Scouting Fox Valley area wrestling

Fox Valley wrestling at a glance

Aurora Christian, Huntley, Marmion and St. Charles East are four teams from the Fox Valley area that make up the top of the table in their respective classes of the IHSA.

Each appear ready for the three-month grind towards potentially hoisting a state trophy come late February, so let's take a quick look at all four:

Aurora Christian (27-3-0)It didn't take long for the Eagles to make their mark in 1A with coach Justin Pearch leading his club to a state title in just its second year of existence.

The reigning champions enjoyed a record-setting season last year, and only got better during the offseason when 11 starters and eight state qualifiers returned, including two-time state champs Cameron Johnson and Noah Villareal.

The trio of Johnson, Villareal and two-time state medal winner Zeke Marshall were a dazzling 137-14 overall, while teammates JayCee Gonzalez and Angel Jaimes together won 91 matches.

This is easily the strongest, deepest club for 1A, making a repeat appear to be in the offing. But to insure his club is ready for whatever comes their way, Pearch has made the non-conference schedule first class. It includes 3A power St. Charles East, 2A favorite Washington, plus a trip to the Cheesehead (Wisconsin) which is recognized as one of the best tournaments in the nation.

Huntley (24-5-0)The Red Raiders have plenty of reasons to expect another successful year in the FVC, in addition to the postseason as well.

Coach BJ Bertelsman welcomes back nine starters who were good for nearly 280 victories, most of which enjoyed deep runs into February, gaining valuable experience to take with them into the new year.

"Our top guys will have to lead the way after losing four quality wrestlers, but I also look for our two sophomores, Andrew Lira (31-10) and Jeremy Jakowitsch (32-20), to take another step, and the same goes for the four upperweight guys, Rukkis Hunkins, Michael Jernigan, Nik Wise and Matt Burba," said Bertelsman.

"Last year was a grind, but it was exciting, because it led to our first team state trophy," said Sammy Spencer, 47-6 last year.

Spencer, Ferrante and Kosowski all agree the Red Raiders' trips to high profile holiday tournaments - Dvorak, Granite City and Clash in Minnesota during a two-week span beginning on Dec. 22 - will provide the ultimate test for them and their teammates.

Marmion (21-11-0)Good health is all new head coach Nate Fitzenreider will ask for during his first year in charge after taking over for Donny Reynolds, who returns to his alma mater for his former coach, Keith Healy, who retired with 557 career victories.

The Cadets lost dozens of matches to injuries last season, including those to Nate Jimenez (Michigan State) and Brad Gross, who rebounded in spectacular fashion to claim second-place state trophies.

Reynolds left his successor plenty of elite talent to work with, beginning with Trevor Chumbley (46-3) who ended a brilliant junior season by capturing the 138-pound title, while teammate Diego Sotelo (38-7) just missed at 113.

There's more for the Cadets faithful to cheer: eight returning seniors, led by state placewinner Michael Jaffe (41-12) as well as state qualifiers Nathan Callaway, Ryan Fleck and Patrick Daum. Peter Ferraro, a 2017 state medal winner, is back after missing all of last season to an injury.

St. Charles East (26-3-0)After having the best of the Upstate Eight Conference for so many years, the Saints were part of a major conference move joining the likes of state powers Glenbard North and Wheaton North to form the DuKane Conference, instantly making this new group one of the best around.

Fortunately for coach Jason Potter, he may have his strongest, deepest club in quite some time, making the Saints one to watch this coming season.

"With a healthy number of upper classmen, and wrestlers with plenty of varsity experience, we're looking forward to the challenge ahead in the DuKane and state series," said Potter, who returns 12 starters, six of whom were state qualifiers.

"We've gone to great lengths to boost the level of competition in the regular season with the goal of preparing ourselves for the final weeks of the season."

Within a two-week span, the Saints will compete in high profile events such as Marmion's Super-Duals and the Don Flavin Invite before finishing up at the Cheesehead.

The Saints have a strike-force in place capable of handling its heavy tournament schedule, beginning with its first-class lower weight unit of Jake Penzato (35-12), Mark Guerrero (31-7), Ben Anderson (41-3), Peyton Schroeder (26-15) and Justin Benjamin (36-7) and ending with big man Justin Hull (41-4) who medaled at 285 last season.

Throw in 160-pounder Tommy Schroeder (36-10), yet another state qualifier into the middle of the Saints lineup, and things are look quite bright.

Returning state medal winnersTrevor Chumbley (Marmion Academy, 46-3), Cameron Johnson (Aurora Christian, 42-6), Nick Termini (Burlington Central, 34-7) and Noah Villareal (Aurora Christian, 48-3) would climb atop of the podium last February to accept their championship trophy to cap brilliant individual seasons.

While each appear ready to defend their titles, we should not overlook a sensational returning state medal winners from a year ago, poised to be even better this time around:

JayCee Gonzalez (Aurora Christian, 45-11, 4th), Brad Gross (Marmion Academy, 12-3, 2nd), Jake Harrier (Jacobs, 39-6, 5th), Justin Hull (St. Charles East, 41-4, 3rd), Michael Jaffe (Marmion Academy, 41-12, 4th), Angel Jaimes (Aurora Christian, 46-11, 4th), Zeke Marshall (Aurora Christian, 47-5, 5th), Christian Olsen (Crystal Lake South, 45-3, 4th), Diego Sotelo (Marmion Academy, 40-7, 2nd) and Sammy Spencer (Huntley, 47-6, 5th).

Returning state qualifiersJohnny Acevedo (West Aurora, 34-11), Ben Anderson (St. Charles East, 41-3), Justin Benjamin (St. Charles East, 36-7), Nathan Calloway (Marmion Academy, 32-12), Jack Certa (Aurora Christian, 29-24), Patrick Daum (Marmion Academy, 36-13), David Ferrante (Huntley, 37-5), Ryan Fleck (Marmion Academy, 34-13), Mark Guerrero (St. Charles East, 31-7), Julian Jaimes (Aurora Christian, 34-19), Gannon Kaskowski (Huntley, 37-19), Johnny Ridle (Jacobs, 29-6), Joel Mylin (Aurora Christian, 32-12), Nathan Orosco (Kaneland, 29-9), Jake Penzato (St. Charles East, 35-12), Andy Posledni (Batavia, 22-10), Tommy Schroeder (St. Charles East, 36-10), Peyton Timmons (Crystal Lake South, 39-5), Jacob Tinajero (Marmion Academy, 17-9)

Postseason tournamentsJanuary 19 Chicago Catholic League (St. Rita)

Metro Suburban (at Fenton)

Upstate Eight (at Streamwood)

January 26

DuKane (at Wheaton Warrenville South)

February 14-16

Individual state tournament (at Champaign)

February 22

Dual team state tournament (at Bloomington)

- Compiled by Mike Garofola