Top seeds advance at Conant
All of the top seeds collectively put their best foot forward on opening night of the Class 3A Conant wrestling sectional Friday night inside a jam-packed Perry Gymnasium as fans watched three-plus hours of quality action, setting up a what appears to be a thrilling final day of play Saturday.
This sectional venue is not easy but a handful of wrestlers from the area, with some quality work when needed, have drawn closer to a spot in the state tournament field next weekend.
The Mid-Suburban League did well on Friday night, as did the Central Suburban League, sending a combined eight of their stars into Saturday's semifinals, knowing one victory ensures a trip downstate.
However, it wasn't easy for many of them.
Regional champions Adrian Hansen (132, 30-7) and his Maine South teammate Clay Cichowski (195, 29-7) and Angel Villegas (15-2) from league rival Maine East went through and into the semifinals.
Hansen, who recently collected a CSL crown, will meet No. 10 Peyton Schroeder (32-13) from St. Charles East after stunning Zach Seymour (Willowbrook, 33-12) with a pin at 4:45, after two scoreless periods.
Leyden senior, Ronnie Massari (31-3), a sectional qualifier a year ago with 32 victories, won his first match of the day (11-4) then took a 7-3 advantage into the third period before his pin at 4:30 sent him ahead and against 2019 state qualifier Elijah Lopez (25-4) of South Elgin.
The home crowd would celebrate a second-round victory from Jack Hominac (29-5), who outlasted Ben Uribe (26-11) from Leyden to advance.
"People say a first-round bye is good but I would have rathered wrestled early, get the nerves out of the way and that burn out of my lungs instead of just waiting and watching," said the Conant junior following his 5-4 triumph.
MSL, and regional champion, Grant Hansen (Schaumburg, 30-9) needed just 44 seconds to advance, while his teammate Franco Fontela (9-4) stayed alive as well at 220.
"Grant took care of business, and (Franco) did well to beat a big, strong and tall opponent (Chad Richards, Batavia, 23-9) to earn himself an important win today," said Schaumburg coach Mike Levanti.
"Franco took advantage of an early lead in order to get to his offense, and he kept up the pressure all throughout and I felt like his work rate might have tired (Richards) late in the match."
Elk Grove junior Tuvshin Zuunbayan (126, 26-2) will face 2018 state qualifier Jake Penzato (St. Charles East, 24-6) after his 7-4 decision over Nolan Allen (27-12) from Glenbard North.
" (Tuvshin) was looking past (Allen) and at his next opponent (Penzato) who he faced at the frosh-soph state tournament last year, but this match was a good test for him," said Elk Grove coach Dan Vargas.
Finals are set to begin at 2:45 p.m. with the top four at each weight class advancing into the state tournament next week in Champaign.