Vandervere, Cramer on track for state titles
CHAMPAIGN - For the third consecutive week of the postseason, both Joel Vandervere of Warren and Adrien Cramer of Grayslake Central have demolished the competition.
Friday night they continued their mastery of their respective weight divisions to remain on course for a state title, which both will compete for Saturday night here at State Farm Center.
Vandervere (138 pounds, 32-1) recorded his third lopsided victory Friday night over Jacob Tinajero (Marmion Academy) to reach his second consecutive Class 3A final, while Cramer (38-1) mashed another opponent en route to his first trip into the Grand March and the 182-pound final.
Making the night even better for Grayslake Central is the advancement of Joey Jens (40-6) into the Class 2A 170-pound final after his thrilling overtime victory over his longtime friend Kurtis Smith (Lakes, 40-9) in the fifth meeting of the year between these two rivals.
"It's been all about getting back into the finals this year after falling short last year and this time around I plan on making good on my chances (Saturday) night," said Vandervere, who lost in overtime to Dylan Ragusin of Montini Catholic last year.
Cramer, who hopes to erase the disappointment of his third-place medal last year looked sharp as he got off to a perfect start in his semifinal, which ended when he pinned Matthew Chavers of Freeport at 5:59.
"It feels great right now to have a chance to compete for a state title and even better knowing my workout partner and friend (Jens) will be in the finals (Saturday) night as well," said Cramer, who will face Alex Knauf (42-4) of Aurora Christian.
Jens figures the extra work in and out of the room, particularly in his conditioning, has been the difference when it really counts late in the match.
"I work out 3-4 times a day sometimes doing pushups in my math class," joked Jens. "That and being in the room with Cramer and having a great coaching staff is the reason I'll be in the state final."
Next up for the Central junior will be No. 1 Dylan Connell (Marian Central Catholic, 43-0) who will be after his third straight state title in as many years.
No. 1 E'lan Heard (Libertyville, 28-2) looked to be on course to be in the Grand March himself after a terrific lead up to his first state tournament after moving here from Ohio during the offseason.
Unfortunately for the Illinois-bound Heard, No. 3 Joe Roberts from state power Montini Catholic had other ideas of his own.
The senior, who came over from Yorkville where he starred for three seasons, came back from a 4-1 first-period deficit to take the lead for good one minute into the third period before shutting down any attempts from Heard to get back even.
"E'lan is a great talent, who is so dangerous when he's attacking, but I felt like I defended his shots really well, and finished mine when they were there," said Roberts, now 38-5.
Antioch junior, No. 4 Niall Schoenfelder (41-4), fell just short of the final at 195 when he dropped a 6-0 decision to No. 3 Robby Bates (37-1) of Morris, while his freshman teammate at 106, Caleb Nobling (40-5) ran straight into No. 1 Kannon Webster (Washington, 45-0) who appears to be on his way to a state title.
Both Schoenfelder and Nobling will chase a state medal Saturday morning when wrestleback action begins.
Caelan Riley (106, 41-6) continues to make his first trip here a memorable after his pin just moments before the second period ended to draw the Libertyville sophomore one victory away from playing for a state medal.
Warren junior Isaiah Parker (31-12) remains alive following his 6-5 decision and now will face McHenry sophomore, Brody Hallin (41-6), who would defeat Parker in last week's sectional semifinal at Barrington.
Seniors Ethan Geist (Grant, 34-8) and Joey Mrazek (Lake Zurich, 41-6), who dominated the Lake County area at 182 pounds all season long, each advanced into quarterfinal wrestlebacks.
A third period escape was enough for Geist to earn his 120th career victory to move on, while Mrazek bounced back from an early loss on Friday to advance.
"The guy who beat me (No. 1 Trevor Swier, Montini Catholic) was just better than me but my coaches told me to settle back in and to stay away from that emotional roller coaster in order to get myself ready for wrestlebacks," said Mrazek, who would pin his next opponent.
Lake County, and regional champion Antioch would bounce back from an off day on Thursday to send five of its own into the quarterfinal round of wrestlebacks.
Anthony Steib (113, 35-11), Alex Barbarise (120, 42-3), Danny McPherson (132, 36-7) and Elijah Reyes (29-5) at 138 still remain alive for a state medal, which for Barbarise and McPherson would be their third, which would tie them with two other former Sequoits, George Bessette, and Patrick Schoenfelder.
Jake Jozwiak (Grayslake North, 126, 31-7) will join his Lake County rivals in the quarterfinals, and is now on course to pick up the first state medal for North since Joe Arroyo won it all in 2017 and his teammate, Alex Moran, claimed a fifth-place medal.
The final day of competition begins at 8:30 a.m. with quarterfinal wrestlebacks, followed immediately by semifinals in advance of the third and fifth place matches at 1 p.m.
The always entertaining and highly anticipated Grand March will begin at 5:30 p.m., setting the stage for the 6 p.m. championship matches in all three classes.