Scouting DuPage County wrestling
Top teams: Montini, Glenbard North, Naperville Central, Addison Trail, Downers Grove South, Wheaton North, Glenbard West, Neuqua Valley, Waubonsie Valley.
Top athletes: Hector Andries, Glenbard South, sr., 113; John Andrwejewski, St. Francis, jr., 145 John Asiuras, Addison Trail, jr., 126; Daniel Aviles, Hinsdale Central, jr., 170; Pierre Baldwin, West Chicago, so., 106; Logan Balosky, Wheaton North, jr., 132; Drew Bielawski, Downers North, jr., 195; Hunter Bogwill, Glenbard West, jr., 106; Bryce Boumans, Neuqua Valley, jr., 138; Elijah Brockie, Willowbrook, jr., 220; Cosmo Champion, Naperville North, sr., 132; Oscar Choi, Hinsdale South, so., 106; Eduardo Cholula, West Chicago, sr., 126; Patrick Curran, Glenbard North, jr., 120; Evan DeMari, Naperville North, sr., 113; Michael D'Orazio, St. Francis, jr., 152; Josh Dorr, WW South, jr., 138; Philip Dozier, Glenbard West, soph., 195; Tyler Driessens, Naperville Central, sr., 120; Angelo Eklou, Naperville Central, sr., 220; Emiliano Garcia, Glenbard East, sr., 152; Miguel Garcia, Glenbard East, sr., 113; Nick Gonzalez, Montini, jr., 113; Ryan Hannah, West Chicago, jr., 285; Glenn Hogan, Hinsdale South, jr., 170; Andrew Janiec, WW South, sr., 145; David Kapicka, Willowbrook, jr., 145; Jack Kelly, Lisle, sr., 152; Nolan Lebreck, Neuqua Valley, jr., 195; Nick Lemp, Wheaton North, sr., 138; Nathan Love, Wheaton North, sr., 182; Jakub Maciorowski, Glenbard West, sr., 195; Robert Major, Downers South, jr., 152; Reese Martin, Neuqua Valley, sr., Jake Matthews, Addison Trail, jr., 145; Fidel Mayora, Montini, sr., 152; Aidan McGivney, Hinsdale South, jr., 126; Charlie Millington, Waubonsie Valley, sr., 220; Jadon Mims, IC Catholic Prep, so., 220; Brandon Navarro, IC Catholic Prep, so., 160; Jimmy Nugent, Downers South, so., 113; Isaac Padilla, West Chicago, sr., 132; Nathan Pappas, Waubonsie Valley, so., 182; Andrew Perez, Hinsdale Central, jr., 126; John Peterson, Willowbrook, sr., 195; Doug Pham, Glenbard East, sr., 170; Calvin Piemonte, St. Francis, jr., 132; Tommy Porter, Naperville Central, so., 113; John Quinto, Fenton, jr., 113; Dylan Ragusin, Montini, sr., 132; Daniel Ramirez, Fenton, sr., 152; Josh Reems, Downers North, sr., 285; Nicholas Renteria, IC Catholic Prep, so., 126; Brandan Richardson, Downers South, sr., 195; Chris Robinson, Hinsdale Central, jr., 220; Miguel Rodriguez, West Chicago, sr., 220; Victor Rodriguez, Lake Park, sr, 182; Brad Rosen, Downers North, sr., 126; Devion Sanderson, Lisle, sr., 113; Ronan Schuelke, Glenbard North, sr., 113; Keegan Serdick, Wheaton North, sr., 170; Zach Seymore, Willowbrook, sr., 132; Xavier Sierra, Addison Trail, sr., 182; Ryan Silva, Naperville Central, sr., 152; Derrick Singleton, Hinsdale South, sr., 120; Nick Skamra, Addison Trail, sr., 170; Brennan Skoda, Glenbard West, so., 145; Gio Spatafora, Neuqua Valley, jr., 113; Trevor Swier, Montini, sr., 182; Antonio Torres, Waubonsie Valley, so., 170; Dane Tsao, Naperville North, jr., 195; Nain Vasquez, Montini, jr., 120; Mike Walker, Lisle, jr., 195; Aidan Waszak, WW South, jr., 132; Paul Woo, Glenbard North, so., 106; Caleb Yu, Naperville North, jr., 170.
