Dundee-Crown's Brunner off to a flying start again
Dundee-Crown senior wrestler Christian Brunner continues to take things to the next level.
Brunner was 23-0 with 18 pins at 195 pounds to start the week. He recently took first place and was named outstanding wrestler at the Midwest Wrestling Classic at UW-Whitewater.
"It's hard for me to say Christian has stepped it up because he already is such a successful individual, but it's true," said Chargers' coach Tim Hayes, a 2004 D-C graduate, a three-time state qualifier and a member of the Chargers' 2004 fourth-place state team. "Christian is driven to be the school's third state champion. He is driven to not just beat each opponent but to dominate them. He is a phenomenal leader for this young team."
To start the week Brunner, who took third at state last year at 195, was 10 wins shy of breaking former D-C great David Silva's school record for career wins (149; Silva is a 2002 grad). "When it is all said and done I wouldn't be surprised if every record belonged to him," said Hayes. "Christian is something special. He will be on top of the podium at state."
Junior Chase Raap was off to a 20-6 start (title at Antioch) at 182 for the Chargers. "Chase has the toughest job on the team being Brunner's practice partner," said Hayes. "Chase is a tough kid and a real hard worker. He is another great leader for this young team."
Saints vs. Bulldogs: The latest Batavia-St. Charles East showdown in wrestling arrives Thursday night.
In what will almost certainly be the de facto Upstate Eight Conference River Division championship match, St. Charles East will look to return to the top after Batavia ended the Saints' three-year unbeaten league streak last year en route to the title.
"It's going to be interesting," St. Charles East coach Jason Potter said. "We just have to have our kids wrestle their best."
Batavia coach Scott Bayer has an identical outlook.
"It's going to be a war," Bayer said. "We have to meet and exceed their aggressiveness. If we show up to wrestle, we match up well with East."
Like many conferences, the Upstate Eight decides its wrestling regular-season champion solely on the basis of its dual meets.
Bayer welcomes back Derek Nutley (182 pounds), Joe Posledni (152) and Mike Dornaski (132) to augment lone returning state qualifier Dylan Uzumecki (220), who has captured 20 of 21 matches this season.
"We've got all of our horses back," Bayer said. "It's the closest thing we have had to a (true) starting lineup since the beginning of the season."
Potter will have returning all-stater Anthony Rubino and Joe Ruffino to anchor his squad tonight in St. Charles.
The Saints bested 13 of 34 teams at the prestigious Dvorak Invitational over the holidays.
The place matches proved to be the Saints' undoing at Loves Park Harlem.
"We lost six or seven in a row," Potter said. "They were well-contested matches. They weren't used to that level of competition. We found the hardest competition we could find. It could have been a different ballgame if we went .500 (in the place matches)."
Fellow River unbeaten Batavia split its six matches at DeKalb over the winter break to finish sixth in the bracketed tournament.
"We have been facing some really good competition," Bayer said of the Bulldogs' 10-10 dual-meet record against a murderous schedule. "Individually, I thought we competed well against those guys (at DeKalb)."
Jacobs update: A red-hot squad in the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division is Jacobs, which is off to an 11-0 start in duals (2-0 league).
Coach Gary Conrad's team took second at the recent Lake Park tournament and was third earlier at Conant. At Lake Park, Jacobs scooped up 12 medals with Dean Lane and Jake Golnick winning titles. Lane was 15-1 at 160 to start the week, while Golnick was 18-2 at 220.
The Golden Eagles also are receiving contributions from Chris Dranka (16-3 at 138), Jack Sabella (18-4 at 145), David Dudych (16-5 at 132), Beau Harrier (14-2 at 113-120), Michael Bujacz (13-1 at 195) and freshman Dominic Tenayuca (15-6 at 113-120).
"After losing a bunch of seniors in the lineup last year we knew we still would be tough, but we actually are wrestling better than last year," said Conrad. "So far we've done very well, but we're still striving to reach that next level."
