W. Aurora hopes tough schedule pays off
West Aurora is the epicenter of stacked schedules this wrestling season.
On paper, the Blackhawks' current 7-4 dual-meet record would seemingly place them on the outside looking in among state powers.
But their four losses have taken place at the hands of Oak Park-River Forest, Neuqua Valley, Lockport and Glenbard North.
The teams are respectively ranked first, fourth, sixth and seventh among Class 3A schools in the state.
West Aurora is No. 8 in the latest Illinois Matmen.com survey.
As the local programs scramble for maturation as the new year rapidly approaches, West Aurora coach Mike DiNovo is optimistic the Blackhawks' murderous schedule translates into late-season heroics.
"That's why you schedule tough teams," DiNovo said. "If you have to take it on the chin to be tougher toward the end of the season, that's what you do. That's the plan."
The Blackhawks established a program first with its third straight Class AA regional championship last year, and the school was awarded the first state preliminary in the largest of the inaugural three-class system in February.
But reverberations of inequity are already building toward a tsunami of criticism after the pairings were released.
In addition to the hosts, the field includes Neuqua Valley, Plainfield Central and Minooka.
The latter two schools are ranked second and third, respectively, in the state.
In other words, the Class 3A West Aurora regional has four teams ranked in the top eight, not to mention quality individuals from Waubonsie Valley, Naperville Central, Naperville North and DeKalb.
"It's the toughest regional in the state," Batavia coach Tom Arlis said. "There's no doubt about it. It's not even close."
Over the extended holiday school break, West Aurora was third at Hinsdale Central; DeKalb is next on the Blackhawks' radar as the squad has its sights set on the championship of the Dick Flavin 16-team dual-meet tournament.
Rockton Hononegah, which West Aurora edged earlier this season, the No. 9 team in the state poll is the Blackhawks' prime obstacle, with York lurking as well.
Kaneland: The Knights are also in the mix at DeKalb on Monday and Tuesday.
Monte Jahns has taken over the Knights' program after an extended, not to mention successful, run by Gary Baum.
"We hope to make it to the winner's bracket," Jahns said. "It's going to be pretty tough to get past those two (West Aurora and Woodstock in first-day pool matches)."
Kaneland is 5-7 after its first dozen dual meets, and the Knights' wrestlers have been on an emotional roller-coaster in recent weeks dealing with the tragic deaths of two classmates in an auto accident.
"Not much to report due to the lack of activities," Jahns said. "We're still young and growing; the kids are working hard."
Jahns' outlook for the remainder of the season has been considerably brightened with the development of Jimmy Boyle at heavyweight and the progress displayed by Jay Levita, Josh Kuesler and Devin Scholl.
Boyle and Kuesler (119 pounds) are sophomores; Scholl (125) is a junior, and the 145-pound Levita is one of the true elder statesman of the team as one of the few seniors.
Batavia: In his final season at Naperville North, Arlis coached three undefeated Class AA state champions in Nick Fanthorpe, Brian Dyer and Eric Tannenbaum.
Six years later, there is another triumvirate making a ruckus on the local scene for the veteran coach.
Arlis' son, 112-pound junior Logan, 160-pound senior Andrew Rudd and 171-pound senior Danny Watson are a combined 46-2 on the season.
Arlis has tournament wins at Downers Grove South and Glenbrook South and is currently ranked No. 2 in the matmen rankings. Watson, a fellow returning state qualifier, and Rudd are both 15-1 on the season.
The Bulldogs are aiming for more consistency as they eye two critical upcoming home meets: a quadrangular with West Aurora as the main attraction and the following their traditional second-weekend-in-January 16-team invitational.
Batavia opened its Western Sun Conference slate with big wins over DeKalb, Geneva and Yorkville, only to drop a narrow decision to Sycamore, which is now the odds-on favorite to win the league title.
The Western Sun championship is awarded solely on the seven conference dual meets; the league tournament championship is a separate matter.
"We had a little bit of a letdown and stunk it up (against Sycamore)," Arlis said. "They were physical, they were pumped and they came after us. We were flat."
Geneva: With Geneva in the midst of a halcyon athletic period with back-to-back girls state cross country champions, a state runner-up football squad and two basketball teams sweeping their Thanksgiving and Christmas tournaments while going a combined 27-1 this winter, the wrestling team is looking to ride the wave.
The Vikings are 4-8 thus far in dual meets this season with respectable tournament showings at Barrington and Hoffman Estates.
"We have never put our full team out there (this year), and I think we have been competitive in the meets we've wrestled," Geneva coach Tom Chernich said.
Senior Collin Callahan has been the Vikings' most pleasant surprise this season, winning 16 of his first 20 matches at 135 pounds.
Jeff Martens (160 pounds) and Ryan Ward (171) are the Vikings' senior leaders.
The team has been collectively holding its breath for the return of junior heavyweight Frank Boenzi, the lone returning state qualifier.
The three-sport star will make his long-awaited season debut against Rochelle this Friday in a makeup conference dual.
"We gave him two weeks off (after football season), and he had to cut some weight (to get to 285 pounds)," Chernich said.