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Schaumburg's Lingle on course for state trip

Jack Lingle's third trip to the Class 3A state wrestling tournament return to the state tournament is drawing nearer after the Schaumburg senior dismantled his only opponent Friday evening.

The Saxons' top wrestler needed but 44 seconds to ensure his place in Saturday's semifinal round in Hoffman Estates at the Conant sectional against Alex Posada (34-3) of Glenbard East.

After sitting out the first round with a bye he earned after capturing his regional title at South Elgin last weekend, Lingle (28-7) made quick work of Charles Fialka (St. Charles East) to advance into the 10:30 a.m. semifinals.

"To be honest, I'd rather have not had the bye, but I felt real good out there, and cannot wait for tomorrow to come," said Lingle, who coach Mike Levanti says there are several reasons for his success this season.

"I believe a confluence of things have contributed to Jack's recent improvements," began Levanti. "First, and most importantly, Jack is able to put together his best performances at the most important times.

"The next factor has to do with the people around him, namely Hazen Rice (former three-time state qualifier, and UW-Whitewater star) who works out with Jack when he's back from school."

Levanti adds the work ethic Lingle exhibits is second to none.

Mid-Suburban League rival Filippo DeFrenza (Conant) shares in the high level work ethic of Lingle, but at 152, where the Cougars' senior inches closer to his first state appearance.

The Cougars' captain, and recent MSL and regional champion, beat Leyden junior Ronnie Massari, 9-7, in a hard-fought contest, which was a rematch of the Leyden Invite just after the new year.

"Filippo beat Massari (3-2) in that Leyden final, so you knew both guys would come out swinging - and with (Fillippo) it was all about keeping his emotions under control, and not to get caught up in the moment. He wants to get downstate so bad," said Conant coach Chad Hay.

DeFrenza (32-3) will face George Marre (Glenbard North, 34-6) Saturday morning, while Tyler Bobnick (30-7), a teammate of Lingle, and on the other side of the DeFrenza bracket, takes on No. 5, Joe Chapman (34-7) of Oak Park-River Forest.

Another OP-RF wrestler, No. 4 Nico Bolivar (36-6), needed all he could muster in order to stave off the upset-minded Alex Giuliano (Conant, 29-3) in second round action.

Giuliano, bidding for a third consecutive state appearance, took a 1-0 advantage into the third period, before Bolivar took the lead for good with 30 seconds remaining.

Giuliano will now take his fight into wrestlebacks with the goal to finish in the top four in order to advance.

Massari, Daniel Uribe (132, 33-4) and Ryan Jaffray (220, 28-7) are all there from Leyden, as is regional champion, Joey Gaskill (Elk Grove, 152, 28-8) and Maine West senior Jake Bellizzi (220, 25-6), who just as Giuliano, is in search of a third trip downstate.

The No. 5 rated Bellizzi finds himself in a wickedly superb weight class, which includes the No. 1 (Ramin Abraham), No. 2 DeMarco Lee and No. 6 Sean Kelly.

Bellizzi had Lee under wraps in his quarterfinal until a takedown by Lee (Lake Park) with 10 seconds remaining finished off the Warriors' star for good at 7-4.

Not to be overlooked is Leyden heavyweight Fernado Corona (25-6), who remains in the front draw after two victories on Friday, where he will now face No. 5, Justin Hull (34-4) of St. Charles East.

"His second-rounder wasn't pretty, but he still got the win to move on, and that's what counts the most at this time of the season," said Leyden coach John Kading.

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