Can someone end Glenbard North's DVC streak?

Twenty-first century history knows of no other DuPage Valley Conference wrestling champion other than Glenbard North.

The Panthers have captured 17 consecutive league championships.

There are certain unique aspects to the DVC when it comes to wrestling.

"In the Upstate Eight the conference championship is based solely on the dual meets," Metea Valley coach Claudio Torres said. "We're only 9 points (down) going into the conference tournament. Anyone can win the conference championship. I like it."

For example, the West Suburban Conference's two divisions do not even have league championships.

"Not only do I not know of any other conferences that does it that way, but you have (Glenbard North coach) Mark Hahn to thank," Naperville North coach Tom Champion said.

Glenbard North will host the DVC tournament Saturday.

The Panthers will undeniably be tested in their quest for yet another conference championship.

"I think if Wheaton North gets all their ducks in a row, they can win the DVC," Champion said.

Glenbard North swept the nine-school league during the regular season's dual meets, but the Panthers have more than one school vying to end their historic streak.

Travis Cherry was a standout wrestler for the Panthers in the early 2000s. Now he coaches Wheaton North.

"Back in the day, it was pretty special (to wrestle at Glenbard North)," Cherry said. "That was always our goal: to win the conference championship. And then go to the regional and sectional."

Glenbard North and Wheaton North enter the conference tournament in the first two slots. Naperville Central is third, followed by Naperville North and Metea Valley.

"It's going to take a 14-man effort," Cherry said.

Naperville North and Naperville Central also have designs on the title. The Huskies came within a point of ending the Panthers' 18-year unbeaten streak in conference duals.

"It was one of those meets where you don't know how well you are doing until it's almost over," Champion said.

There are no fewer than 16 top-10 ranked wrestlers at their respective weight classes who will clash in Carol Stream.

"One-hundred and ninety-five is the toughest bracket," Torres said. "There are three of the top six or seven wrestlers there."

Torres' Dylan Ervin is the second-ranked combatant in the state among Class 3A 195-pounders.

The Metea Valley senior handed sister school Waubonsie Valley competitor Max Ihry his lone loss of the season during the programs' dual meet.

The Northern Illinois-bound Ihry is ranked No. 4 by the authoritative website illinoismatmen.com.

But Wheaton Warrenville South junior Andrew Leonard is also in the mix for the league title at 195 pounds.

Devin Donovan, Tom Czernek and Cam Hayes are all state ranked at 160 pounds for Wheaton North, Glenbard North and Naperville Central, respectively.

Austin Gomez is a central figure at the tournament as the Glenbard North junior is not only the No. 1-ranked 126-pounder in the state but also a defending state champion.

Top notch:

It is beyond fitting that Israel Martinez is the coach of the Montini wrestling program. No other high school in the state has more wrestling state championships.

In his very first match as a West Aurora freshman, Martinez was disqualified for an illegal slam.

He never lost another high school match again in winning three consecutive state championships.

No other school has captured a Class 2A championship since the sport went to three classes in 2008.

The Broncos have been elevated to Class 3A this year due to IHSA-directed sustained success policy.

Montini is still particularly potent in the lower weights.

Real Woods is among the top wrestlers in the nation at 113 pounds; he has won titles that could only be described as the triple crown of invitational championships.

The sophomore and Wheaton resident has won at Dvorak, the Ironman and Cheesehead invitationals. Woods, a defending Class 2A champion, has yet to lose this year.

"(Woods) has got the mentality of a champion," Martinez said. "He finds a way to win. He's very mature for his age."

The Broncos finished third in their maiden appearance at the Chicago Catholic League Conference tournament last weekend.

University of Illinois-bound two-time defending state champion Dylan Duncan and equally highly regarded Joey Melendez won titles for the Broncos at the conference tournament.

"Conference isn't state," Martinez said. "We have one goal and that is to perform at the state meet."

Martinez only wonders what his team would like if he had certain members of the Broncos' state-championship football team on his roster.

Three upper-level weight athletes elected not to go out for wrestling.

"If we had the kids walking the hallways on the wrestling team, we would have the best team in the state," Martinez said.

A record-breaking season:

The Glenbard West program is in the midst of a historic year.

"We broke the school record for most (dual-meet) wins," Glenbard West coach Nick Posegay said. "We are 27-2."

The Hilltoppers will travel to LaGrange on Friday in an attempt to win the West Suburban Silver championship against Lyons Twp.

Glenbard West defeated two-time defending Class 3A champion Oak Park-River Forest to earn a bid at the title.

"It isn't as great as it sounds," Posegay said. "(Oak Park) went to an out-of-state tournament. They were wrestling JV kids. We beat the team they put out on the mat."

Lyons Twp. is considered one of the best Class 3A teams in the state.

But the victory goes far from distracting from the Hilltoppers' season.

"We have 10 kids with 20 or more victories," Posegay said. "It's definitely the best team I have ever had. Senior leadership is the key. When you have 10 seniors in your lineup, good things happen."

Charlie Faber is the Hilltoppers' leader; the junior 113-pounder has won 32 matches against a lone defeat.

Mike Lawson, Jack Vesevick and Matt Shoub have also eclipsed 30 wins for the Hilltoppers this season.

To top off the Hilltoppers' lineup, state-ranked heavyweight Darien Kaufmann is 28-4.