Scouting DuPage County and Fox Valley boys wrestling
With the image of an astounding nine state champions from the area etched in the minds of wrestling fans, the chances of a repeat from last year is highly likely when glancing at the returning talent.
Not only can the area produce several more lasting memories for its fans on an individual level, it appears an opportunity for success at the dual-team state tournament is also possible.
Ben Davino, who leaves the St. Charles East program as a four-time state champion, and twice champion at the prestigious Ironman, has already been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week at Ohio State.
Davino (54-0) led the Saints to the 2023 dual-team title and third last year when injuries caught up to Jason Potter's club at an inopportune time.
"We had a great run with an amazing group of young men, but it also brought a level of pressure that can be stressful," said Potter, himself a two-time state champion.
"We have embraced the challenge of losing such a powerful senior class, and the perspective that (we) have fallen off, so we are looking forward to proving ourselves this season."
Junior Dom Munaretto, No. 1 in the country at his weight and a two-time freestyle world champion, and No. 1 Anthony Gutierrez (165) will lead the way for a Saints (22-1-0) club that returns five who earned 25 or more wins a year ago.
Kaden Potter, Liam Aye, Gavin Woodmancy, Cooper Murray and Matt Medina may not be the household names of their previous teammates, but this group plus Munaretto and Gutierrez will provide plenty to earn the No. 8 spot in preseason polls.
"There will be some great tests ahead of us with the likes of Hononegah, Marmion Academy, Warren, Yorkville and others, but the guys have put in the work and are ready to make their mark," said coach Potter.
Reigning state champions: Nicholas Garcia and Zach Stewart are two of the many reasons Marmion Academy enters the season as the No. 3 rated 3A team just behind Joliet Catholic Academy and Marist.
"We match up really well with Joliet, Marist and Hononegah (No. 4). If we stay healthy there's no reason why we cannot put a lot of our guys on the podium in Champaign, then wrestle for the team state championship," said Stewart.
Stewart (30-8) has dealt with a variety of injuries himself during his first two years with the Cadets, but it did not stop the junior from claiming the top prize last year at 138 pounds.
Stewart feels his performance at Fargo during the offseason inspired a complete 180 in the way he trains.
"I went there far too confident, went 4-2, and it was the wake-up call I needed to change everything I do," said Stewart. "My diet, work ethic, discipline, mental approach, all has changed in order for me to train six hours a day. I want to be my best for the team, and myself.“
Stewart's teammate Nicholas Garcia (45-7) executed a brilliant tactical match against the aforementioned favorite at 113 Dom Munaretto to secure a 4-2 decision to capture his first state title.
"(This) is the best team I've been around in my two years here at Marmion. We are going to be a very good dual (team) as well as in tournaments because there's terrific depth up-and-down are lineup," said Garcia, fourth in state as a freshman.
"We have guys from 106 to 150 who have the potential to reach a state final, and several others who will earn plenty of points along the way. I have a lot of confidence in this team, and our coaching staff, so it should be a very good season for Marmion Academy wrestling."
The two No. 1 rated men at their weight class are joined by six other state ranked guys, including No. 4 Demetrios Carrera (132, 38-2-) who twice was a state qualifier at South Elgin.
Montini Catholic (27-3-0) was close to claiming an amazing 17th state title last year when a loss in the final match in its 2A final gave Washington a 30-28 victory.
The Broncos are back and better this season as the No. 1 team ahead of Washington and IC Catholic Prep with a power-packed lineup that features nine state qualifiers, four placewinners led by state champion Allen Woo (25-3) state runner-up Josh Vazquez (48-5), and third place medal winners Mikey Malizzio (40-6) and Isaac Mayora (33-15).
The Broncos might be slow out of the blocks with a handful of its men helping to put the finishing touches on its 3A state football championship last weekend over Monticello.
The aforementioned IC-Catholic Prep (13-6-0) lost five all-state seniors including two-time state champion Michael Calcagno, but returning state champ Deven Casey (34-4) and his fellow No. 1 man Brody Kelly (33-8) will lead the way for Knights coach Danny Alcocer.
"We're replacing a great group of seniors with underclassmen, so with the volume of roster turnover and new faces will offer a challenge for us in the early part of the season," said Alcocer.
"(Those) challenges will help mold the team we are going to be, and we believe it will be invaluable to the wrestlers, and set us up to accomplish our ultimate goal of a team state title at the end of the year."
Hall of Fame coach Tom Arlis is back in charge of the Batavia program, taking over for Ryan Farwell, who departs for a teaching position in LaCrosse, Wis., where he once starred at UW-LaCrosse.
Arlis lost the fantastic three-time state qualifying duo of Ino Garcia (UW-LaCrosse) and Aidan Huck, but returns No. 3 Asher Sheldon (215, 41-11) and No. 10 Jack Duraski (132).
