Scouting Cook and Lake County boys wrestling

It was with remarkable staying power and style that Ethan Stiles (Conant), Cole Matulenko (Libertyville) and Matty Jens would lift a championship trophy last February inside State Farm Center at the IHSA State Wrestling tournament - culminating sensational seasons in which this trio combined to go 108-4.

For Stiles, now wrestling at Nebraska, it would be the third state title of his career. Matulenko, playing football at UW-Eau Claire, capped a memorable late season run toward his first state title, and fifth in program history.

Jens (32-0) is the lone state champion of the three to be returning, and the Grayslake Central senior appears ready to repeat the success of last season as he opens this year as the No. 1 man at 175 pounds.

"If I stay healthy, and continue to work as hard as I did during the offseason, I honestly feel there isn't anyone in the state at 2A that I cannot beat," says Jens, who was runner-up as a junior at 182, with a dazzling 47-3 record.

Jens headlines a marvelous group of returning state medal winners, beginning with the Wauconda dynamic duo of Gavin Rockey (33-6) and Nate Randle (35-9) - both of whom were 2A state runners-up, and key figures in the Bulldogs' third-place finish at dual-team state.

"We have most of our team back from a year ago, so there is no reason why we cannot be even better this season," said Rockey after winning the 106-pound crown last weekend at the high profile Moore-Pettyman Invite at Barrington.

The Bulldogs return nine state qualifiers, all ranked in the top 10 of their respective weight divisions, including senior Tyler Weidman, who won 40 last season.

Perennial league power Antioch has plenty back, including Edgar Albino (34-5), fourth a year ago at state, as well as Gavin Hanrahan, the No. 9 rated 120-pounder.

Junior heavyweight William Cole from Round Lake surprised in his first year with 31 wins, and a spot in the state field at 285, as did Vernon Hills sophomore Ilya Dvoryannikov, who won 31, and went 2-2 at state, and the No. 4 spot in the polls at 157.

Another sophomore to watch in the area is Tony Hinojosa from Carmel Catholic, a sectional qualifier with 31 victories.

NLCC reigning champion Grant, 13-4-0 a year ago, has a solid core of men back, including state-ranked Vince Jasinski at 113, while in the Bulldogs girls program, it will be senior Ayanne Jasinski, who will go after a second consecutive state title.

"Our light to middle weights have a terrific mix of youth, and experience, plus with the addition of a couple of freshmen, and the added boost of a state qualifier from Indiana (Christian Wittkamp) we could have an exciting season," said Grant coach Mark Jolcover.

Warren advanced to its first dual-team state appearance, and will have a strong core back from that team, beginning with third-place state medalist Aaron Stewart (43-2).

Libertyville boasts plenty of firepower of its own with a top-flight foursome of Caleb Baczek, Luke Berktold, Matt Kubas, and Owen McGrory, all of whom are state ranked, and highly capable of providing plenty of bonus points for the Wildcats, and recording 40-win seasons,

The brilliant careers of Lorenzo Frezza (Columbia University) and Will Baysingar (Illinois) will obviously leave the Stevenson and Prospect programs short not only in victories, but leadership as well.

However, a quartet of talented young men who medaled a year ago at state, and find themselves at the top of the preseason polls, are strong contenders for state glory come February.

Fremd junior Evan Gosz, twice third at state, 85-6 in his first two seasons, and who is No. 3 at 138 pounds, expects to be in the mix once again after a strong offseason of work.

"I worked a lot on developing better shots and in my takedowns, and I feel like I'm ready to make a big step forward toward getting into the state final this season," said Gosz, who spent some time training with St. Charles East two-time state champion and nationally ranked Ben Davino.

Prospect sophomore Jaxon Penovich (45-7) is the No. 1 man at 190, following his fifth place state finish from a year ago.

"I learned a lot about myself last season, and what needs to be done in order to get on top of the podium in Champaign, so I feel I am ready both physically and mentally," said Penovich, fresh of his dominating performance at the Moore-Pettyman Invite.

Schaumburg, which enjoyed its best overall season in recent memory with its 18-4 record, welcomes back five starters, beginning with the No. 1 rated Brady Phelps (40-2) at 120, who also shined on the Saxons soccer team last fall.

Teddy Flores (40-5) surprised the state field at 120 to earn a well deserved fifth place medal, and that success by the Maine South senior helped solidify a No. 2 spot in the polls at 126.

Dan Keller, who moved over from Prospect to take charge of the Barrington program, would see his club make a strong impression after claiming the team trophy last weekend at the 31-team field at the Moore-Pettyman Invite.

With the title, the Broncos emerge as the favorites in the MSL West, while reigning MSL East champion Hersey will use its terrific depth to win on most nights.

State medalist, junior Max Mukhamedaliyev (37-17), is the best of the bunch for the Huskies, while the dynamic duo of Grant Madl and Dylan Berkowitz from Elk Grove will keep the Grens in contention.

Hoffman Estates can claim to have one of the best girls rosters in the area - led by a trio of state qualifiers: Sophia Ball, Abigail Ji, and Anjali Rodriguez, who combined for over 100 victories a year ago, with Ball bringing home a fifth place state medal.

St. Viator's first girls head coach is former Warren star and third place state medal winner Adriana Demos, who will have sectional qualifier Natalie Gubernat as one to begin working with.