DVC could have busy postseason

The second act of the DuPage Valley Conference tournament has far greater ramifications this weekend at Hinsdale South.

With league standard-bearer Glenbard North dispatched to the Class 3A St. Charles East wrestling regional, the door has been opened for either Naperville Central, Wheaton Warrenville South or Glenbard East to make another run to the team state finals. Naperville Central captured the corresponding regional at Wheaton North last year en route to the Elite Eight in Bloomington.

With a mixture of DuPage Valley and West Suburban powerhouses, Darien is at the epicenter of first state preliminary on Saturday. The top-three qualifiers at Hinsdale South, along with their counterparts from St. Charles East, West Aurora and Schaumburg, converge at the Glenbard North individual sectional next Saturday. The four team champions earn the right for sectional team berths at Leyden the Tuesday after the individual state finals in Champaign.

Naperville Central coach Rob Porter made a telling statement on a dominant theme to the wrestling regular season.

"It seems like every team in the DVC has at least two outstanding wrestlers," Porter said.

Some have even more. Glenbard East has a terrific trio at its upper weights: Sam Pennisi, Parker Settecase and Spencer George stormed to conference championships at respective weights of 171, 215 and heavyweight last weekend at Wheaton North.

"I can't say anything about (Pennisi and Settecase) without also mentioning Spencer," Glenbard East coach Kevin Carlson said. "(George) wasn't very strong on his feet (earlier in his career). We tried to get him a little more agile on his feet."

Carlson said his triumvirate of standouts' work ethic in the wrestling room has paid handsome dividends, and there is only one way left to end the season.

"We've never won a regional," Carlson said. "This is the 50th anniversary of our program, and we're going to start to make it a memorable one."

WW South will counter with the brilliant duo of Mark Savenok and Spartak Chino at 130 and 140 pounds.

"Both of thosee guys are wrestling at the highest levels," WW South coach Ryan Ferguson said. "The great thing about Mark is that he missed his entire sophomore year with an injury. He put in all the effort and work in the off-season to get back. I thought that (Chino) got off to a slow start, even though he was winning. They're both having outstanding years."

Savenok is undefeated after 32 matches, and Chino, fifth in state last season, has been bettered only once.

Returning state qualifiers Andy Kovalsky and Adam Gebner are the twin anchors for Naperville Central.

"We wouldn't be the same team without them," Porter said. "Ten of the 14 kids (from the regional-championship team) are returning. That's where the confidence comes from."

The fourth DVC participant at Hinsdale South, Naperville North, features senior stalwart Adam Hankin, undefeated at 140 pounds this winter.

"He's one of the most explosive wrestlers that I've seen," said Naperville North coach Tom Champion. "He's the one that fans come to watch wrestle."

Among the large West Suburban contingent at Hinsdale South, Willowbrook sophomore sensation Steve Congenie seeks to extend his season-long unbeaten streak at 152 pounds.

The Wildcat four: Few, if any, teams in the state boast the quartet that Mick Ruettiger has assembled at Neuqua Valley. Nick Proctor and Andrew Spangler are the Wildcats' glue in back-to-back divisions at 160 and 171 pounds; Neuqua Valley also has equally talented lower-weight seniors Matt Cavallaris and

Alex Cizek looking for encore performances at the University of Illinois' Assembly Hall.

"Nick and Andrew have both had outstanding years up to this point," Ruettiger said.

The Wildcats and Plainfield Central are the teams to watch at West Aurora on Saturday.

"(Cavallaris) is going after everything he can get," Ruetiger said of his twice-beaten 119-pounder. "It all matters right now. (The team has) to recover from (being upset by Lake Park at the Upstate Eight Conference tournament); they don't have a choice right now. I'm hoping our schedule can do some talking (at the regional)."

Upstate Eight Conference champions Max Garbis and Daniel Kelly are the best bets for Waubonsie Valley at West Aurora. Glenbard North and Lake Park are the clear-cut favorites at St. Charles East.

Broncos ready to ride: Montini captured seven team state championships last decade, and the Broncos are once again the top-rated team in the middle-tier of the three-class state tournaments.

With a galaxy of standouts, Montini has been led by its superior lower and middle weights headed by senior Colton Rasche and defending state champion Steve Robertson.

"Colton has been a leader for all of his four years," Montini coach Mike Bukovsky said. "He's one of the guys who makes us go. He has been an elite wrestler for at least three of those four years."

Robertson headlines a junior-dominated Montini roster.

"He's not flashy, he's not fancy," Bukovsky said of his star 140-pounder. "He's our workhorse. (Rasche and Robertson) are consummate team members. It's no coincidence we're that strong at their weights."

The Broncos are a prohibitive favorite to claim the Fenton title on Saturday. Montini also features five other wrestlers ranked in the top five: Christ Divito (125 pounds), Frank Baer (145), Brandon McBride (152), Dimitri Willis (160) and heavyweight Ross Ferraro.

Teitsma finishing strong: Glenbard South senior Austin Teitsma had a whirlwind week after singing with Illinois to continue his football career. The Raiders' heavyweight has back-to-back unblemished regular seasons heading into the Oswego regional tomorrow. Teitsma was stunned last year in the semifinals.

"I feel like I'm getting a lot better," Teitsma said of his slow start to the season after the Raiders' extended football playoff run. "I make sure I work really hard in practice--it really pays off. I'm in very good condition (for the state series)."