Scouting Cook County area regionals
Class 3A regionals
At Fremd
When: 9 a.m. Saturday; finals at 2 p.m.
Advancement: Team champion advances into dual-team sectional on Feb. 23, at site yet to be determined. Top three indiviudals from each weight class advance to Barrington sectional.
Players: Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Dundee-Crown, Deerfield, Fremd, Hersey, Lake Zurich, Palatine, Stevenson and Wheeling.
What to watch: The WOW factor is right here. Wrestling fans will feast on the sights and sounds of a spectacular field of teams and individual wrestlers on Saturday, with no team able to claim the favorites role, and plenty of anxious moments ahead in several divisions for those competing for a top 3 spot and advancement into the sectional. "This might be the toughest regional that I've ever been associated with in all my years coaching ... a regional that we likely see a handful of 30-match winner being done after this weekend," said Wheeling coach Neal Weiner. So, who will steal the headlines?
Team outlook: On the team side, Mid-Suburban top-dogs Barrington (19-2) and Hersey (28-3), who came this close to eventual conference champion Schaumburg last week, are armed and dangerous, with fully loaded lineups. The same holds true for Deerfield (15-4), the unofficial champ from the Central Suburban League, as well as Stevenson (16-5) which were just behind perennial power-houses Libertyville and Grant in the North Suburban Conference team. And one cannot leave out Dundee-Crown and all of its history which comes with long-time head coach Al Zinke, not to mention Weiner and his club, which has been a MSL and regional monster for so long. "This tournament is a who's who in wrestling for the area," offered Weiner
Individual outlook: At the hub of excellence, it has to be 135 and 171 pounds. No. 1 Luke Smith (Wheeling, 34-0) faces No. 7 Cameron Shaffer (Lake Zurich) in what could be the first of two consecutive final bouts in the next weeks at 135 pounds. Stevenson captain and senior Jordan Sherman (30-5) no doubt will have something to say before all is said and done. While the field is strong it pales in comparison to 171, where top five are a dazzling 156-22 overall. Dan Santoro (Barrington, 33-3) and Deefield senior Jeremy Fahler (30-2) are Nos. 4 and 7 in the state, while the trio of Joel Rangel (Wheeling, 29-6), Cody Churkey (Dundee-Crown, 34-4) and Nate Rubenstein (Stevenson, 30-7) are just on the outside of state recognition.
If No. 7 Luke Miller (Barrington, 28-6) is back in the lineup after missing the MSL tourney, then the 152-pound class takes a giant step forward. Headed by No. 4 Anthony Pace (Lake Zurich, 30-2) this group also includes MSL runner-up Sean Bonner (Hersey, 37-9) and Eddie Scanlon (Wheeling, 21-8) round out the field. The 140-pound division rivals 171 as FVC champ Frank Abitua (Dundee-Crown, 33-4) can support his claim as top seed, while the MSL trio of Travis LaSchiava (Fremd, 25-4), Mike Smith (Wheeling, 31-5) and Dakota Wapotish (Barrington, 28-8) can argue their point after going 1-2-3 at the conference tournament last weekend.
At Schaumburg
When: 9 a.m. Saturday, finals at 2 p.m.
Advancement: Team champion advances into Leyden dual-team sectional on Feb. 23. Top three from each weight class advances to Glenbard North sectional.
Players: Schaumburg, Conant, Elgin, Elk Grove, Hoffman Estates, Larkin, Maine South, Maine West, Rolling Meadows and Streamwood.
Saxons' strength: An experienced lineup from Schaumburg (18-2-1) awaits all those on the invitation at the Saxons regional, which features plenty of familiar faces from the MSL, in addition to Maine West and Maine South, which, along with Rolling Meadows, could easily claim the big prize if the MSL champs are not careful.
"Nothing is ever a lock, even after winning the conference title last weekend," says Saxons head coach Matt Gruszka. "We need all 14 weight classes to score, and for our seniors, this is the last team scoring tournament they could be in, so they need to leave it all on the mat on Saturday."
Individual outlook: Plenty of interesting match-ups could lead to some fan-friendly viewing if the brackets shake down accordingly, including 152 pounds, where No. 6 Joe Brewster (Maine South, 28-2) might see MSL champ, Rolling Meadows sophomore Joey Caprio (34-5) in the final.
A quartet of area players have to be anxious to erase second-place finishes at their respective conference tournaments, including Conant's Ben Clifford (103, 27-4), Jeff Vernola (Maine West) and Schaumburg mates Danny Malik (171, 27-2) and Joe LaManna (189, 30-3). Schaumburg super-soph Josh Marchok (32-2, 215) and teammate Patrick Scully (119, 31-5) will both be looking for a second consecutive regional crown, as will Larkin senior Cam Martin (27-6) who, to do so, will have to get past No. 3 Marchok.
