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Dual-team sectional scouting, Northwest

Wrestling: Scouting the dual-team sectionals

at HuntleyWhen: 6 p.m. Tuesday

Prospect (20-5-0) vs. Huntley (22-3-0)

Next: winner advances to The Class 3A dual-team state tournament quarterfinals Saturday morning to face either Glenbard North or Prospect at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

Mat chat: The No. 8-rated Red Raiders have had their finest season ever and feature a deep and talented starting lineup led by seven individual state qualifiers and two state medal-winners, Sammy and Zach Spencer. Huntley will be a tough opponent before an always raucous crowd.

The MSL champion Knights are a well-coached, gritty bunch who will fight for every bonus point that's out there, beginning with Andrew Baysingar (126) and Ryan Vedner (170), two of the very best for coach Tom Whalen.

Barrington (24-3-0) vs. Libertyville (14-6-0)

Next: winner advances into the Class 3A dual-team quarterfinals at 11 a.m. Saturday to face either Provdince Catholic or Edwardsville at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

Mat chat: The Broncos' fans enjoyed a big weekend celebration after watching Markus Hartman win his 152-pound state title last weekend. The West Point-bound four-year star is far from the the only weapon in the Barrington arsenal. The Broncos will also bring to bear state medal-winners Jarrit Shinhoster and Jake Meyer plus three more individual state qualifiers.

Libertyville has one of the top head coaches in the state in Dale Eggert. He leads a fine club which features third-place medal-winner Danny Pucino, along with Michael Gunther and Northwestern-bound football standout Charlie Schmidt.

at Oak Park-River ForestWhen: 6 p.m. Tuesday

Conant (17-3-0) vs. Glenbard North (25-4-0)

Next: The winner advances into 3A dual-team quarterfinals at 9 a.m. Saturday to meet either Prospect or Huntley at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

Mat chat: The Cougars had a rough go of it in Champaign last weekend, with all three qualifiers bowing out early in the tournament. Chad Hay and his staff will lean on his three state qualifiers - Alex Giuliano, Nicky Amato and Cormac Kane - as well as the seven others who advanced to sectionals to fight off the challenge of long-time DVC power Glenbard North.

Glenbard North is led by 170-pound state champion Abe Assad (47-0) and five other state qualifiers, all of whom either won 40 times this year or came darned close. The Panthers' recent regional title was their 17th in the last 18 seasons.

Oak Park-River Forest (24-2-0) vs. Maine South (19-2-0)

Next: The winner advances into the Class 3A dual-team quarterfinals at 9 a.m. Friday against either Minooka or Lockport at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

Mat chat: The Huskies had their lowest medal count in several years last weekend at the individual state tournament, but don't confuse that with meaning this team is at a talent deficit. OPRF is ranked No. 2 in the state under coach Paul Collins and is led by state champ Jake Rundell (106) and 132-pound state runner-up Eddie Bolivar.

Maine South won its first regional crown ever, thanks in part to five regional champs, 12 sectional qualifiers and junior John Halvorsen (35-3), whose third-place medal last weekend was the first for the Hawks since 2014.

- Mike Garofola

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