Wrestling regional scouting / Lake County
Wrestling
Class 3A Deerfield individual regional
When: Saturday 9 a.m., semifinals 11 a.m., first and third-place matches 3 p.m.
Advancement: first-place team advances to team sectional Feb. 23 (site TBA); top three individuals in each weight class advance to Barrington individual sectional (Feb. 12-13)
Teams: Stevenson, Warren, Libertyville, Mundelein, Deerfield, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Waukegan, Zion-Benton
Top area competitors:
106 - Alex Mitchell (Lib), Dane Durlacher (Mund), Tommy Frezza (Stev)
113 - J.T. VanderVere (Warr), Will Bertaud (Lib)
120 - Drew Onufer (Lib), Alec Nolan (Stev)
126 - Brandon Zisman (Stev)
132 - Eric Carter (Stev)
138 - Grant Zamin (Warr), Ben Ponto (Stev)
145 - Will Johnson (Lib)
152 - Dylan Geick (Stev), Jack Damenti (Lib), Nick Burke (Warr)
160 - Robert Pavlovics (Stev), Kamil Olechno (Mund), Brian Vickers (Lib), Chris Love (Warr)
170 - Nikita Nepomnyashchiy (Stev), Andrew Demos (Warr)
182 - Michael Kordek (Stev), Brandon Escamilla (Warr)
195 - Zach Khoury (Warr), Max Gomez (Stev)
220 - Cesar Obispo (Mund), Mike Beck (Lib), Jared Pompilus (Warr)
285 - Sergio Sosa (Warr), Nick Grujanac (Stev), Charlie Schmidt (Lib)
Outlook: After winning its second straight North Suburban Conference title last weekend, No. 6-ranked Stevenson is hoping to turn the tables on No. 7-ranked Deerfield, as the Warriors won the regional crown in the Patriots' gymnasium last year. Stevenson had contributions up and down its deep lineup at the conference meet, and the Pats will need much of the same if it hopes to come away with a regional crown in Deerfield's home territory. The Patriots edged the Warriors in a dual meet this season, but the tournament format could produce a different outcome. "We know we're going to see several of the same teams (as conference) as well as a highly competitive Deerfield team," said Stevenson coach Shane Cook, whose team is aiming for the second regional crown in school history dating back to 2008. "We prepare the entire season for the regional so we know that it will be the greatest challenge of our season before sectionals and state." Carter is hoping to take the first step in his quest for a second straight berth to the state meet Feb. 18-20 in Champaign while numerous wrestlers from this sectional should ultimately reach the Assembly Hall in two weeks.
Class 3 McHenry individual regional
When: Saturday 9 a.m., semifinals 11 a.m., first and third-place matches 2 p.m.
Advancement: first-place team advances to team sectional Feb. 23 (site TBA); top three individuals in each weight class advance to Barrington individual sectional (Feb. 12-13)
Teams: Grant, Lake Zurich, Grayslake North, Lake Zurich, Round Lake, Barrington, Dundee-Crown, Cary-Grove, Crystal Lake South, McHenry
Top area competitors:
106 - Juan Arteaga (RL)
113 - Spencer Welter (Grt), Joe Arroyo (GN)
120 - Alec Riportella (Mund), Adam Nixon (Grt), Maxx Wayne (LZ), Tyvone Barfield (RL)
126 - Ben Baca (LZ), Blake Wilshire (GN)
132 - Christian Kanzler (Grt), Nick Swanson (LZ)
138 - Dylan Mannes (Grt), Sergei Wawrzyniak (RL), Joey Stutzman (LZ)
145 - Cole Berg (Grt), Jake Wright (GN), Derrick Juarez (LZ)
152 - Kobe Lear (Grt)
160 - Justin Gilich (Grt), Alex Moran (GN)
170 - Jacob Melton (Grt), Pete Baldaccini (LZ)
182 - Kyle Fleming (LZ)
195 - Christian Brunner (D-C)
220 - Josh Dyer (LZ), Justin Bock (GN)
285 - Eric Brown (LZ), Robbie Avilez (Grt)
Outlook: After finishing second to powerhouse Stevenson at the NSC meet, Grant hopes to contend for the regional title against a Barrington team that finished 11 points ahead of the Bulldogs in the opening tournament of the 2015-16 season. Grant posted a four-point win over the Broncos in an early-season dual meet in Fox Lake. Kanzler (32-2) has put together a great senior season en route to what should be his third appearance in the state meet two weeks from now. Many of Kanzler's teammates could be joining him downstate. This season marks the first time in school history that Grayslake North is competing in the Class 3A tourney. After taking first place at the FVC meet last as a No. 4 seed, Wright looks like he is ready to make a push for back-to-back trips to the state meet this winter, while teammate Arroyo is hoping to accomplish the same task.
Class 2A Antioch individual regional
When: Saturday 10 a.m., semifinals noon, first and third-place matches 3:30 p.m.
Advancement: first-place team advances to Fenton team sectional Feb. 23; top three individuals in each weight class advance to Antioch individual sectional (Feb. 12-13)
Teams: Antioch, Carmel, St. Viator, Wauconda, Vernon Hills, Lakes, Grayslake Central, North Chicago
Top area competitors:
106 - Riley Palm (Carm), Nick Tarnowski (GC), Evan Husko (Wauc)
113 - Jake Gross (Ant), Justin Mitchell (Wauc), Anthony Schaer (Carm)
120 - Austin Connelly (GC), Joe DeBartolo (StV)
126 - Mike Tortorice (Carm), Nathan Dlugopolski (Ant), Jose Munoz (Wauc)
132 - Kenny Barber (Carm), Joe Tarnowski (GC), Angel Tino (VH)
138 - Bobby Pryhocki (Carm), Alex Cramer (GC)
145 - Larry Augustine (GC), Jeremiah Reyes (Ant), Jeff Echeverria (VH)
152 - Patrick Schoenfelder (Ant), Xavian Girona (Lakes), Elijah Black (StV)
160 - Nathaniel Morris (Carm)
170 - Jared Smith (Lakes)
182 - Tyler Stankiewicz (Wauc), Max Hill (Lakes), Joe McIntyre (StV)
195 - George Bessette (Ant), Connor Wood (VH), Marshall Rice (Lakes)
220 - Jake Conour (Wauc)
285 - James Valentino (StV), Xavier Sanchez (Ant)
Outlook: After a solid fourth-place showing with a meet-high four champions in the powerful NSC meet last weekend, the host Sequoits are hoping to capture another crown in what was a closely contested regional last year.
Antioch has a lot of star-power in its lineup with Schoenfelder, Bessette and Dlugopolski all bringing home medals from the state meet last year. Carmel will counter with undefeated standout Morris (33-0) leading the way. Tortorice placed third in the state as a junior. Barber is a two-time state qualifier coming off injury for the Corsairs, who will have to overcome a lack of depth if they hope to make a push for the team title. Lakes has also been hampered by injuries throughout the season as Smith placed fifth downstate as a junior. Gross should be another huge key for Antioch with state-meet experience under his belt, while Hill reached state for Lakes last year. No. 2-ranked Schoenfelder and No. 4-ranked Bessette are both two-time state qualifiers. The Sequoits hope to earn their fifth berth to the team sectional in seven years.
- John Bumbales