Barrington builds comfortable tourney lead

Barrington all but ended the hopes of the other 28 teams Friday afternoon by opening up a huge lead at the 21st annual Moore-Prettyman Memorial Wrestling Invitational hosted by the Broncos.

Barrington sent seven wrestlers into today's 11 a.m. semifinals, including Nick Shealy, who upended top seed Jimmy Grimm from Hinsdale Central at 152 pounds.

The defending Mid-Suburban League champion Broncos led by first-year head coach Ken Hoving hold a 41-point lead over Lyons and Plainfield Central (89.5).

“We've stressed team first ahead of everything else from the first day I was named head coach, and the guys have really bought into (that) concept and truly believe that's the only way to be,” said Hoving. “So when we found ourselves ranked No. 22 in the polls before the season began, I think it was exactly what the guys needed to motivate them at our tournament.

Hoving was an assistant under former coach Al Strobl, who stepped down following the end of the season last year after leading the Bronocs to a second consecutive appearance in the 3A dual-team state tournament.

“There was a lot of good news, and I am really happy to see the guys perform like they did,” said Hoving, “but they all know it's only one day in a long season, and there's plenty of hard work ahead for all of them.”

Day No. 2 begins at 10 a.m. Saturday with the fourth round of wrestlebacks, before matches to decide who will compete in the late afternoon finals commence.

Libertyville (88) and its North Suburban Conference rival Grant (84.5) are just ahead of fifth-place Crystal Lake South. The Gators qualified five semifinalists, led by the dynamic duo of Nick Fontanetta (120) and Tom Gerszewski (152) as well as Nick Gil (126), Mike Romanelli (220) and junior Nick Peters, whose superb effort late in his match with Jim Spangler sent the top seed and state's No. 2-rated senior from Joliet West into the consolation bracket following a 6-4 victory in OT.

Shealy, who suffered a meniscus tear at the MSL tournament last year to abruptly end his season, set the pace in his match with the Grimm and never eased up until the buzzer sounded and his hand was raised.

Grimm was the 140-pound champion here a year ago.

“I knew I deserved to be seeded in my weight class, and when I found out that I wasn't (it) helped inspire me even more,” said the senior, who still managed 22 victories in his injury-shortened season a year ago.

Shealy's 15-6 major decision helped him earn a semifinal spot opposite Jon Perez (Zion-Benton). The Broncos' Ben Calamari, after stunning No. 2 Andrew Geers of Neuqua Valley, takes on Nick Wolf of Plainfield North in his 285-pound quarterfinal.

With state medalist and former team captain Aaron Castagna back visiting from college and looking on in his corner, Calamari rarely allowed Geers, who finished fourth at the state tournament, much of anything during his 6-2 upset win before taking a forfeit in his quarterfinal.

“Ben has been working really hard, and although he's really light for a heavyweight, he makes up for it with his strength and long body,” said Hoving.

Peters, who won 19 bouts last year and earned his first sectional appearance, frustrated his opponent by forcing last year's sixth-place state medalist to wrestle at a fast pace.

“That was the plan right from the start, and the more that I pushed the pace, the more confident I was as the match went on,” said Peters, who was hit with a controversial 1-point penalty for fleeing to pull Spangler even at 4 with 12 seconds in regulation before winning with a takedown 29 seconds into extra time.

“When you can wrestle an opponent who is ranked so high, then beat him, it's a boost to my confidence, knowing I can stay with guys like him,” Peters said.

Peters' next opponent will be Matthew Fina of Cary-Grove at 138 pounds. Fina qualified after his 11-5 decision over Max Ellis of Zion-Benton to join teammate Mike Cullen in the semis.

Cullen, a freshman, was untouchable in his first two matches, recording a pair of falls to earn his spot in the semis against No. 1 Adrian Gonzalez of Barrington, who comes into the season with a pair of trips downstate on his resume.

Senior Josh Symbal, a 34-match winner and state qualifier for Huntley, cruised into the semifinals at 182 and meets Sam Rosengarden of Wheeling, one of two Wildcats to be alive in the championship bracket.

“After making it downstate last year, the bar is set a little higher this season, with a state medal as one of my goals that I'd like to reach,” said Symbal, who is taking a hard look at attending Augustana next fall where he would play football after starring for the Red Raiders at middle linebacker.

There was some good news for Lake County teams, as the Grant duo of Ben Soumar (120) and Quinton Quarles (220) were the most impressive of the four Bulldogs to advance. Tony Cashmore (170) and Nick Kramer (106) also made the semis.

“Ben has come a long way from his freshman year, when he wasn't very good, to now where he is very solid for us — and the same goes for (Quarles), who is big, strong and athletic, and has really come into his own,” said Grant coach Ryan Geist.

Steve Polakowski (113) and Austin Pettinato (145) remain in the championship bracket for Libertyville, as do Justin Weber (Stevenson) at 152 as well as Nate Magiera of Wauconda, who is coming off his first appearance in the 2A state tournament.

Top seed Eddie Scanlon (Wheeling) will take on Keith Schmidt of Hinsdale Central in a 170-pound semifinal, but perhaps the best story for the MSL East is with Prospect's Joe Abu-Baker. He earned 6-4 decision over No. 2 Charlie Meyer, sending the Knights' top man into the semis at 132.

“It's always a quality win when you beat someone from a program like Libertyville, and when I saw there were 25-30 seconds to go, I knew if I got the chance to shoot I would go for it and just keep going until I finished,” said Abu-Baker, who suffered a broken collarbone late in the season forcing him out of the MSL tournament.

Neuqua Valley finds itself in seventh place (80.50) heading into Day 2, with three in the semifinals: Connor Swier (182), Drelyn Hunt (160) and Casey Greenberg (220). Greenberg, a senior who won 28 bouts last year, is set to face No. 1 Greg Cameron of Plainfield Central, who is rated No. 4 in the polls.

Waubonsie Valley senior Elton Manuel takes on top seed Kyle Ledbetter (Plainfield Central) at 160 pounds.