Wrestlers aim for state at sectionals

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Wrestling matches will intensify today and Saturday at sectional tournaments with a trip to the IHSA Individual State Finals in Champaign at stake.

The top three sectional place winners will qualify for state in Class 1A and 2A. The top four will go in Class 3A.

Harvard leads the area with 13 sectional qualifiers and will be at the Class 1A Byron Sectional.

Despite the importance of the matches, Hornets coach Tim Haak said that a wrestler should not focus on the venue and approach the sectional matches the same as any other.

“I don’t think it should be any different,” Haak said. “When you get an opportunity to compete, you compete every time.”

Dillon Cowan (135 pounds) and Dan Stott (160) both won regional titles for Harvard and are ranked second in their weight classes by IllinoisMatmen.com. Cowan will face a tough draw with five of the top 10 wrestlers in the state at 135 competing at Byron.

Crystal Lake Central leads a packed Class 2A local contingent that will be at the Sterling Sectional. The Tigers’ Joey Kielbasa (145) and Trevor Jauch (125) return to sectionals as reigning state champions, and Gage Harrah (215) enters after a third-place finish at state last year.

Kielbasa wrestled at 152 most of the year and needed to drop about 15 pounds to make weight at 145 for regionals. He said losing the weight wasn’t fun, but he feels comfortable at 145.

“That was a little rough, but I feel a lot better,” Kielbasa said. “I’m looking forward to this weekend.”

Marengo’s Joey Moorhouse heads into sectionals as the top-ranked state wrestler at 152. He took third at state last year.

Johnsburg’s Justin Peete (160) will see four of the top five ranked wrestlers at sectionals, including Richmond-Burton’s Jack Dechow, who lost to Peete in the Woodstock Regional championship. Peete said he didn’t put a lot of emphasis on the rankings.

“Ranking is just a number to me,” Peete said.

Marian Central’s Jared Koch took fourth at state last year at 189 pounds but dropped to 171 this season. He hopes the move will lead to a better state finish.

“This is where I want to win the state title,” Koch said of the 171 weight class. “I’ve got a great feeling for a state title.”

Koch admitted to being a little in awe wrestling at the University of Illinois’ Assembly Hall last year at state.

“Now that I have the experience of being in the semis, I think I’ll be able to handle it a lot better,” Koch said.

Crystal Lake South leads area Class 3A teams with nine qualifiers at the Barrington Sectional. The Gators’ Nick Fontanetta is ranked second at 103 and could see a rematch with third-ranked Adrian Gonzalez of Barrington. Fontanetta beat Gonzalez by major decision early in the season.     

Miko Villanueva (112) is looking for another long run at state after finishing third last season and, perhaps, a measure of revenge. Villanueva could see Harlem’s Derek Elmore, the top-ranked wrestler at 112. Elmore pinned Villanueva last year in the state semifinals.