Bernero helps CLC wrestlers 5-peat in FVC

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HUNTLEY – Crystal Lake Central senior Justin Bernero was in uncharted waters entering the championship match at 170 pounds at the Fox Valley Conference Meet on Saturday.

It was the first finals appearance for Bernero in a high school tournament. Bernero defeated Grayslake North’s Andrew Soulis, 9-6, to help the Tigers when their fifth consecutive FVC title.

“I knew I could do it,” Bernero said. “I had no doubts.”

Watching from the side before his 195-pound championship match, Gage Harrah cheered on his teammate and practice partner.

“I’m beyond proud of [Bernero],” Harrah said. “He’s been working his tail off.”

Also for the Tigers, Clay Lutzow defeated McHenry’s Wade Lardy, 7-2, to win at 138, Jason Fugiel pinned McHenry's Cam Pait to take the 160 title, and Harrah pinned Grayslake Central’s Joel Valdivia for the 195 title and his fourth consecutive conference championship.

Lutzow took Lardy down twice in the first period and held on for the win. That’s exactly the kind of match Lutzow was expecting.

“I take him down, but that’s all I can do against him,” Lutzow said.

The Tigers finished with 255 points, followed by Crystal Lake South with 217.5, McHenry (195.5), Cary-Grove (169) and Huntley (153). Entering the place matches, the Tigers were up on the Gators by 29.5 points.

“You win a tournament like this, you’re doing a good job,” Crystal Lake Central coach Justen Lehr said. “To build on top of the lead is tough to do in the finals.”

Also winning for the first time in his prep career was McHenry’s Mike Sikula at 113. His first tournament win gave Sikula a lot of confidence heading into regionals.

“Right now I feel like I’m going to walk out of regionals with the bracket board,” Sikula said. “I expect to make it to Champaign (for the IHSA Individual State Finals).”

In one of the hardest fought championship finals, Cary-Grove’s Mike Underwood edged South’s Eric Barone, 3-2. Barone reversed Underwood in the third period to go up, 2-1, but Underwood got a point from a stalling penalty and then escaped to get the win.

“I saw [the penalty] as an opening I had to take advantage of,” Underwood said. “In my mind, I knew I was going to escape.”

Also winning for the Trojans was freshman Mike Cullen at 106.

Prairie Ridge’s Zach Synon remained perfect on the year (34-0) with a 4-2 victory against South’s Nick Gil. The win was overshadowed somewhat by Gil’s taking down Synon in the third period. It was the first offensive point Synon had given up all season.

“I was not too happy about that,” Synon said.

South won three titles – Nick Fontanetta at 120, Tom Gerszewski (152) and Mike Romanelli (220). Josh Symbal won for Huntley at 182.