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Scouting DuPage County wrestling

Top teams: Montini, Glenbard North, Glenbard East, Hinsdale Central, Waubonsie Valley, Addison Trail, Glenbard West, Downers Grove South, Neuqua Valley, Naperville Central

Top athletes:Addison Trail: Bobby Carson, sr., 285; Anthony Metallo, jr., 138; Jake Plekavic, sr., 126; Niko Rocha, sr., 182; Dan Tomasello, sr., 195. Downers Grove North: Milad Abd, sr., 152; Nick Bonomo, sr., 182; Charlie Roth, sr., 113; Straw Sopcic, sr., 126; Phil Urbanski, sr., 220. Downers Grove South: Mike Hobbs, sr., 285; Tyree Johnson, soph., 126; Joe Nugent, sr., 132; Sam Patula, sr., 195; Shane Uarghese, sr., 145. Fenton: Juan Alfaro, jr., 195; Alex Cowan, sr., 126; Jiven Delgado, sr., 120; Andy Santana, sr., 138. Glenbard East: Jake Drew, jr., 132; Carlos Fuentes, sr., 106; D’Andre Johnson, sr., 285; Dayton Olsen, sr., 126 Josh Martin, sr., 145; Anfarnee Rodgers, sr., 120. Glenbard North: Jered Cortez, sr., 132; Jimique Davis, jr., 170; Austin Gomez, fr., 113; Kirk Johanson, fr., 106; Jon Marmolejo, sr., 126; Colten Wegner, jr., 182; Glenbard South: Mike Bertone, soph., 126; Will Collins, sr., 145; Zak Georgitsis, sr., 285. Glenbard West: Troy Frazier, sr., 106; Collin Knowlton, sr., 170; Andrew Posegay, sr., 152; Paul Selman, sr., 132; Pernevlon Sheppard, sr., 138. Hinsdale Central: Brian Allen, sr., 285; Juwan Edmond, jr., 152; Matt Price, jr., 113; Keith Schmidt, sr., 170. Hinsdale South: Nick Carlson, sr., 126; Josh King, soph., 220; Justin Maslow, sr., 145; Nick Perisin, jr., 120; Dave Witczak, sr., 160. Lake Park: Chomba Chilufya, sr., 220; Kameran Hardwick, sr., 285; Jackson Schoen, sr., 132; Tyler Vittal, sr., 195; Zach Wolf, jr., 152. Lisle: Jared Arellano, sr., 285; Ben Buchelt, sr., 145; Danny Grant, sr., 126; Kevin Sheahan, sr., 195; Brandon Vega, sr., 120. Metea Valley: Axl Ariza, jr., 113; Kenan Carter, jr., 152; Sam Elston, jr., 160; Joey Riordan, jr., 106. Montini: Dylan Duncan, soph., 113; Anthony Ferraro, sr., 195; Chris Garcia, sr., 138; Mike Maduko, sr., 182; Xavier Montalvo, jr., 170; Jimmy Pawelski, soph., 106; Edgar Ruano, sr., 220; Vince Turk, jr., 132. Naperville Central: Matt Chobak, jr., 145; Shuji Mizoguchi, soph., 106; Nick Nunziato, jr., 132; Derek Wilke, jr., 126; Ben Williamson, jr., 138. Naperville North: Ben Brancaleon, sr., 195; Brandon Gilligan, sr., 182; Jake Kruk, sr., 106; Che Woodson, sr., 160; Chris Zhang, jr., 220. Neuqua Valley: Godfrey Collins, sr., 285; Justin Killacky, sr., 120; Brent Lindenman, sr., 195; Alex Pierce, sr., 152; Connor Swier, sr., 182; DJ Warkenthien, jr., 220. St. Francis: Michael Andelbradt, sr., 220; Thomas Brundage, jr., 145; Peter Coman, jr., 152; Cole Cunningham, jr., 285; Michael Pelletiere, jr., 126. Waubonsie Valley: Jimmy Davis, sr., 138; Mike Grosch, sr., 152; Mitch Kroening, sr., 182; Anthony Napolitano, sr., 220; Matt Pugliese, sr., 120: Jack Timberlake, sr., 170. West Chicago: Emmanuel Garcia, jr., 106; Trey Lally, fr., 138; Scott Oglanian, sr., 132; Michael Otzwirk, jr., 160; Nathaniel Wesolek, sr., 170. Wheaton Academy: Alex Budzisz, sr., 152; Josh Dutton, jr., 195; Aidan Naylor, soph., 160; Levi Severson, jr., 138; Chris Williams, sr., 220. Wheaton North: Devin Donovan, 138, fr.; Dylan Thurston, soph., 126; Micah Volle, jr., Anthony Yanan, sr., 220. Wheaton Warrenville South: George Beck, jr., 220; Cain Bialas, sr., 160; Andrew Ives, jr., 145; Camden Johnnic, sr., 152; Qarin Johnnic, jr., 138. Willowbrook: Christian Chavez, jr., 220; Jake Kroeger, sr., 182; Matt Rowland, soph., 52; Elijah Rochelle, soph., 160; Andrew Veer, soph., 113. York: Noah Fleckenstein, sr., 195; Joe Helton, sr., 182; Taylor Hoffman, jr., 138; Luke Guerierri, sr., 145; Mike Ordonez, soph., 132; Jordan Santiago, sr., 160.

