Wrestling / Scouting Class 3A dual-team sectionals
Wrestling / Scouting dual-team sectionals
It's the home stretch of the high school wrestling season, which finishes this weekend with the dual-team state tournament held in Bloomgton. Coaches from around the state gather up their teams for one last week of competition, which is especially difficult considering the three week layoff from full-team competition, in addition to the highly stressful events from last weekend at the state individual tournament for those who competed. But the goal is to refocus and have one last chance at success in a team setting. That begins with Tuesday night's dual team sectionals as a trip downstate is hanging in the balance.
Here's a quick look at what to expect from a couple of key Class 3A dual-team sectional sites.
at DeerfieldWhen: 6 p.m. Tuesday
Jacobs (18-2-0) vs. Deerfield (25-4-0)
Wrestlers to watch: Jacobs' Beau Harrier (113, 31-9, sectional qualifier), Cody Ferencz (120, 35-8, three-time sectional qualifier), David Dudych (126, 31-13, sectional qualifier), Chris Dranka (132, 41-7, sectional qualifier), Michael Bujacz (182, 33-9, sectional qualifier), Jake Golnick (195, 26-12, sectional qualifier). Deerfield's Dylan Utterback (106, 41-10, state qualifier), Kyle Clough (113, 40-10, state qualifier), Nick Kupets (126, 38-15, state qualifier), Andrew Mehrholz (138, 50-6, two-time state medalist), Sage Heller (160, 43-7, state qualifier), Brady Glantz (170, 42-8, state quailifer).
Storyline: Both clubs are here for the first time in their program history. Jacobs, which also won its first FVC title under coach Gary Conrad, arrives with the distinction of winning a conference title without a single individual champion - a credit to its overall depth, which Conrad and his staff have worked diligently to build.
Deerfield's Marc Pechter and his coaching staff have done a marvelous job of putting together a class outfit, one that year-in and year-out is among the best in this half of the state. The Warriors have won seven straight Central Suburban League titles and had several state medalists of late, including 2014 state champion Colton Emmerich, now wrestling at Illinois.
The test for both will be who can succeed at the lower weights, where both clubs are strongest, and as always, who can grab those treasured bonus points along the way.
"We had a rough go of it at sectionals, so we feel fortunate to have another opportunity to redeem ourselves after that lost weekend in Barrington," said Conrad. "We wrestle well in dual-team situations, but Deerfield is a very tough opponent, so we'll have to win at the upper weights, while having the 'meat' of our lineup coming through at the same time."
Grant (22-6-0) vs. Prospect (18-4-0).
Wrestlers to watch: Prospect's Alex Preissing (120, 41-10, 2015 state qualifier), Bobby Jarosz (152, 35-10, sectional qualifier), Tanner Strobel (160, 35-11, 2015 state qualifier), Matt Wroblewski (170, 41-7, 2015 state medalist), Adrian Wroblewski (182, 37-7, sectional qualifier), James Ford (220, 38-8, two-time state qualifier). Grant's Gage Datlovsky (120, 39-8, sectional qualifier), Christian Kanzler (126, 33-12, two-time state qualifier), Noah Drabek (132, 44-9, two-time state qualifier, Cristian Coronado (138, 39-5, sectional qualifier), Mike Kouvelis (152, 41-13, two-time state qualifier), Jack Resnick (285, 35-9, sectional qualifier).
Storyline: For the second straight year, the Mid-Suburban East champion Knights have advanced into the sectional following a strong performance at their regional. Only this season, coach Tom Whalen's bunch is feeling it has a better chance of reaching Bloomington, thanks in part to a quality lineup from top to bottom. That balance showed in a Mudge tournament title long with a victory at the super duals in DeKalb.
Grant has been known for years as one of the two best in the North Suburban Conference, along with Libertyville. That's been true this season as well, as the Bullodgs roared back from just missing an NSC conference title (to Stevenson) by one-half point to outscoring a strong regional field while included Barrington and McHenry to reach the sectional. The Bulldogs have, as usual, competed an impressive nonconference schedule as well, including a trip to the prestigious Clash in Minnesota. This looks to be one of the more evenly matched duals of them all, where matchups and lineup moves and switches could be the difference between winning and losing.
at Niles West When: 6 p.m. Tuesday
Conant (18-2-0) vs. Glenbard North (25-1-0)
Wrestlers to watch: Conant's Danny Madonia (120, 34-5, state qualifier), Kyle Peisker (126, 36-5, two-time state qualifier), Bobby Alexander (138, 47-2, three-time state medalist), Griff Rose (152, 2014, 36-6, state qualifier), Dan Andress (160, 2015 44-7, state medalist), Andrew Zerfus (195, 25-13, 25-16, state qualifier), Michael Meier (220, 35-13, state qualifier).
Glenbard North's Kirk Johansen (106, 51-3, two-time state medalist), Austin Gomez (113, 49-1, 2015 state champion), Patrick Augustyn (120, 40-7, two-time state qualifier), Philip Partipilo (132, 42-10, state qualifier), Colton Wegner (182, 37-11), Luke Greenberg (195, 40-9, 2015 state runner-up).
Storyline: The team sectional is a regular stop for the Panthers under long-time coach Mark Hahn. Glenbard North has reached this final week of the season six times in the last last eight years before heading to the state tourney, but were denied a seventh straight last winter when Conant stunned the the Panthers 27-26 as the Cougars earned their first Elite Elite trip since 2003.
Glenbard North again has a loaded lineup, one which placed second at the Dvorak and ninth at the Clash before getting nine competitors through to the individual state tournament.
Conant's Chad Hay and his staff have done a masterful job of putting together a first-class team, too. It's centered around a terrific core of six seniors who competed here last season, plus several sophomores and juniors who were all part of last season's trip to Bloomington. The current group of seniors, led by three-time state medalist Bobby Alexander, has helped itself to three consecutive regional titles in addition to four straight Leyden Invite championship trophies. The Cougars can count victories over quality teams such as Prospect, NSC champs Stevenson, Libertyville and DeKalb as well as FVC champ Jacobs this season.
Oak Park-River Forest (24-0-0) vs. Evanston (29-3-0)
Storyline: The other semifinal at this site features defending 3A state champion OPRF, quite clearly the top team in Illinois if not the entire country. The Wildkits, who have enjoyed a wonderful season of their own under coach Rudy Salinas, get a touch draw, as OPRF certainly looks like an eventual state champ.
- Mike Garofola