Larkin update: To start the week, the Royals were 10-7 overall and duals and had a pair of Top 10 tournament finishes to their credit (6th out of 14 at Buffalo Grove and 9th out of 15 at WWS).
Senior Oscar Perez (220) took first at Buffalo Grove, while junior Hugo Barraza (126) was first at WWS and third at Buffalo Grove. Junior Jose Flores (145) was second at Buffalo Grove. Senior Leo Martinez (160) was fourth at WWS. Barraza was tops on the team with an 18-3 record to start the week. Martinez was 16-5, while Perez was 13-2. Hector Perez (170) and Roosevelt Hopkins (152) also each had 13 wins.
Larkin is in search of its first winning record in more than 15 years. Coach Steve Hoyt said two more dual wins will make that a reality.
Elgin update: Two recent standouts for the Maroons have been sophomore Angelo Poland and junior Max Troyke. Poland was 12-5 at 152 pounds to start the week and had strong tournament finishes at Hoffman Estates (2nd) and Wheaton-South (6th) to his credit. He's currently sidelined due to injury. Troyke was 11-8 at 145 and finished seventh at WWS.
"Angelo was on quite a role before injury," said Elgin coach Mark Woollard. "Hopefully we can get him back into the lineup later on this season. Max is really starting to come into his own as well."
Woollard also lauded the progress of 220-pounder Ismael Salazar. "He most impressive has been the emergence of Ismael," he said. "He was a JV wrestler at the beginning of the season. He is a second-year sophomore wrestler who has elevated himself to compete on the varsity level."
Kaneland update: The Knights are ranked fifth among Class 2A programs in the authoritative illinoismatmen.com team rankings.
But second-year coach Joe Orosco urges caution.
"Right now, we are not the fifth-ranked team in the state," Orosco said. "We have too many holes in our lineup. A lot of that is based off last year (Kaneland was a regional champion). I don't put a lot of weight in (the rankings)."
The Knights do, however, have four wrestlers in the Top 10 to guide the program. Senior George Strang is the Knights' highest-ranked wrestler at No. 5 at 152 pounds. Austin Kedzie, Riley Vanik and Colin Gussman come in at Nos. 10, 8 and 7 at 106, 170 and 182 pounds, respectively.
"They have all been tested," Orosco said of his top quartet. "They have all had some tough matches. These are the matches we want for these guys for down the road."
The Knights are hovering around .500 in their dual-meet schedule thus far, but Kaneland has battled several Class 3A programs throughout the western suburbs this winter.
"It wasn't by design," Orosco said of the Knights' dual schedule. "(The 3A programs) are the schools we have traditionally wrestled."
Burlington Central update: The Rockets have received key contributions this season from sophomore Austin Macias (16-0 at 120), senior Adam Mengel (16-2 at 145) and freshman Nick Termini (15-2 at 126).
"After the state tournament last year, Austin has been determined to bring home hardware this year," said Central coach Vince Govea. "He has been working hard and understands what it is going to take in order to be a champion. Adam is a four-year varsity starter who has improved with each match. He realizes this is his last year. All the hard work is paying off. Nick is showing he can compete against great competition. He wrestles with the confidence and determination of an upperclassman."
South Elgin update: Zack Crosby was off to a 20-3 start for the Storm at 182 pounds. Crosby won the Fenton tournament, took second at Hoffman Estates and was fourth at Granite City. "Zach Crosby has been wrestling very tough competition of late," said Storm coach Mark Cameron.
Cameron also lauded Angel Rios, who has dropped down to 120 and is 6-2 since making the switch.
Streamwood update: Senior Sunny You was 17-0 at 132 pounds to start the week. He won the Hoffman Estates tournament. Teammate Charles Crumlett (138) was third at Hoffman. Senior Jeremy Gumila was off to a 15-2 start at 145 for the Sabres (9-5 in duals to start the week).
