Patriots take best shot at Barrington
The going will really get tough when the Barrington Class AA individual wrestling sectional gets under way at 5 p.m. today.
The two-day event will wrap up Saturday, with the semifinals getting started at 11 a.m. The first- and third-place matches will begin at 4 p.m. with the top three individuals in each weight class earning a berth to the 71st state meet next weekend in Champaign.
After winning the first wrestling regional in school history last Saturday at Glenbrook South, Stevenson will take seven individuals into the Barrington sectional.
Bobby Vagun (30-2 at 152 pounds) has been a standout for the Patriots this season along with regional champions Nathan Millman (140), Taras Martyniouk (145), and Ivan Havrylyan (171).
Stevenson's David Lamberti (125) will be making a sectional appearance along with sophomore teammate Jordan Sherman (119), and Stefan Melnyk (215).
Stevenson will face host Libertyville in team sectional semifinals Feb. 19. Grant takes on Wheeling in the other semifinal match.
"We like Vagun's chances against anybody in the sectional and he's peaking at the right time," said Stevenson coach Shane Cook. "It's a tournament where there seems like there is a surprise in every weight class and we feel these kids have a legitimate chance to get downstate if they wrestle well."
Grant battled Crystal Lake Central down to the wire in their own regional last weekend, and the Bulldogs held on for a narrow 200.5 to 198.5 victory.
Eleven Grant individuals advanced to the Barrington sectional including undefeated sophomore Lee Munster (23-0) at 140.
Other regional champs for Grant were Izzy Montemayor (125), Shelby Temple (135), and Tyler Becker (145).
Jason Montemayor (119), Tyler Dempsey (152), Joe Loris (160), Josh Deluca (171), Jake Brown (189), and Dave Monroy (215) all placed second for the Bulldogs.
Libertyville was impressive in winning its own regional as the Wildcats also had 11 individuals reach the sectional meet.
Libertyville had five regional winners including elite 135-pounder Trey Ayala, Matt Bystol (103), Kyle Manolovic (125), Joey Callen (160), and Tom Nield (285).
"Anyone who had a huge win (at regionals) gets more confidence because the pressure was on," said Libertyville coach Dale Eggert. "We've beaten some really good teams this season so we kind of expected to have kids contributing at a lot of weight classes."
Warren and Mundelein both had seven individuals qualify out of regionals with Warren 119-pounder Connor Drew expected to be a major force at Barrington.
"I just want to sharpen a few things and I should be good to go," Drew said. "My toughest guys should be Prospect (Jonny Brennan) and Crystal Lake Central (Ryan Jauch) if he goes 119."
Mundelein's Eduardo Dominguez will try to make a return trip to state in a very powerful 112-pound class after beating Libertyville's Louis Mazzetta at regionals. Alex Mena (140) and Adam Avalos (189) were also regional champs for the Mustangs.
Carmel teammates Ryan Unrein (152) and Ryan Williams (171) will also give their best efforts to return to state while Lakes junior Matt Holmes is going to be hard to stop at 130.
Despite placing second to Ayala at regionals, Grayslake Central's Ryan Lund has a shot to return to state at 135.
Round Lake's Dillon Pousson (130) will also make a bid for back-to-back berths downstate against a tough trio of competitors. Round Lake 215-pounder Vince Nicoline won conference and regional crowns the past two weekends.
Antioch's Bobby Wiatr and Wauconda's Scott Carlson could be on a collision course for the final berth to the Assembly Hall at 145 while Vernon Hills senior Bobby Kelly is definitely in the mix at 189. Vernon Hills' Steve Hwang (285) needs to be at his best to advance.
Lake Zurich teammates Cameron Shaffer (119) and Kevin Fanta (125) won regional crowns for the Bears with Fanta among the favorites to reach state.
Pre-sectional polls project as many as six Grant wrestlers qualifying for state with potentially four Libertyville wrestlers reaching the big show.