Wrestling roundup: Hersey boys, Schaumburg girls win MSL titles; Grant boys win Lake crown
It was a historic day in the world of Mid-Suburban League wrestling.
The conference, under one roof inside the Forest View Educational Center, would host both the boys and girls wrestling championships — much to the delight of a big crowd in Arlington Heights.
Finals at the end of the day would be run simultaneously to give both groups center stage attention — and the wrestlers would not let down their fans.
Hersey would slowly pull away from the field with the Huskies earning 247.0 points to beat 2024 champion Barrington (194), Schaumburg (188) and the rest of the field.
"It is so cool to be part of history today, to be the host of the tournament, and to win the league championship over such a great field," said Huskies coach Joe Rupslauk.
The Huskies placed all 14 of their starting lineup in the top five including individual champions Riddick Variano (126, 27-14), Elijah Garza (132, 33-8) and Frankie Tagoe (24-14) at 157.
The two finals that would attract the most attention was at 144 pounds between No. 1 Evan Gosz (Fremd) and No. 2 Max Mukhamedaliyev (Hersey, 35-6) that would see Gosz (36-2) deliver his third win on the season over the Huskies star.
"I feel like Max and I are so close to each other. I was hoping to get a more definitive win over him today, but he is just so good, and not an easy guy to wrestle," said Gosz.
The Vikings’ three-time state medalist, second a year ago, took a 4-0 advantage into the third period, then rode his rival out for the full two minutes before adding another three points near the end to secure a 7-0 decision.
The second best final was the 120-pound final between No. 2 Brady Phelps (Schaumburg, 34-3) and No. 5 Ryan Dorn (Barrington, 32-7) which saw Dorn draw even (1-1) late in the third period before going on to win a hard-fought 4-1 victory in overtime.
Gosz was of four Vikings that would climb atop the podium joining Drew Fifield (138, 28-2), Lucas Nance (165, 30-7) and heavyweight Owen Jakubczak, now 25-5.
Rolling Meadows junior John Rappa (190, 35-2) gave the Mustangs their first MSL crown since 2017 with his victory at 190, while Clarence Jackson (31-7), who won here a year ago at 285, is a two-time champ following his win at 215.
MSL GIRLS
No. 4 Madyson Meyer (115, 37-2) led a gold rush of seven individual titles for Schaumburg who turned in a masterclass effort on its way to the MSL championship.
Off their recent success at the dual-team state and last weekend at the mega Hawks girls invite where it finished second overall, the Saxons totaled 297 points to claim the league crown. Hoffman Estates was second (225.5) and Wheeling third at 151.5 points.
"It is so exciting to win another conference championship with a team that works so hard together, and cares so much for each other. It's a great way (for me) to see my high school career end," said Meyer, who along with her teammates will now prepare for the Willowbrook regional this coming Friday and Saturday.
Meyer will play softball next fall at Harper Community College.
No. 5 Viola Pianetto (Prospect) kept her record spotless (31-0) after recording a pin in her 135-pound final.
"I've had a lot of support from my coaching staff, teammates, and club coaches, so I feel like I've got to do my best because of that support they have given me," said Pianetto, who will wrestle in the fall at Minot State University in North Dakota.
No. 3 Sophia Ball (130, 32-1) continues her brilliant senior year at Hoffman Estates after another terrific day at 130 pounds, as did No. 1 Madeline Hope Zerafa-Lazarevic (Schaumburg, 38-0) at 145 pounds.
The Wheeling duo of Elise Burkut (125, 29-3) and Nikol Orendarchuk (155, 18-3) were champions.
LAKE COUNTY INVITE
What a day for the Grant Bulldogs.
Mark Jolcovers' club took the lead for good just after the noon hour inside the McKay Center at Lakes Community High School and never let it go on its way to claiming the big trophy.
The Bulldogs trio of No. 9 Vince Jasinski (126, 36-6), Erik Rodriguez (138, 38-5), and Aaden Arroyo (165, 25-16) provided their club with individual titles to help the champs finish with 223.0 points.
Stevenson (181.5) would edge Wauconda by 1.5 points (180.0) who did the same to 2024 champion Warren which totaled 178.5. Antioch was fifth with 136.5.
The nationally ranked duo from Warren, Caleb Noble (113, 32-3) and Aaron Stewart (175, 29-2), crushed the competition in their respective weight divisions.
It was round No. 1 at 285 pounds with No. 2 William Cole (Round Lake, 39-2) taking the first of a likely first three between No. 6 Abisai Hernandez (Mundelein, 31-3) and No. 8 Anthony Soto (31-5) from Warren.
Cole would defeat Hernandez 3-0 in their final after Hernandez pinned Soto in their semifinal.
This terrific trio will see each other in two weeks at regionals, and one week later at the Barrington sectional.
Zion-Benton would host the girls portion of the Lake County Invite, and Warren (143.5), Grant (125.), Zion-Benton (100.0), Round Lake (91.0) and Antioch (82.0) were the top five on the leaderboard.
The dynamic duo of Riley Kongkaeow and Ireland McCain (115) from Round Lake are now two-time Lake County Invite champs.
With her tech-fall at 100 pounds, Kongkaeow (36-2) now has 24 pins, and three tech-falls on the season, while her teammate McCain (36-4) leads the Panthers with 27 pins.
No. 4 Gianna Arzer (Grayslake Central, 35-4) won easily, while Warren sophomore Erin Bush (25-6, 170) won the lone individual title for the tourney champs.
CENTRAL SUBURBAN LEAGUE
Maine South stayed close to league rivals Glenbrook South and Deerfield during the early stages of the CLS tourney in Winnetka at New Trier, then took control midway through the day en route to grabbing its second consecutive league title.
The Hawks got individual titles from Brett Harman (126, 27-6), Jake Colleran (144, 29-6), Gavin Hoerr (150, 17-2) and Tyler Fortis (285, 28-2) to earn 234 points.
Glenbrook South (198.5) would edge Deerfield (196.0) for second place.
No. 2 in 2A, Ilia Dvoryiannikov (Vernon Hills, 33-3) won easily at 165 to join Aryna Latushkina (23-9) atop the podium who won her title at 135 as the conference, just as the MSL, held the boys and girls championships under one roof.
Maine West senior Lillian Garrett (155, 24-4) and Sophia Fortis (Maine South, 235) are now each two-time CSL champs.
New Trier won again with 167.5 points. Maine East was second with 141.0 points to outscore third-place Evanston (136.0).
UPSTATE EIGHT CONFERENCE
West Aurora ran away from the rest of the field en route to an overwhelming victory Saturday afternoon at host Elmwood Park.
The Blackhawks claimed an amazing 292.0 overall points, nearly 121 points more than second-place Glenbard East (171.5) who outpaced West Chicago (145.5) which finished third.
The 120-pound final saw No. 4 (3A) Ismael Chaidez (Glenbard East, 34-2) roll past 2024 state runner-up Edgar Mosquera (Riverside-Brookfield, 30-3) with a 13-1 major decision win.
No. 6 (3A) Fabiran Ramirez (Elgin) pinned No. 7 Gabe Inorio (Streamwood, 18-5) in their 175-pound final.
At host Streamwood, the East Aurora girls team won for the second straight year with 199.0 points, 13 more than crosstown rival West Aurora with its 186 points. West Chicago was third with 164 points.
No. 2 Nadii Shymkiv (Glenbard East, 26-0) is now a two-time UEC champs after her hard-fought 5-2 decision over No. 6 Kameyah Young (26-2) from West Aurora.