Saints lead state hopefuls with 6 qualifiers
Twenty-eight area wrestlers have their chance at glory this weekend.
The final prelude for the individual state tournament commences tonight at three different locations for the eight area programs, and St. Charles East leads the local teams with six sectional qualifiers.
The Saints, who had four champions at the Class 3A Elgin regional last Saturday, are joined by Batavia, Marmion, St. Charles North and Geneva.
Batavia and Marmion had three regional champions apiece at Wheaton North, and the last barrier to state inclusion at the University of Illinois' Assembly Hall in Champaign next weekend has been erected at Leyden in Franklin Park.
West Aurora had its three-year regional team run extinguished by Minooka at its tournament last weekend, but the Blackhawks, behind two regional champions, head to Lincoln-Way Central in New Lenox.
At the Class 2A LaSalle-Peru sectional, Kaneland has four representatives vying for a state berth; Aurora Central Catholic freshman Greg Jacquez is the Chargers' lone combatant.
In the new three-class state tournament, there has been a significant alteration for the large-school wrestlers.
Traditionally, the top-three sectional place-winners earned state berths, but the halving of sectional sites from eight to four has necessitated a fourth qualifier to the state finals.
"It's not going to be do-or-die anymore (in the third-place matches)," St. Charles East coach Steve Smerz said. "But you have more teams feeding into the sectional, so it's going to be just as hard to get downstate."
"The semifinal wrestle backs are going to be the big match this year," Batavia coach Arlis said. "Those matches are going to be gigantic."
The Saints' Brandon Rubino (112 pounds), Danny Mercadante (145), Nick Scimeca (152) and heavyweight Blake Griffiths captured regional titles in cementing their team runner-up status at Elgin; freshman Nick Ruffino was second at 125 pounds, and four-year starter Cody Crawford was third at 130.
"Obviously, a perfect day would be getting six kids through," Smerz said. "We're looking at it one match at a time. If you're not at the top of your game, you're going to sitting at home next weekend. That's the way it should be; it's not supposed to be easy (to qualify for state)."
One of the most intriguing showdowns at Leyden could be Rubino colliding with Batavia junior Logan Arlis at 112 pounds.
The two did not wrestle at the teams' regular-season-ending dual meet; Arlis is undefeated at 36-0 and ranked fourth in the state, while Rubino is 31-3 and fifth in the state rankings.
"I haven't really thought about (possibly meeting Arlis)," Rubino said. "I just want to wrestle my butt off. It's been my goal all year (to place at state)."
"Brandon is a great wrestler, but I think Logan has the upper hand," Tom Arlis said.
The Saints' most accomplished wrestler this season has been Mercadante, who has won 37 times in securing a top-notch state ranking at 145 pounds.
The four-year starter is undefeated at his preferred weight class; his three losses have all come at 152 pounds.
"I have to wrestle like I know I can," Mercadante said. "I can't second-guess myself. (My plan of attack) is to get a big lead and keep scoring; I'm not going to stop - just score, score, score."
Crawford seeks possible redemption against Batavia senior Charlie Ryan, who won the Wheaton North title at 130 pounds.
Ryan edged Crawford 10-7 in a thrilling match at the teams' dual.
"I have to stay in good positions," Crawford said. "I think experience pays off (in the postseason)."
In addition to Arlis and Ryan, Batavia 171-pounder Danny Watson triumphed at Wheaton North to improve to 36-1.
Fellow senior Andrew Rudd is 30-5 at 160 pounds, and Augie Watson qualified at 140.
"I like where we're sitting at in the brackets at the sectional," coach Arlis said. "Augie probably has the toughest road to go through."
Marmion trebled its number of regional champions in program history behind the Greco brothers, freshman Eddie and junior Pat, and Angelo Silvestri.
Coach Dean Branstetter is confident the first state qualifier in school history is within reach at Leyden.
"The biggest difference is the (athletes') mindset," Branstetter said. "In past years there were guys who were hoping to make it to state. Now the guys this year are expecting to make it."
Eddie Greco (103 pounds) has not lost since December, and Pat Greco (140) is the Cadets' top-ranked wrestler.
The St. Charles residents are further bolstered by Silvestri, the 119-pound regional champion who hails from Geneva.
Eddie Breen was runner-up for the Cadets at 125 pounds at Wheaton North.
St. Charles North junior C.J. Miller (152 pounds) and senior 215-pounder Kasey Ro are the North Stars' two representatives at Leyden.
The duo is looking to join Eric Justice as the only state qualifier in the North Stars' wrestling history.
Geneva senior Collin Callahan rounds out the local qualifiers at Leyden; the 130-pounder was second at Wheaton North.
Illinois-bound Mario Gonzalez was a one-man wrecking crew with three decisive pins for West Aurora last week, but the four-time regional champion had able company in 119-pounder Miguel Venecia.
The sophomore added another crown for the Blackhawks, who also advanced Nicholas Drendel (103 pounds), Josh Zinzer (125) and Sam McKinney (130).
"(Venecia) has not stopped working since (his freshman) year," West Aurora coach Mike DiNovo said. "He's got great skills, he's got great heart and he never stops."
At LaSalle-Peru, Kaneland is staking its downstate claims behind senior 145-pounder Jay Levita and sophomore heavyweight Jimmy Boyle.
Levita avenged two regular-season losses to Sycamore senior Sean Akins in the regional final, and Boyle earned a team-high 30th win in claiming the heavyweight title.
The two lower-class state tournaments have retained the top-three qualifiers advancing from the sectional to Champaign formula.
"You get the best of the best when you get to the sectional," Kaneland coach Monty Jahns said. "(Levita and Boyle) are both wrestling at the top of their game right now."
J.T. Webb and A.J. Wagner are the Knights' other sectional qualifiers at 152 and 215 pounds, respectively.