High school wrestling: Huntley, McHenry lead way with 4 state qualifiers at Barrington Sectional

BARRINGTON – Huntley and McHenry both qualified four wrestlers out of the Class 3A Barrington Sectional to compete at the state finals beginning Thursday in Champaign.

Cary-Grove qualified three and was the only school with more than one individual title.

Michael Cullen won at 120 for C-G with a major decision and will be making his fourth trip to state.

“I’m just kind of embracing it and taking it all in,” Cullen said. “Hopefully I’ll get the job done (at state).”

Michael Gomez defeated Barrington’s Alec Zentner, 5-2, for the Trojans in a rematch of the Grant Regional finals that Gomez won, 3-2, in overtime. It will be Gomez’s first trip to state.

“Last time I didn’t trust my offense,” Gomez said. “[Zentner’s] a big dude. That’s his biggest advantage.”

C-G coach Ryan Ludwig said Gomez got a late start because of football and has progressed a lot this season.

“[Gomez has] gotten better every single match,” Ludwig said. “He’s peaking at the right time.”

Also qualifying for C-G was John Cullen who placed fourth at 138.

The opening two matches of the sectional featured an all local cast. At 106, McHenry’s Ian Mullen major decisioned Huntley’s Zach Spencer, 20-9. The Red Raiders returned the favor at 113 with Josh Stenger defeating McHenry’s Britches Sikula, 5-2

“I feel like a slice of butter melting on a big ole pile of flapjacks,” Mullen said. “I feel great.”

Stenger, who lost to Sikula in the Fox Valley Conference tournament finals, said it was no surprise seeing Sikula again.

“I expected to see us two in the finals,” Stenger said. “I just tried to work all six minutes and get to my offense from the start.”

Spencer, Sikula and Stenger all qualified for the first time.

Also qualifying for McHenry were Robby Duh, who took second at 126 and Cam Pait who finished third at 182. Huntley also qualified Ricky Vigil was third at 132 and Brandon Meyer who took fourth at 152.

It was the first time that the Red Raiders ever had more than one state qualifier and an underclassman qualify. Spencer is a freshman and Stenger is a sophomore.

The most anticipated matchup of the tournament never happened, with Hononegah’s Fernie Silva forfeiting to Crystal Lake South’s Eric Barone in the finals at 145. Barone is ranked No. 3 by illinoismatmen.com and Silva is No. 2.

“I was looking forward to it,” Barone said of wrestling Silva. “You always want that finals match.”

Also for the Gators, Garrett Dziedzic placed second at 132 to qualify.

Dundee-Crown’s Christian Brunner got at takedown in overtime to win, 3-1, at 195 against Zion-Benton’s Mark Miller. Brunner also beat Miller in the Grant Regional finals.

“It gets harder every time,” Brunner said of wrestling Miller again. “Usually the matches start to close in."

GOOD FORM

CHRISTIAN BRUNNER Dundee-Crown, jr., 195 lbs.

With the match tied, 1-1, after three periods, Brunner got a takedown in overtime to win at 195 pounds.

NUMBER 14

Local wrestlers who qualified for the state tournament.

BIG MOMENT

With a state berth on the line in the consolation semifinals and down in the third period, Huntley’s Ricky Vigil got a pin to advance to the third place match and qualify for state.

Barrington Sectional

Local results

Championship

106: Ian Mullen (McHenry) maj. dec. Zach Spencer (Huntley), 20-9

113: Josh Stenger (Huntley) dec. Britches Sikula (McHenry), 5-2

120: Michael Cullen (Cary-Grove) maj. dec. Alex Preissing (Prospect), 15-6

126: Christian Kanzier (Grant) dec. Robby Duh (McHenry), 8-2

132: Alec McKenna (New Trier) dec. Garrett Dziedzic (Crystal Lake South), 5-2

145: Eric Barone (Crystal Lake South) d. Fernie Silva (Hononegah) by forfeit

195: Christian Brunner (Dundee-Crown) dec. Mark Miller (Zion-Benton), 3-1 (OT)

285: Michael Gomez (Cary-Grove) dec. Alex Zentner (Barrington), 5-2

Third place

132: Ricky Vigil (Huntley) dec. Jackson Montgomery (DeKalb), 5-3

138: Luke Iida (New Trier) dec. John Cullen (Cary-Grove), 2-1

152: Mike Kouvelis (Grant) dec. Brandon Meyer (Huntley), 4-0

182: Cam Pait (McHenry) dec. Jenner Hecox (Harlem), 3-1