Marmion, Huntley among teams to watch at sectionals
The largest-class wrestling programs in the Fox Valley are scattered throughout the lands for their respective sectionals this weekend.
The sport of wrestling is as tough as it comes when it comes to the state of Illinois.
"A lot of people think it is harder to get through the sectional than it is to place at state," Marmion coach Nate Fitzenreider said of the storied programs at Bolingbrook this weekend.
"It is probably the hardest weight class in the state of Illinois," Jacobs coach Gary Conrad said of his ambitions of star wrestler Jake Harrier at 132 pounds.
Harrier has lost a grand total of one match season.
"There are six Division I wrestlers who have committed to college at that weight class," Conrad said.
St. Charles East has been mentioned as one of the best teams in the state this winter.
But the Saints' five regional champions will have their hands full at the Conant sectional this weekend.
"Those guys are definitely the big five for us," Jason Potter said of regional champions Jake Penzato (113 pounds), Peyton Schroeder (132), Justin Benjamin (138), Tommy Schroeder (160) and heavyweight Justin Holl. "(Holl) is competing big time at the right time."
Marmion has been the standard-bearer for local programs in the last decade.
The Cadets have captured every Class 3A regional championship since being elevated to the chief measuring stick in the state in 2013.
Marmion crowned half of the 14 champions in defeating DuPage Valley Conference champion Naperville Central last weekend.
Fitzenreider comes from a family of four boys. Marmion defeated the Redhawks coached by an older sibling.
His words were telling in the aftermath.
"I was the youngest, so they always beat up on me," Fitzenreider said. "It was nice to turn the tables and beat my brother."
Marmion has a defending state champion in Northwestern-bound senior Trevor Chumbley at 145 pounds.
Marmion, Batavia and West Aurora have to knock heads with some of the top programs in the state this weekend with the likes of defending state champion Montini, Mt. Carmel and multiple state-champion program Sandburg in the sectional.
"However it shakes out, I am looking forward to it," Chumbley said. "(The Marmion regional) was good for us, a measuring stick."
The Cadets also feature Diego Sotelo and Brad Gross, who also are reigning state finalists at 106 and 160 pounds, respectively.
One-hundred and forty-five pounds is a benchmark weight for Fox Valley schools.
Burlington Central senior Nick Termini, bound for Old Dominion, is not only a defending state champion in Class 2A at the weight but also holds the distinction of being the lone undefeated wrestler this winter from the area.
"(Termini) wants to get better," said Central coach Ashton Brown, whose squad will travel close to the Iowa border at the Geneseo sectional this weekend. "In order to do that, he has to see the best. One of his big goals is being an undefeated state champion."
Aurora Christian barely has 200 students in its four high-school grades.
But the Eagles are the defending state champions in Class 1A.
Cameron Johnson and Noah Villarreal won back-to-back state championships last winter at the University of Illinois at 120 and 126 pounds.
Aurora Christian captured 12 regional titles at Aurora Central Catholic last weekend and is headed for Byron Friday and Saturday.
"Going into the state series, (our regular-season schedule) really helps for the high-level matches," Johnson said. "I am just striving for excellence and go for that third state title. I want to keep on improving."
"I am trying to be a state champion again," Villarreal said. "I am just taking it a match at a time."
Marmion, which will seek a seventh consecutive downstate appearance later this month at the Sandburg team sectional, dominated affairs at its regional last weekend.
But Batavia senior Justin Major is 37-6 at 152 pounds after three abbreviated matches en route to the regional championship last Saturday.
"It's going to be loaded," Major said of the field at Bolingbrook. "I lost in the blood round (the sectional match to be a state qualifier) last year. I gave it everything I had for six minutes and came up short. Ever since that loss, I have been hungry."
Crystal Lake South will look to take advantage of being recast in Class 2A over the next two weeks.
Christian Olsen and Peyton Timmons are 30-1 and 30-2, respectively, for the Gators at 113 and 126 pounds.
At the Class 3A Barrington sectional, Huntley is the team to watch among area programs.
The champion of the Rockford East regional, the Raiders boast such headliners as 126-pounder Sam Spencer and David Ferrante.
The latter is the top-ranked Class 3A 170-pounder in the land.
"Huntley is the top dog in our conference," Conrad said.