Boys wrestling: Glenbard West just misses Whitlach title
Glenbard West kept Class 2A powers Lemont and Joliet Catholic Academy at arm's length all day long in Hinsdale at the 55th annual Rex Whitlach Invitational, until the very end when the Hilltoppers' valiant effort fell just short.
Lemont would lift the championship trophy over coach Nick Posegay's Glenbard West club, 197-195. Joliet Catholic Academy finished with 192 points. Stevenson (177) and Geneseo (161) would round out a highly competitive top five teams.
"We obviously would have liked to hang on to win this tournament but it's the best finish that I can remember for a (West) team - and we did it with a great overall effort from everyone," said Posegay, whose team placed three in the finals, but celebrated just one first-place medal in Philip Dozier, the No. 1 rated 195-pounder, who held off Barrington senior Zach Meyer with a 12-9 decision.
"It was nice to win but my goal is to give coach a state champion in the year he is retiring," said Dozier, now 16-0 on the season.
Joliet Catholic Academy, the No. 1 Class 2A team in the state, after watching No. 1 ranked Gylon Sims (12-2) get upset in his 113-pound final against Zachary Montez of Geneseo 6-4, would later cheer title runs from Mason Alessio (145, 13-1) and No. 1 ranked Dillon Johnson (9-0) who dominated the field at 285.
"I am very proud of the effort from Mason to win his first-ever varsity championship at such a prestigious tournament. As for Dillon, he just keeps getting better and better each time out," said JCA coach Ryan Cumbee.
Stevenson would join Geneseo with a pair of champions on the day - Lorenzo Frezza (18-1) at 126, and teammate Cole Rhemrev, who is now perfect on the season at 18-0 following his impressive run through his four opponents at 138.
"We have been improving as a team with each week and we're proving to be a very good tournament team at the same time," said Rhemrev.
West Aurora senior Moses Quintana (17-5) would shine at 152 to claim the top prize in his weight class, while Downers Grove North senior, and two-time state qualifier Ben Bieloski (14-0) earned his first-place medal after holding off Barrington's Ayden Salley 16-9 in his 182-pound final.
"Ben is just a great kid, and one whose focus is getting back downstate and coming back with a medal," said DGN coach Chris McGrath.
Hinsdale Central's dynamic duo of Cody Tavoso (132, 4-0) and Marko Ivanisevic (220, 16-0) would thrill the home crowd with their impressive individual performances inside the famed home gym of the Red Devils.
"Winning here at home is really an amazing feeling," said Tavoso, a two-time state medal winner.
Nick Mabutas (15-2) won at the Mickey Marchese last weekend in Hoffman Estates, but the Willowbrook senior was unable to make it two in a row when Lemont senior Alex Tagler dashed his hopes with a 7-1 decision at 170 pounds.