Scouting Fox and DuPage County boys wrestling

There is not enough space to list the quality of talent in the area for the 2023-24 wrestling season.

With the new season now in full swing, it is important to know there are several wrestlers rated No. 1 in their respective weight divisions according to the most recent polls available. There's also reigning 3A state champion St. Charles East anointed the top spot and the team to beat.

The Saints, coming off a brilliant campaign which saw Jason Potter's club win its first 3A state title in thrilling fashion over Marmion Academy last February, also have a trio of individual state champs back in place. St. Charles East also has seven top 10 rated wrestlers, with four holding the No. 1 spot in their respective weight divisions.

"(Our) senior class is something special, and have really used their experience gained from last year to take things to the next level. (Even) our top-level kids have continued to improve," says Potter, whose club went 22-1 a year ago. "Losing guys like AJ Marino, Lane Robinson and Austin Barrett to graduation, each of whom brought bonus point potential each time out, will be a challenge, but I believe our guys are up to the challenge."

The Saints' vaunted top four of Dom Munaretto (54-0), Ben Davino (54-0), Tyler Guerra (48-7) and Jayden Colon (44-5) are No. 1 in their weight division, with No. 3 Anthony Gutierrez (165, 30-13), No. 5 Brody Murray (175, 39-8) and No. 8 Gavin Connolly (157, 21-19) right behind.

"We lost some very good guys, and we will be young in spots, but (they) are coming along really well thus far. And with that, and the firepower we have in our lineup to take down opponents, we feel like we can be back in the 3A dual-team state final in Bloomington," said Davino, a strong favorite to win his third consecutive state title, who in early November signed to wrestle next fall at Ohio State.

"I liked everything about Ohio State, especially coach (Tom) Ryan who runs great training sessions, and his assistant Logan Stieber (a four-time NCAA national champion) who is my size, and will be a great guy to go with in the room," says Davino, who has been nationally ranked in the top three every in high school.

"(Guerra) has been especially impressive in his preparation for the season, and has moved himself into one of the top guys at his weight in the country," said Potter. "Ryan McGovern and Matt Medina are guys who were varsity ready last year, but were behind a couple of top-flight seniors, so they will step into our lineup and make their presence felt. Like every team, we will need to stay healthy to be in contention, and it is a long season so we're going to focus only on what is in front of us."

The aforementioned Marmion Academy club, coached by Anthony Cirrincione, lost one of its longtime stars and 2022 state champion Jameson Garcia (Harvard), and nearly 190 victories, including the 27 from Collin Carrigan who transferred to Glenbard West.

"We have a terrific core of guys back with us, and we have a lot of guys that have the potential to place at state down in Champaign," says Cirricione.

One such man is Jack Lesher, state champion a year ago at 182. He is the consummate team leader, who, for the first half of the season, will be on the sidelines rehabbing from ACL surgery after suffering an injury during the football season.

"Winning a state title is the life changing event that makes all of the hard work and dedication mean that much more, but it also can humble a person as well," says Lesher, an all-state linebacker, who will wrestle next fall at Northwestern.

"We lost a lot of quality through graduation, and transfers with Collin, and Brody Kelly going to IC Prep. But we have plenty of talent back, beginning with Nicholas Garcia (120) and Zach Stewart (138) who dealt with a few injuries last year as freshmen (but) have really jumped a few levels since last season, and will each be a major force in their weight class this season," said Lesher.

You would be hard pressed to find two boys programs as close in talent as the other in Montini Catholic and IC Catholic Prep, who each welcomed back plenty of quality while also the benefactor of a handful of first rate transfers to place both near the top of the preseason polls.

Montini comes in at the No. 3 spot with of its wrestlers ranked in the top 10, including state runners-up Josh Vazquez (120, 26-7) and David Mayora (150, 47-3) both at No. 1, in addition to Harrison Konder (41-6) who comes over from Downers Grove North, where he finished fifth at state.

IC Prep enters the season as the No. 6 team at 2A. The Knights welcomed four new wrestlers through transfer, two of which came from 1A state power Aurora Christian, which closed its doors for good following the end of the school year in 2023.

Two-time third place medalist Deven Casey (40-8) will be at 120 for new head coach Danny Alcocer, who moved over from Aurora Christian, while Patrick Mullen will hold down the 144-spot in the lineup.

Junior Michael Calcagno is the No. 1 rated man at 215.

There are dozens of others who have been anointed spots in preseason polls, many of which are returning state medal winners.

Illinois-bound Marko Ivanisevic (44-3) is one of the best at 285, and is on pace to claim a third consecutive state medal. The Hinsdale Central senior begins the campaign ranked No. 3.

Two-time state medalist Ino Garcia (Batavia, 120, 25-9) is back, as is West Aurora junior Dominic Serio (150, 34-5) both of whom ranked No. 2 in their respective weight divisions. Serio hit the ground running when he was named Outstanding Wrestler at the Ted DeRousse Antioch Invite recently.

Along with Garcia, his teammate and two-time state qualifier Aidan Huck (37-11) will handle things at 138 pounds.

Glenbard North, always a threat in the DuKane Conference and postseason action, will lean on its dynamic duo of No. 3 Christian Chavez (126, 42-13) and No. 8 Kalani Khiev (120, 39-10).

South Elgin, which enjoyed one of its best seasons in recent history last year, features sophomores Demetrios Carrera (120) and Leo Rosas (15) who combined for 70 wins a year ago.

York's Zach Parisi (43-6) and Danny Decristofaro (42-9) are both state ranked, and Wheaton Warrenville South senior Sedeeq Al Obaidi (38-7 last season) also returns.

A trio of heavyweights - Markos Mihalopoulos (Huntley, 34-11), Joey Ochoa (Hampshire, 29-19) and Andy Burburijia (Crystal Lake South, 33-5) - are all back, with Burburijia entering the season as the No. 1 man in 2A at 285.