Scouting the state dual team wrestling quarterfinals

Class 3A

Huntley (23-3) vs. Glenbard North (25-4)

Neither team had much of an issue in advancing to the Elite Eight out the Huntley and Oak Park-River Forest sectionals, respectively, on Tuesday. Glenbard North is eager to reclaim its illustrious mantra after falling short of team state the last two years. The dual - at least on paper - could be the most evenly matched of the four quarterfinals. The Panthers and Red Raiders were ranked seventh and eighth, respectively, in the final illinoismatmen.com team rankings. Abe Assad, the Panthers' undefeated (48-0) 170-pound state champion, has bumped up a weight class at virtually every one of the Panthers' most significant duals. Mark Hahn, the Panthers' legendary coach, almost certainly will slot Assad at 182 against Huntley. Quintin Terry is not only the Panthers' other all-state athlete at 220 pounds for Glenbard North; the senior was the DuPage Valley Conference and Glenbard East sectional champion. Neither athlete performed Tuesday due to forfeits. Luke Kohout (152 pounds), who registered a fall against Hoffman Estates in the sectional final, is another staple for Glenbard North. Brothers George and Anthony Marre were also conference champions for the Panthers at 145 and 160. The winner will have an unmistakably stern task in the semifinals in either second-ranked Oak Park-River Forest (25-2) or No. 4 Minooka (24-2).

Marmion (16-11) vs. Montini (21-1)

Two of three Catholic League programs - Providence Catholic is the other - in the Elite Eight, the schools boast a combined 11 state finalists from the individual state tournament in Champaign last weekend. There is an unmistakable element of gamesmanship in high-level duals with respect to creating favorable matchups. Six of the seven Montini finalists - Dylan Ragusin (120), Real Woods (138), Fidel Mayora (145), Jake Stiles (152), Will Lewan (160) and Matt Ortiz (170) - wrestled one weight class higher in the Broncos' 45-15 sectional-final win over Mt. Carmel at Downers South on Tuesday. Peter Christensen, the 195-pound state champion, was the lone exception. Woods, Stiles and Ortiz all won individual state championships as well at the University of Illinois. In addition Montini coach Israel Martinez has three other all-state wrestlers - all of whom finished third - in the fold. Montini handily defeated Marmion in the schools' regular-season league dual meet, but the Cadets are a completely different team with the return of state runners-up Brad Gross and Nathan Jimenez. The Cadets' Trevor Chumbley defeated Mayora for a fourth straight time this season in the 138-pound finals in Champaign. Marmion has a fourth state finalist in freshman 106-pounder Diego Sotelo. But Montini will also benefit from Marmion forfeiting both 220 pounds and heavyweight. "We're starting 12 (points) down right off the bat," Marmion coach Donny Reynolds said after the Cadets defeated Sandburg Tuesday at Downers South. The winner will face either Providence or Barrington in the upper-bracket semifinal.

Class 1A

Vandalia (29-3) vs. IC Catholic Prep (9-12)

Unlike its match against Metro Suburban Conference rival Illiana Christian in the sectional, IC Catholic Prep will not have the benefit of five forfeits Saturday morning. Vandalia, ranked fifth, will present the No. 9 Knights with a challenge. To make matters more difficult, the Knights will have only 12 of the 14 weight classes filled. But in only its sixth year as a program, ICCP has already displayed tremendous growth. Joey Bianchini, the Knights' unsigned senior, is the heart of the program after claiming a second consecutive state championship last weekend. The 138-pounder needed less than a minute to terminate his sectional match. The heart of the Knights' lineup follows as Malachi Morris, Charles O'Brien and Kyle Franklin all had pins against Illiana between 145 and 160 pounds. Joseph Scott is solid for the Knights at 182. But for the Knights to advance in their first foray at the state level, brothers Victor and David Vargas - both of whom have past all-state pedigrees at 195 pounds and heavyweight - must produce in the clutch against Vandalia. Aurora Christian, which produced seven all-state wrestlers last weekend, is the clear favorite after the top-ranked Eagles dispatched No. 2 Lena-Winslow in the sectional final.