Hersey bests 31-team field at Moore-Pettyman invitational
MSL champion Hersey picked up where it left off from its memorable season a year ago with a magnificent two-day undertaking to lift the big trophy at the 31st annual Moore-Pettyman wrestling invitational Saturday afternoon at host Barrington High School.
The Huskies amassed 204.5 points with nine overall medals to outscore runner-up Libertyville (182) and league rival Prospect, which finished with 180 overall points.
Crystal Lake Central (127) and Joliet West (125) would round out the top five in this 31-team field.
"It took a total team effort to win this tournament over two great teams in Libertyville, and Prospect, but the guys know there is still a lot of work ahead of us in order to reach the goals we've set," said Huskies coach Joe Rupslauk, who watched senior Aaron Hernandez win the only title of the weekend at 160 pounds.
Aurora Christian and Belvidere North would claim two champions, with 10 other clubs earning one crown each.
In a highly anticipated final at 138 between stars Lorenzo Frezza (Stevenson) and Prospect senior Will Baysingar, it was the Columbia University-bound Frezza holding off Baysingar, whose on his way to Illinois next fall.
"It was a big win for Lorenzo over a great opponent, but he knows it's just a start to a very long season," said a proud Stevenson coach Shane Cook.
The area would enjoy 10 champions out of the 14 weight divisions with the aforementioned Aurora Christian watching Deven Casey win at 113, and teammate, Josh Vazquez defeating state runner-up, Massimino Odiotti from Loyola Academy, 8-5 in the 120 final.
"This was an important win for Josh, but a very deserving one," said coach Danny Alcocer.
Odiotti is the No. 1 rated 120-pounder in 3A, Vazquez, No. 2 at 132 in 2A.
Sophomore Evan Gosz (Fremd, 126) and James Wright (132) cruised to their championships, as did Prospect sophomore Jaxon Penovich at 195.
Nolan Allen (West Chicago, 152), Matt Kubas (Libertyville, 170), Marco Ivanisevic (Hinsdale Central, 220) and Joliet West junior Wyatt Schmitt (285) all earned hard fought victories to climb the podium and accept the championship brackets.