Time for regional tests in Lake Co.

The road to the high school wrestling meet gets under way Saturday morning with Lake County area teams competing at four regional sites.

The top three finishers in each of the 14 weight classes will advance to the Barrington individual sectional Feb. 8-9. The regional team champions will advance to the Libertyville team sectional Feb. 19.

• North Suburban Conference champion Grant will host one of the nine-team regionals beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday. The final round will start at 3:30 p.m.

The Bulldogs started off slowly but finished strong at the NSC meet behind conference champions Izzy Montemayor (125), undefeated sophomore Lee Munster (140), Tyler Becker (145), and Josh Deluca (171).

Grant is expected to face some of its toughest competition from Fox Valley Conference champion Crystal Lake Central.

"It's going to be very tough and Crystal Lake Central is supposed to be very good," said Grant coach Ryan Geist. "We just want to give ourselves a chance to win -- that is all we can ask for."

Lakes junior Matt Holmes (32-3) one of the favorites to advance to the sectional meet after winning the NSC 130-pound championship last weekend.

Antioch is another area team competing at Grant with 135-pounder Robby Lindstrom, 145-pounder Bobby Wiatr, and 285-pounder Andy Kloster hoping to advance to the sectionals. Antioch 160-pounder Tom Gerstner is out for the season after sustaining a knee injury last week in practice.

• Host Libertyville is the favorite to win its own regional starting at 9 a.m. Saturday after the Wildcats placed second to Grant in the NSC meet. The final round is slated for 3 p.m.

Third-place NSC squad Mundelein should be Libertyville's toughest competition along with East Suburban Catholic Conference power Carmel, and Warren.

Round Lake, Grayslake Central, and Grayslake North hope to have numerous individuals advance to Barrington.

The Wildcats had four conference champions last week including 103-pounder Matt Bystol, 112-pounder Louis Mazzetta, 135-pounder Trey Ayala, and 160-pounder Joey Callen.

"We've got to face Mundelein and Warren who are both looking pretty tough," said Libertyville coach Dale Eggert. "We've got to get the weight classes that didn't score (at conference) to get going and we need help from the guys who aren't front-liners."

Like the Wildcats, Mundelein had nine all-conference wrestlers last week including 189-pound champ Adam Avalos (33-4), 112-pound runner-up Eduardo Dominguez, and 119-pound runner-up Tanis Arcos.

Warren 119-pounder Connor Drew (30-2) was a conference champ while teammates Bryce Howard (160) and Tyreese Woodard (189) both placed second. Jake Dietmeyer (152) and Houston Neals (215) should be back in the Blue Devils' lineup.

Round Lake's Dillon Pousson will try to make a return trip to state at 130 while teammate Vince Nicoline (215) was a conference champ. Jose Jimenez (103) has been outstanding for the Panthers.

Carmel teammates Ryan Unrein (145) and Ryan Williams (171) will begin their bids for a return trip to state along with Grayslake Central senior Ryan Lund at 135; 130-pounder Danny Mendoza is having a great season for Grayslake North.

• Stevenson heads into the Glenbrook South regional at 9 a.m. with high hopes after the Patriots had eight all-conference wrestlers last week.

NSC 152-pound champ Bobby Vagun (28-2) continues to shine for the Pats with strong support from teammates David Lamberti (125) and Taras Martyniouk (145).

Vernon Hills and 285-pound NSC champ Steve Hwang will join Stevenson at Glenbrook South with the final round slated for 2:30 p.m.

"I'm just really happy for (Hwang) because last year he didn't do well at (conference) so it kind of meant a lot to him," said Vernon Hills coach Jerry Miceli. "Steve is a big guy, but he's very athletic for his size."

• Lake Zurich has many individuals hoping to advance out of the Palatine regional, where the final round is slated for 1 p.m.

Kevin Fanta (125 pounds) has been strong for the Bears along with teammates Andy Lynch (135), Anthony Pace (140), and 2007 state qualifier Sam Wrobel.

Wrobel did not make weight at 160 last week at conference, but he could move up to 171 Saturday.

Wauconda and 145-pound standout Scott Carlson will also wrestle Saturday at Palatine. Mike Brown (112 pounds) is another solid wrestler for the Bulldogs.