Jacquez X 3: Isaac Jacquez is the last of his three siblings to compete for West Aurora. The returning all-stater is ranked No. 4 at 120 pounds on matmen.com; he suffered his lone loss - against 20 wins - over the holidays in the championship match at Hinsdale Central.
"Isaac has one goal in mind, and I have one goal in mind for him: a state championship," West Aurora coach Charlie Curran said. "I think he can do it. He is the hardest worker in the room. He is constantly looking to get better. He is analyzing his loss and making sure it doesn't happen again."
Injuries are inescapable in wrestling, and the Blackhawks are looking to regain full strength for a late-season push in the Upstate Eight Valley.
"You have to be pretty darn good to win with 10 guys," Curran said of the Blackhawks' injury woes. "The holiday break time is really tough for the guys to compete. We have our best 14 (starters) ready to go for (the rest of the season)."
Big jump up: St. Charles North junior Kolbe O'Brien (18-1) moved up three weight classes this season to 126 pounds.
The North Stars' three-year standout has dropped but one match - to Rubino in the championship at the season-opening tournament at Conant - this season.
"(O'Brien) has done about as well as you could expect," St. Charles North coach Ben Hummel said. "He has been dominating most of his matches. Most of his wins have come by pin."
Hampshire update: The Whip-Purs have realized successes both as a team and individually this season.
Coach Brian Iozzi's squad was 8-5 overall and 3-1 in Fox Valley Conference Fox Division action (including a first win against Grayslake North). Hampshire also placed second at the Richmond tournament and fourth at Sterling.
On the individual front, senior 152-pounder Wylie Allen became the second wrestler in program history to earn 100 wins for his career. Allen was 18-0 to start the week with tournament wins at Richmond and Sterling.
Other top contributors for the Whips include Josh Bybee (15-1 at 145), Max McGowan (15-2 at 160), Pawel Barnas (14-5 at 285) and Christian Rivero (10-3 at 106).
Huntley update: The Red Raiders flexed their muscles in a pair of tough tournaments to end 2015.
Huntley took 11th out of 34 teams at the acclaimed Dvorak tournament and also placed ninth out of 24 at the Granite City holiday event. The Red Raiders were 14-4 overall and 2-0 in Fox Valley Conference Valley Division action to start the week.
Josh Stenger (120) finished first at Granite City and fourth in the Dvorak, while Dom Swanson was first at Granite City and third at the Dvorak. Zach Spencer placed fifth at Granite City and sixth at Dvorak at 113 pounds. Both Stenger and Swanson were 22-4 to start the week.
"Our Christmas break was not easy competing with state and national-level competition," said Huntley coach B.J. Bertelsman. "Most kids did well in these tournaments."
Cary-Grove update: Cary-Grove has three wrestlers who have gone on recent hot streaks. Sophomore 195-pounder Cadin Koeppel (14-4) has won 13 of his last 15 matches with his only losses to out-of-state competition.
Adam Pinter recorded a pair of recent come-from-behind wins against Conant and Stevenson. He's won 8 of his last 10 with the 2 losses coming to out-of-state foes.
Senior Grant Glueck (14-6 at 152) has 7 wins in his last 11 matches and recently wrestled the second-ranked wrestler in his weight class to a 7-6 match that was lost on a takedown with 30 seconds left.
The Trojans have also received key contributions from senior 160-pounder Michael Gustafson (14-6).
Crystal Lake South update: The Gators had some recent individual successes at the Don Flavin dual tournament. Senior heavyweight Buddy Gabric went 5-1 in the tournament and lost in sudden victory to the No. 7 ranked wrestler in Class 1A. Senior Frank Woods (152) also went 5-1 there. The Gators have been bolstered as well by the efforts of Ethan Weinandy who was 18-5 to start the week.
In addition to his normal wrestling duties, South coach Ross Ryan has been plenty busy with the recent birth of son, Lincoln.