Villanueva, Nelson bank on experience

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BARRINGTON – Crystal Lake South’s Nick Fontanetta and Kean Loupee and Huntley’s Lucas Rogers don’t know what to expect, but they are hoping for the best. Dundee-Crown’s Miko Villanueva and Cary-Grove’s Josh Nelson have an idea, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

Those five wrestlers advanced to the IHSA State Meet in Champaign after finishing in the top four at the Class 3A Barrington Sectional on Saturday. The state meet takes place Friday and Saturday at the University of Illinois’ Assembly Hall.

Fontanetta, Loupee and Rogers are first-time qualifiers. Villanueva and Nelson qualified last season, and Villanueva finished third at 103 pounds.

The state berths offer vindication for Fontanetta, Loupee and Rogers. Last season at the Barrington Sectional, Fontanetta came up one match short of qualifying, and Loupee lost his first-round match. Rogers didn’t make it out of regionals.

Fontanetta was the lone sectional champion of the group, with a 3-0 decision against Grant’s Cameron Kennedy in the 103-pound final. Fontanetta receives a bye in the first round at state, an advantage he thinks will help.

“I think it gives me a slight edge,” Fontanetta said. “I get to see what my opponent does [in his first match] and game plan off that.”

Despite having a first-round match, Loupee said he is looking to take home some hardware after next weekend. Loupee lost to Jeff Koepke of Hersey, 5-1, in the 160-pound final, but he knows what the best of his weight class has to offer. Of Loupee’s six losses this season, two have come at the hands of Koepke, ranked third at 160 by IllinoisMatmen.com, and another was a 5-3 loss to top-ranked Nick Proctor of Neuqua Valley.

“You can’t let down at state,” Loupee said. “Everyone’s trying their hardest in every match.”

Gators coach Ross Ryan said wrestling in Assembly Hall can be a distraction for first-time qualifiers, but he thinks his wrestlers are prepared.

“They’ve both been wrestling for a number of years and have seen plenty of high-pressure environments,” Ross said. “The only difference is where it’s at. You’re still on a mat. You’re still only facing one person.”

Villanueva and Nelson both know what it’s like to wrestle in Assembly Hall and look to use that experience in their favor.

“I think it helps a lot,” Nelson said. “It takes the awe effect out of it.”

Nelson lost, 11-4, to Hersey’s Demetrios Mitchell in the 145-pound final. Mitchell is undefeated and ranked third. Nelson said he knew the finals match was going to be tough and that he made a few mistakes, but with a 9-0 major decision and a pin the semifinals, he said he thinks he’s peaking at the right time.