Boys wrestling: Warren’s Noble, Stewart capture sectional championships at Barrington

The Barrington boys wrestling sectional Saturday featured no less than nine wrestlers who could compete for a Class 3A individual title next weekend in Champaign.

Three of the nine are from the area, including Warren’s Caleb Noble (42-1), Grant’s Vince Jasinski (42-5) and Warren’s Aaron Stewart (35-4), each of whom dominated their respective weight divisions en route to sectional titles and a top-four seed at the state tournament.

“It's all about fine tuning the way I wrestle, be stronger with my turns, and on top and incorporating more of a college style to the way I wrestle,” said Noble, who is after a third consecutive state title.

Jasinski and teammate Erik Rodriguez (138 pounds, 37-6) impressed throughout, with Jasinski winning with a fall. Rodriguez earned a 24-10 major decision over Dylan Solesky (29-8) from Zion-Benton.

“I gave away some points, but that happens sometimes, (so) it was important for me to stay composed and just let the points come to me,” said Rodriguez, No. 4 at 138 pounds.

No. 2 Oleksandr (Sasha) Havrylkiv (38-4) was superb once again for Hersey after claiming his sixth major title of the season with a magnificent technical fall performance over Gavin Pardilla (33-8) from Loyola Academy.

“Sasha is a consummate hard worker, we sometimes have to toss him out of the room to go home, and from a leadership side of things, he is just amazing,” said Hersey coach Chris Riley.

Barrington celebrated a pair of individual titles from Kaleb Pratt and Ryan Dorn while sending six downstate.

Pratt beat Grant sophomore Jayce Glauser (30-6) with a major decision.

“I just let the match, and opportunities come to me, and when they did, I was able to take advantage,” Pratt said.

Dorn (38-5) sits third in the 132-pound state polls and will stay there another week after his hard-fought 4-0 victory over No. 5 Shawn Kogan (Stevenson).

“Shawn and I train at the same club, and we've wrestled each other three times this season, so there's no surprise between us,” Dorn said.

Hampshire sophomore 285-pounder Knox Homola (36-4) has been a real bright spot for the Whip-Purs this season and is a sectional champion following his 15-7 major decision over Prospect’s James Brouilette.

“I am a really light heavyweight, so I have to use my speed and quickness to beat my bigger opponents,” Homola said.

At Antioch:

Whenever reigning state champion IC Catholic Prep and its elite lineup are on the guest list, the story always seems so be how successful the Knights are during tournament time.

At Antioch the No. 1 team Class 2A team set a blistering pace for the rest of the field by capturing six individual titles on the day, however it was the Grayslake Central dynamic duo of Dominic and Vince DeMarco who would dash the hopes of the Knights for another title or two.

No. 2 Dominic DeMarco (31-2) defeated ICCP’s Mike Bird (29-13) in the 106-pound final 7-1, while his junior brother rolled to a 11-3 major decision over ICCP’s Drew Murante (32-12).

“It's always nice to get a second chance with Bird and to see how much better I've improved,” Dominic DeMarco said.

Vince DeMarco conceded a 11-5 loss to Murante, but the three-time state qualifier had much too much for his opponent.

“Drew is really dangerous, so it was just about being smart and careful,” Vince DeMarco said.

Grayslake Central will send a program-best six into the state tournament this weekend, while ICCP has 12 headed downstate.

“We have something really special here this season and a lineup that does not have any holes in (it) and a lot of young guys who are making big contributions,” said Grayslake Central 175-pounder Brody Kelly.

“There is a lot of talent in our room, and a guy like Arden Arnett is someone who is really making his mark in the state,” added Grayslake Central 132-pounder Max Cumbee.

ICCP’s Frank Nitti decisioned Antioch’s Chase Nobling (30-6) in the 144-pound final, while Wauconda junior Brian Hart (41-6) solidified his spot with an impressive two-day display at 157 pounds that included a pin over ICCP’s Joey Pontrelli in his final.

“I am much more confident this year and have been willing to put in more work that I ever have,” Hart said.

Wheeling senior Nicholas Montesinos (32-8) gave his club its lone title of the weekend at 165, as did St. Viator star Jaxon Penovich (44-5), who defeated ICCP’s Foley Calcagno 3-1 in a contest that featured the Nos. 1 and 2 wrestlers at 190 pounds.

“It's all about getting myself back downstate after being away for a year and winning another state title, and the first for St. Viator in 40 years,” said Penovich, who won two years ago while at Prospect.

At Conant:

No. 4 St. Charles East, headed to the Class 3A dual-team tournament in two weeks, have advanced nine to the individual state tournament this weekend in Champaign.

No. 1 Dom Munaretto (45-0) mashed his competition. Teammates Kaden Potter (132, 30-13) and Cooper Murray (215, 40-7) won their first regional titles.

“It's nice to finally be healthy after missing so much time last year and again earlier in the season when I required surgery on my broken nose,” said Potter, now a two-time state qualifier who recorded a 13-1 major decision over Maine South senior Brett Harman (38-5), who is making his first voyage downstate.

“The goal is always to get downstate, then do whatever you have to in order to get on the podium,” Murray added.

Glenbard West sophomore Aidan Ortega (42-1) defeated Lakes’ Jeremiah Arroyo-McMullen (42-3) for the second time this season to claim the 106-pound trophy.

“It's all about just fine-tuning things and being a lot sharper and cleaner than a year ago,” said Ortega, No. 6 in the latest state poll.

No. 9 Jackson Handelsman (42-4) was nearly unstoppable at 165 pounds, pinning his way to his title in just over three minutes over the two days.

Handelsman's fifth major of the season sends the York senior to his first trip downstate.

Wheaton North senior Ryan Rosch (31-2) rolled over his opponents with a pair of tech falls and a pin to win the title at 190 pounds.

“(No) doubt that Ryan's work ethic, toughness and commitment to improvement makes him one of the most dangerous wrestlers in the area this year,” said Falcons coach Tim Walker.

“He's one of my favorite wrestlers of all time and a leader in our room who leads by example and lets his results speak for himself.”