BG's Zabrin returns with a vengeance at MSL meet
It's been a long road back for Jamey Zabrin.
After missing nearly the entire season following foot surgery, the Buffalo Grove senior made his first appearance of the year Friday night on Day One of the two-day Mid-Suburban League wrestling tournament in Buffalo Grove.
Zabrin was one of many highlights - which saw tournament favorites Schaumburg and Hersey storm to the top of the ladder - with MSL West co-champion Barrington right in the mix despite missing two key competitors.
The Saxons lead Barrington 90-85 and East champion Hersey 90-81. Wheeling (71) and the host Bison (45) round out the top 5 heading into today's competition, which begins at 9 a.m. with finals at 3 p.m.
The Broncos, despite missing captain and 2009 state qualifier Luke Miller (152) and Connor Mannina (119), received some heavy hitting from their big men beginning with Dan Santoro (31-3, top seed at 171) through heavyweight Aaron Castagna. He joined Kalvin Argueta (189) and Troy Morrison (215) in recording falls and adding valuable bonus points.
"Obviously it's difficult coming into this tournament without both Luke and Connor in our lineup, but it just means that the rest has to step up and go after majors, tech-falls and falls to pick up extra points, to make up for (their) loss," said Santoro, who is on a collision course with No. 2 seed Danny Malik (26-1) of Schaumburg - if the senior can get past No. 3 Joel Rangel (27-5) of Wheeling.
Malik is looking to do the same against Zabrin, who returned to active duty with a fall at 1:43 over Carl Bohm (Conant) to book his place in a semifinal.
"I was beginning to wonder if I would miss all of my senior year," said Zabrin, a top-8 finisher last February at the state tournament. "I've been training as hard as I could the last couple of weeks, and although my foot is still a little tender, I feel that mentally and physically I am about as ready as I can be for the final four weeks of the season."
All 14 top seeds held serve Friday, including Palatine senior Leshon Mejias (125, 19-4) who missed the middle of the season because of an ankle injury. Mejias looked in top form as he won by fall at 4:09 over Wheeling's Israel Gonzalez to set up a bout against No. 4 Kory Jauch.
"Before Leshon's injury, (his) 4 losses were to state-ranked guys, including a 5-3 loss to No. 4 Kevin Moylan (Stagg) who he was leading 3-1 before losing (4-3)," said Palatine coach Dan Collins. "So to me, he was a legit top seed here this weekend."
The loss of Barrington's Miller threw the 152-pound bracket upside down, but all of the main characters look ready for their semifinals.
Top-seed Joey Caprio (Rolling Meadows, 32-5) earned a major decision and will face No. 4 Eddie Scanlon (Wheeling, 19-7) - who looked strong in his 9-1 major.
No. 3 Sean Bonner (36-8) was dominant in a quick fall at 1:24 that moved the Hersey senior against No. 3 Brandon Thompson (27-8) of Prospect.
"I am bigger, and stronger this season, and a lot quicker on my feet, which has resulted in more takedowns for me this year," said Bonner, who was sixth at the Dvorak in December.
Hersey and Barrington each have nine wrestlers alive in the championship round, while Schaumburg has eight.
"The semifinal round is always so big, and the result in any tournament this time of the season means so much, so you have to be mentally and physically ready to go right from the start," said Broncos coach Al Strobl.