Scouting Tuesday's team dual wrestling sectionals
Class 3A at Downers Grove South: Montini (20-1) vs. Mt. Carmel (14-1)
Montini, the consensus top-ranked team in Class 3A, will seek to extend its state records for most appearances (20) and titles (13) in history. The Broncos handed the third-ranked Caravan its only loss of the season in decisive fashion (53-12) in the schools' Catholic League regular-season encounter. Montini has won all of its state championships since the turn of the century, but the 2008 Class AA titlist marked the lone largest-school division title the Broncos have secured. But Montini will be a prohibitive favorite behind a quartet of individual state champions and three runners-up from the individual state meet last weekend in Champaign. Real Woods became the only three-time champion in any class with his triumph at 132 pounds for Montini. Matt Ortiz and Peter Christensen both duplicated their Hinsdale Central sectional finals rematches at 160 and 195 pounds, respectively, for the Broncos. But the central individual storyline of the dual meet will almost certainly be the potential sixth match this season between Jake Stiles and Kendall Coleman at 145 pounds. Stiles' 4-3 victory in the championship match Saturday gave the Broncos' junior a 3-2 season series edge. Dylan Ragusin (113 pounds), Fidel Mayora (138) and Will Lewan (152) were the Broncos' three other finalists in Champaign. Montini dropped the state-championship dual match to Lockport last year in Bloomington. The winner earns either Marmion or Sandburg in the Elite Eight on Saturday.
Class 3A at Oak Park-River Forest: Glenbard North (24-4) vs. Conant (17-3)
Twenty-first century largest-division local programs have the Panthers' template to follow for state excellence. Seven years removed from its only state title, Glenbard North has 10 other top-four trophies in program history. But the Panthers have been conspicuously absent from the Elite Eight the last two years. St. Charles East ended the Panthers' 16-year regional championship run last season. Glenbard North, though, will have a chance for redemption against Conant after being stunned by the Cougars in the Sweet Sixteen two years ago. Veteran coach Mark Hahn will have six state qualifiers, none more lethal than 170-pounder Abe Assad. The Panthers' junior is unbeaten after 47 matches after handling Marmion two-time state finalist Nathan Jimenez over the weekend. Quintin Terry was the Panthers' other all-state athlete with his sixth-place finish at 220 pounds. Juan Rivera (138 pounds), George Marre (145), Anthony Marre (160) and Anthony Pennington (182) not only competed in Champaign but also were instrumental to the No. 7 Panthers' sweep of the DuPage Valley Conference and Glenbard East regional championships. The victor advances to Bloomington for a quarterfinal against the Huntley-Prospect champion.
Class 2A at Fenton: Antioch (17-9) vs. Fenton (23-4)
The Bison captured their third consecutive regional championship at Fenwick behind champions Dylan Butts (182 pounds), David Burch (120), Anthony Park (170) and heavyweight Isaiah Brock. In becoming the lone Fenton state qualifier for a second straight season, Butts finished fourth at the University of Illinois on Saturday. Fenton made its only appearance in the state finals seven years ago. The Metro Suburban Conference champion Bison have a formidable opponent in Antioch. "They're really solid throughout most of their lineup," Fenton coach Brian Hastings said of his adversary. "They have about 12 guys with 25 or more wins." The Bison could very well meet Hinsdale South in the state quarterfinals on Saturday with a victory at home in Bensenville. But the Hornets will unquestionably be the underdogs against Catholic League member and state-ranked St. Rita at the Lemont team sectional.
Class 1A at IC Catholic Prep: Illiana Christian (9-11) vs. ICCP (8-12)
The Knights' dual-meet record is truly deceiving due to a shortage of athletes in the program precipitated by a state-championship football run. "We had only four people in the lineup for our first two quads," ICCP coach Kevin Sliva said. But the Knights not only have an advantage of wrestling in Elmhurst; ICCP defeated its opponent in the teams' Metro Suburban Conference regular-season match by 6 points. In addition Joey Bianchini won his second straight state championship for the Knights in Champaign with a 6-3 win over Chicago Leo senior James Foy in the 138-pound finals. David Vargas was fifth for the Knights in the heavyweight division. Vargas' brother, Victor, is also a past all-stater for ICCP. The Knights will have 12 combatants on Tuesday evening. "We expect (Illiana) to have as many guys as we do," Sliva said. Vandalia or Murphysboro awaits the winner on Saturday.