Chris Pack (Maine West, 11-1) was finally able to put an injury-filled senior season behind him to win a CSL title at 160 pounds, and will look to add another title belt to his resume, with the Saxons Pat Felde (31-6) a serious contender as well.
At Glenbrook South
When: 9 a.m. Saturday, finals at 2 p.m.
Advancement: Team champion advances into dual-team sectionals on Feb. 23, at site yet to be determined. Top three from each weight class advances to Barrington sectional.
Players: Prospect, Notre Dame and 7 teams from the Central Suburban League.
What to watch: Last year at this venue, Deerfield walked into this regional as the prohibitive favorite and walked away as the third best team in the standings with conference rival New Trier dashing the hopes of the Warriors faithful. This year the field here has been thinned out some with the move of Deerfield, leaving the defending champs hopeful of another title, with the Trevians looking to use their strength at the upper weights to hold off their nearest challenger, ESCC runner-up Notre Dame.
Knights moves: The big three from Prospect (Josh Boggess, 33-4 at 112; Tim Schweigel, 32-7 at 130; Brandon Thomson, 28-10 at 152) are poised to cause a stir, with the freshmsn Boggess looking for a second straight title after winning it all last weekend at the MSL tournament. Schweigel, second last weekend the MSL, will need to keep an eye on two-time CSL champ Andrew Maksimovic (GBN, 20-7) and Mike Bahrmeisel of Niles West.
At Lane Tech
When: 9 a.m. Saturday; finals at 1 p.m.
Advancement: Team champion advances to Leyden dual-team sectional on February 23. Top three from each weight class advance to Glenbard North sectional.
Players: Leyden, St. Patrick and nine teams from the Chicago Public League.
What to watch: Can the West Suburban Gold champion Leyden (18-4) Eagles make it three straight regional championships? According to head coach Jason Potter, yes they can.
"We've battled through some tough stretches this season, but the guys knew if they kept working hard, it would all come together at the end of the year. We will put our best and toughest lineup out there on Saturday, and our goal is to put all 14 (through) and into the sectionals, including (two) sub .500 wrestlers that I feel are capable of surprising the field."
Potter will trot out two of the best in the state at their weight in No. 1 Dan Kiebler (215, 28-1) and No. 3 Kevin Lewis (33-3) at 145 pounds. However, with all due respect to the Eagles' super-duo, all eyes will be on another, whenever he steps onto the mat, in Lane Tech sophomore sensation Max Schneider. Schneider (30-0) rose to prominence last February when he came out of the Chicago Public League to bring fans out of their seats to watch the throw and pin happy, then freshman, ride into Assembly Hall and fall just short of a championship belt when Lake Zurich senior Kevin Fanta outlasted the youngster 12-9 in the 135-pound final.
Lane Tech, aside from Schneider, will be a formidable opponent to Leyden with its quartet of Public League champions, as will St. Patrick from the ESCC, one week removed from a third-place trophy. Seniors Charlie Doyle (33-10) and Alex Ortiz (16-4) are the best of the bunch for St. Patrick after finishing second overall at the conference tourney.
Class 2A
At Lakes
When: 9 a.m. Saturday; finals at 3 p.m.
Advancement: Team champion advances into Leyden dual-team sectional on February 23. Top three from each weight class advances to Fenton sectional.
Players: St. Viator, Antioch, Grayslake Central, Grayslake North, Lakes, North Chicago, Vernon Hills, Amundsen, Senn, Sullivan.
What to watch: This 2A regional features plenty of diversity as the IHSA pulled clubs from the far north, and into the city to make this a wide-open race for the team title, likely to end in either the hands of Vernon Hills or the host Eagles.
If 2009 state qualifier Phil Cappetelli (Lakes, 29-5) decides to go at 189 (instead of 171) then this division instantly becomes the most hotly contested for sectional tickets, with William Rittmeyer (St. Viator, ESCC champ, 23-10), Kevin Hein (Grayslake Central, 28-5) and Chicago Public League runner-up, Yusuf Mohammed (Senn) making up quite a quartet.
Lions seniors T.J. Hohenadel (33-10, 160) and Eric Abrahamian (28-4, 152) will be looking to improve on their third-place medals last weekend at the ESCC tourney, in the initial foray into 2A for the program. No. 2 rated Gideon Yim (Vernon Hills, 33-6) is a must see at 125 pounds for the Cougars.