Scouting report: Montini is looking to make history this winter. With 10 state championships in wrestling, including the last five in Class 2A, Montini can surpass Providence Catholic as the most storied program with another triumph in Bloomington next February. Coach Israel Martinez, a three-time Class AA champion in his own right, has assembled arguably the most powerful team in recent memory. According to the preseason individual rankings, Montini has either the top-ranked or second-rated athlete in 10 of the 14 weight classes. In addition three highly regarded wrestlers transferred into the program, including former DuPage Valley Conference state qualifiers Kegan Calkins (Wheaton North) and Tyler Svestka (West Chicago). Michael Johnson, the top-rated heavyweight in the state, came to Montini from a prep school. “We are going to get the state record for the most state titles won by any high school,” Martinez said. “We are focused on making history.” Turk, Garcia, Montalvo, Ferraro and Ruano are the other top-ranked Montini wrestlers. The Broncos are the only school to win a middle-tier state championship since the sport expanded to three classes in 2007-08. Even with several of their heavier athletes coming off yet another lengthy football playoff run, the Broncos are poised to dominate the Class 2A series once again. “We are excited,” Martinez said.

Graduation losses were immense to many of the local Class 3A traditional powers, but there are two notable defending state champions returning for a final campaign. Jered Cortez has an opportunity to etch his name among state immortals as the Glenbard North senior has not tasted defeat since transferring to the Carol Stream school after winning a Class 2A title as a freshman at Marmion. Cortez has accrued a winning streak beyond triple digits with back-to-back 50-plus win seasons. Cortez — whose former teammate at Marmion, Johnny Jimenez, has the same possibility — can become the 12th athlete in state history to win four state championships. The Panthers, who also feature a legitimate state contender in Marmolejo, have been the benchmark among large-class programs over the last decade-plus. Glenbard North has collected a trophy in the dual-team state series 10 times in the last 13 years. “I was very impressed with Marmolejo,” Naperville North coach Tom Champion said after witnessing the senior emerge victorious at Conant last weekend. “His facial expression never changes. You can’t tell if he is winning or losing.” But one of the Panthers’ sister schools could end their dominance in the DuPage Valley Conference. Glenbard East has six returning state qualifiers.

The area has three of the top heavyweights in the state as Hinsdale Central senior Allen was 46-0 last year. The Michigan State football recruit defeated Neuqua Valley’s Andrew Geers (Purdue) in an epic battle of unbeaten wrestlers to win the Class 3A championship. Glenbard East heavyweight Johnson and Downers South 285-pounder Hobbs are also ranked in the top four.

In the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division, Waubonsie Valley returns half of its 14 starters. The Warriors reclaimed a part of their legacy last year by winning a league championship and regional title for the first time in 17 and 13 years, respectively. “There is nothing guaranteed (in wrestling),” Waubonsie Valley coach Brad Caldwell said. “We have to go out there and show that we can perform. We’re not expecting to walk out there and have people give us a win.” Davis is the Warriors’ lone returning state qualifier. “I don’t see why he can’t wrestle with anyone in the state,” Caldwell said of his 138-pounder. Neuqua Valley 182-pounder enters the season as the No. 1-ranked performer at his weight class. The senior is looking to make amends after failing to qualify for the state tournament last season. “I think (Swier) will definitely bounce back very high,” Neuqua Valley coach Mick Ruettiger said. “He is a confident kid. I look for good things out of him.” For the first time in recent memory, the tradition-rich Wildcats do not have a returning state qualifier. “I think that we have several kids who will put themselves in position to go to the state tournament,” Ruettiger said.

In the West Suburban Gold there was a three-way tie last season between Addison Trail, Downers South and Willowbrook. Addison Trail will reload around returning state qualifier Rocha. Downers South counters with Hobbs as its mainstay, while Willowbrook features one of the top sophomores in the state in Rowland. “We have to dig ourselves out of a hole and get healthy,” Willowbrook coach Bryan Murphy said. “Addison has really loaded up. Downers (South) is going to be really hard to beat. (Addison Trail coach Rob Serio has) got some really good athletes.” Longtime Wheaton North coach Steve Holland is the new mentor at Hinsdale South, taking over for the retired Mike Matozzi. “I think (the move) caught a lot of people by surprise,” Holland said.

In the Silver Division, Glenbard West, Hinsdale Central, Downers North and York have the burden of competing against Oak Park-River Forest, the consensus top-ranked Class 3A team in the state. The Hilltoppers have a core group of seven seniors to lead the way this season. York senior Fleckenstein is a two-time state qualifier. In the Suburban Christian Conference, newcomers St. Francis and Wheaton Academy have realistic expectations in a league with twin juggernauts Montini and Marmion. “It’s another year of seeing us improve,” St. Francis coach Jesse Pierce said. “(Wrestling) is still relatively new (at St. Francis).”

Glenbard South had a first last season. “We win our first conference championship (the Metro Suburban) in school history, and now almost everyone is gone,” Glenbard South coach Derrick Crenshaw said of graduation losses. “It’s definitely going to be a rebuilding year for us.”

Roberto “Tito” Torres, one of the most storied wrestlers in Waubonsie Valley history, is the new coach at West Chicago. His older brother Claudio is the main man at Metea Valley. “If I could get about four kids to get top three (at the Upstate Eight Valley) meet, I would be happy with that,” Roberto Torres said. “If I could get a kid to qualify (for state), that would be phenomenal.”

Key dates: Dec. 7, WW South Mega Duals; Dec. 13-14, Iron Man; Dec. 20-21, Hinsdale Central Rex Whitlach; Dec. 27-28, Dvorak; Jan. 3-4, Cheesehead; Jan 3-4, The Clash; Jan. 11, Geneva Invitational; Jan. 18, Batavia Invite; Jan. 24-25, Conference championships; Feb. 1, DuPage Valley Conference tournament.

— Kevin McGavin

  Montini’s Anthony Ferraro attacks Roy Hickman of Richton Park South in the Class 2A 195-pound IHSA championship at Assembly Hall in Champaign Saturday. Ferraro won the title. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
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