, Bradley-Bourbannais) in his quarterfinal, while three-time state qualifier, Mikey DiBenedetto (Glenbard North, 22-6) will look to take one step closer to an elusive state medal.

No. 1 Jack Lesher (Marmion Academy, 31-6) will have his hands full with Evan Grazzini (York, 22-1) at 182, as will Elgin heavyweight, Adam Lambaz (30-3), who takes on Hersey big man Oleg Simakov (39-8). Both are looking to claim their first state medal in their second visit here.

Over at 2A, the Montini Catholic duo of David Mayora (152, 46-2) and Will Prater (160, 42-5) are in great shape to medal - with Mayora looking to improve on his 2022 third-place finish.

2022 state runner-up Deven Casey (Aurora Christian, 38-7) is on his way to a head-on collision with Drew Davis (Glenwood, 47-2) in what would be No. 1 versus No. 2 in the 113-pound final - unless Montini junior, Ben Dunne (18-0) can provide an upset of Davis in Friday's semifinal.

One year after earning his first trip downstate, junior Andy Burburijia (32-3) is one win away from the 285-pound final after an outstanding first day that included a quarterfinal pin sent the Crystal Lake South big man into the semifinals against No. 1 Dillan Johnson (41-0) of Joliet Catholic Academy.

"This was an important day for me after last year when I lost my first match - won my next two, before losing once more to end things for me," said Burburijia, who was third a week ago at the Rochelle sectional.

The fabulous freshman duo in 1A - Lincoln Hoger (Wheaton Academy, 38-5) and Jaylen Torres (41-6) from nearby Wheaton St. Francis - are alive and well, but in the wrestle-back portion of the tournament.

Torres, who came in as the No. 7 man at 285, won his first career state match in his opener, before dropping his quarterfinal.

"Jaylen has improved with his footwork, hand fighting, and offense on his feet as well, and right now, (he) is staying in good position, controlling (ties) - and he's going into his matches confident enough to go six minutes," said his coach, Eric Kirkman.

"Lincoln is an extremely mature freshmen as an 'undersized' 120-pounder, but it's his mat sense, leadership, pre-match preparation, and desire to improve is what has set him apart this season," said coach Steve Aiello of Hoger (38-5), who will now go in search of a state medal through wrestle-backs.

The 1A regional champion IC-Prep will have two-time state champion Saul Trejo (120, 11-2) and heavyweight Isaiah Gonzalez (17-1) closing in a place in the state finals.

No. 3 Trejo meets No. 1 Anthony Ruzic (Auburn, 50-2) while Gonzalez, twice a state runner-up, takes on Jason Dowell (Cahokia, 41-9) in his semifinal.

Gonzalez was a key figure in IC-Prep's 3A state championship football team, later named all-state, and the conference offensive lineman of the year.

After 3A quarterfinals jump-start the second day of action, wrestle-back play will be sprinkled in all throughout the day, until the stadium is cleared and prepared for the semifinal round all across the three classes beginning at 7 p.m.