Scouting report: Advancing to the individual state tournament for a segment of local Class 3A programs is an admirable achievement. The sectionals are just that tough. "I fell short (at Bolingbrook last February)," Downers South ranked senior Robert Major said. "I am not going to let that happen again. I would like to win state this year. I have been working very hard for it."
Montini enters the season with all-staters in half its projected lineup. Dylan Ragusin is the Broncos' lone returning state champion back. Ragusin will move up a weight to 132 pounds. Nick Gonalez and Fidel Mayora are coming off state runner-up finishes for the Broncos. Glenbard North is also poised to remain one of the true state powerhouses. The Panthers' Ronan Schuelke is forecast to be the team anchor as the all-state senior moves to 113 pounds this winter. Naperville Central, the defending DuPage Valley Conference champion, suffered a major loss when Leo Keating was sidelined by a season-ending injury. But the Redhawks, even with significant graduation losses, are expected to be a force behind Tommy Porter, Tyler Driessens, Ryan Silva and Angelo Eklou.
The West Suburban Gold figures to be a season-long barnburner between ranked contenders Downers South and Addison Trail. "We're pretty optimistic," Downers South coach Sean Lovelace said. "We return a (nucleus of) guys with substantial varsity experience." Ranked senior and returning state qualifier Jake Matthews is the Blazers' most accomplished athlete. "Last year we had two guys downstate," first-year Addison Trail coach Mike Rosengrant said. "This year I think we can double that. I would like to see us compete for a conference championship."
Glenbard West, Downers North and Hinsdale Central are seeking to derail the Oak Park's bid for another WSC Silver title. "Last year I had the youngest team I have ever put on the mat," Glenbard West coach Nick Posegay said. "(This season) will definitely be an improvement. We don't have any holes." Jakob Maciorowski and Philip Dozier power the Hilltoppers. "We're going to be nipping at Oak Park's heels this year or next," said Downers North coach Chris McGrath, who will rely on Brad Rosen, Drew Bielawski and Josh Reems. York has one of the top heavyweights in Class 3A in senior Josh Mathiasen.
In the DuKane Conference, Wheaton North looks to narrow the margin against Glenbard North and St. Charles East. "I think from 132 (pounds) to 220, we should be pretty strong," first-year Wheaton North coach Kevin Formanski said. "From what I am hearing it should be a great race between us and Glenbard North." Victor Rodriguez bears watching for Lake Park at 182 pounds.
Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley round out the preseason top 10. Neuqua Valley has two returning state qualifiers in Bryce Boumans and Glenbard East transfer Reese Martin at 138 and 126. Charlie Millington made the state cut for Waubonsie Valley as a heavyweight last February, but the Warriors' senior is more inclined to compete at 220 this season.
Even with the loss of Martin, Glenbard East coach Kevin Carlson thinks the Rams are the team to beat in the Upstate Eight behind senior cousins Miguel and Emiliano Garcia at 113 and 152. The Rams have 109 kids in the program, Carlson said. Fenton and Glenbard South are the only Class 2A schools in the 10-team league. "I think it will be really good competition," Fenton coach Brian Hastings said of the Bison replacing defending champion West Aurora. "(Daniel Ramirez and Jeremy Piskorz) are by far our best wrestlers." IC Catholic Prep and St.; Francis will be in Class 1A. "We have a lot of kids who want to be (Metro Suburban Conference) champions," ICCP coach Kevin Sliva said. One-hundred-fifty-two pounder Michael D'Orazio is St. Francis' keepsake.
- Kevin McGavin