Glenbard West's 7 champs lead Hilltoppers to regional title

Within 55 seconds in the first period, Philip Dozier emerged from the mat with his arms outstretched open wide.

The Glenbard West senior, top-ranked by the IWCOA at 195 pounds, pinned Glenbard North's Brian Petrancosta for the Class 3A Wheaton North regional title on Saturday.

Walking off the mat, Dozier asked some teammates: "Are you not entertained?", verbatim to the famous Russell Crowe line in the movie, "Gladiator."

Dozier, however, was quick to assure afterward that the line is a nod toward his buddies.

"Actually, when I go into a match, I'm not like that at all," Dozier explained. "I go in to wrestle smart."

Dozier then referenced a collegiate match he recently watched between Nebraska and Michigan. A higher seeded individual upset the lower seed.

"As my Mom always tells me: 'Any given day, anybody can be beat," Dozier said. "I just do that to my friends. I joke around. They're like brothers to me."

"But, that's something I don't [normally] do," Dozier continued. "That's not representing [Glenbard West coach Nick] Posegay. That's my fault."

Dozier, now 37-1, was just a number of highlights during a banner day for Glenbard West. The Hilltoppers ran away as team champions (209) over second place Glenbard North (176). West Chicago (113) and Wheaton North (107) were third and fourth, respectively.

The top three individuals in each weight class advanced to sectionals next week.

Seven Hilltoppers emerged as individual champions: Ulises Rosas (113), Jacob Lachs (138), Trevor Skoda (145), Brennan Skoda (152), Max Konopka (160), Pat Shadid (182) and Dozier. Isaiah Perez (126) and Morley Coval (285) both placed second.

Evidently, the Glenbard West wrestling room demands a high standard.

"Every day since last year, I knew we were going to have a great team come together," Dozier said.

Rosas, a freshman, kept his mindset on a single focus in lead-up to Saturday: "Wrestling, wrestling wrestling."

"When I went to sleep, I was like 'I'm going to win regionals. I'm going to win regionals.' My mindset was just: 'winning.'"

"Now, I feel better. I feel like I could place [at state]," Rosas continued. "As a freshman, I feel like I can make some noise. My goal, right now, is just state-qualifier. Once I do [that], now there's another goal to achieve."

Glenbard North advanced eight individuals to sectionals and had five champions: Kalani Khiev (106), Christian Chavez (120), Paul Woo (126), Blake Maday (220) and Paulie Robertson (285).

Dominick Marre (113) and Petrancosta took second, while Caden Edwards (138) took third.

For Woo, Saturday served as his second regional title. As a freshman two years ago, Woo captured the 106 title. Last season, Woo's season ended at the IWCOA sectional with a loss in the blood round.

Woo is back for another crack towards the goal to reach state.

"[I'm] excited to wrestle. I worked my butt off this summer," Woo said. "My season didn't end the way I wanted it to last year. I just worked all summer. I'm ready. I'm ready."

Glenbard East advanced six to sectionals. Andrew Gron (132), Diego Garcia (138) and Blake Salvino (160) each took second.

Waleed Binmahfooz (106), Billy Clayton (220) and Nathan Kelley (285) took third.

"My whole goal is to go to state," said Kelley, a Rams senior. "But, these little steps towards that is really helping [a lot]. Last year, with COVID, it was a rough year. [My sophomore year in 2019], I didn't even place [at regionals]."

Pierre Baldwin (132) was West Chicago's lone champion, but Ryan Alvarado (106), Connor Zentner (120), Mason Dupasquier (145) and Emiliano Lopez (220) had second place finishes. Larsen Gillian (160) took third.

Willowbrook had one champion, Nick Mabutas, at 170. Chris Giroux (113), Isaiah Smith (126) took third.

Wheaton North advanced Sam Lemp (132), Cael Shroff (145), Devin Medina (152), Mikey Rosch (170), Eli Cook (182) and Toby Martin (195).

The feeling of winning has helped sustain Mabutas through the 29-4 season he's earned to this point.

"I like to feel good about myself and winning does that," Mabutas said with a laugh.