Batavia, No. 17 Glenbard North, Wheaton North and others will chase St. Charles East for the top spot in the DuKane Conference, while Naperville Central, Naperville North and Waubonsie Valley are after DVC favorite DeKalb.
Naperville Central was a regional champion a year ago, and have No. 10 William Erbeck (285, 37-5) back.
Over in the FVC Huntley and Crystal Lake Central will vie for top spot with Crystal Lake Central, Burlington Central, Cary-Grove, and Crystal Lake South moving into 2A status after the regular season.
No. 19 Huntley (23-5-0) has No. 7 sophomore state qualifier Radic Dvorak (157, 36-14) and 10 other starters back.
"We have a lot of starters back, missing over 100 from the three seniors who graduated, but the kids did a lot of offseason work, so we'll look for the guys to take the next step," said Red Raiders coach BJ Bertelsman.
Terrific chemistry and a strong offseason has Tim Hayes believing his Dundee-Crown club will improve upon its 12-8-0 record from a year ago.
"I am looking forward to seeing how many will perform at a higher level after our successful offseason, and especially excited to see what Teigen Moreno (215, 28-10) will do after his frosh-soph state championship," said Hayes.
Matt Todd touts seven back at Hampshire (11-5-0, 7-2-0), four of which were sectional qualifiers, including senior Aidan Rowels (28-14) at 175 pounds.
"We have a young but experienced team, with the veterans taking on the leadership roles and a few new additions throughout to bolster our lineup," said Todd.
The terrific 2A state qualifying trio from Cary-Grove — Hunter Lenz (120, 18-6), Noah Pechotta (165, 36-11) and heavyweight Lucas Burton (24-9) — will give the Trojans more than a fighting chance in the league this season.
"We have a roster that is ready to compete, and excited about doing that at a high performance level this season," said coach Will Petersen.
No. 8 Alex Gochis (132, 43-8) was one win away from advancing to state for Kaneland (I-8 Conference).
The UEC has expanded to 14 teams with two divisions, and in the early going it looks as if West Aurora is the best the league has to offer.
The Serio brothers (Dominic, 157, and Dayne, 165) both sit in the No. 3 spot in the polls in their weight divisions following their 2024 appearance at state.
South Elgin was hurt by a trio of transfers, including Demetri Carrera and Leo Rosas, twice state qualifiers, plus two regional champions who graduated.
"This is an extremely determined and hard working group, so we'll fight through the losses we incurred and come away stronger," said Storm coach Jim Gloudeman.
Bartlett will be senior heavy, with its strength coming in the middle weights according to coach John Glorioso.
Elgin (15-5-0) enjoyed one of its best overall records in recent history last year, and will be led by the trio of Jorge Lopez (113), Damari Miller (144) and David Miranda (157) who together bring plenty of experience and nearly 150 career victories.
Brian Hastings welcomes back a pair of 2A state qualifiers: Thomas Klos (285, 23-8) and Josh Dickeson (150) to give Fenton a strong base to build from.
"We're excited about our depth, enthusiasm and an eagerness to improve," said Hastings.
It was a memorable year for Bill Peach and his Streamwood Sabres who sent Gabe Inorio (175) and Jace Wolf (190) downstate, and just missed a third in Juan Cortes (150).
"Our hope is to have a great season, which would include sending the most to state in program history," said Peach, who has not had a state medal winner since Chris Dunning did so in 2007.
Zach Holtzman takes over at Downers Grove South for Sean Lovelace who led the Mustangs to a West Suburban Gold title a year ago.
"After a quality offseason, we're excited to hit the ground running, showcasing quite a few new faces, and having the five returning starters (all sectional qualifiers) help us chase another conference title and our fourth consecutive regional championship," said Holtzman, who wrestled and Hinsdale Central, then Elmhurst University.
With Jason Hayes now in charge of the girls program at Hinsdale Central, former three-time state champion and two-time All-American at Illinois, Conrad Polz takes over for Hayes.
Polz will sorely miss three-time state medal winner Marko Ivanisevic (121-10, Illinois) but will have No. 6 Zach Kruse (37-12), the one a young Red Devils club will follow.
The Red Devils will battle No. 11 Oak Park-River Forest, Downers Grove North, Lyons Township and York.
No. 2 Jaylen Torres (19-2, 285), the 2024 state runner-up at St. Francis, will now turn his attention towards becoming the first state champion to lift a championship trophy since Bob Hudetz did so in 1980.
Torres is coming off an all-state performance for his St. Francis football team.
The high powered duo of: Lincoln Hager (42-7) and Chasen Kazmierczak (39-9) return for Wheaton Academy this season — both state ranked — with the No. 7 Hager looking to improve upon his fifth-place finish at state.
Aurora Central Catholic coach Josh McCarty said his top man, No. 7 Vince Hefke, (120, 25-6), looks to make his senior year a memorable one after falling one win short of advancing to the state tournament.