Boys Golf: John Wild, Glenbard West right at home on home course, capture third straight sectional title

GLEN ELLYN – John Wild had an inkling Village Links of Glen Ellyn would not be set up for the timid on Monday afternoon.

The pins for the Class 3A Glenbard West boys golf sectional would more than likely be tucked, and the greens – starved for moisture in recent weeks – equally firm and fast.

But Wild and his Glenbard West teammates had the perfect tonic, feeling comfortable in their home environment.

Wild, the Hilltoppers’ Oklahoma State-bound senior who was third at the last conducted state tournament two years ago, and his sophomore comrade-in-arms Grant Roscich anchored a third consecutive sectional championship by combining for a level-par 144.

Glenbard West and Hinsdale Central lived up to their billing as the odds-on favorites to advance as the former repeated its superior play of winning the West Chicago regional last week with a 302-306 victory.

“You do the math,” Neuqua Valley coach Bart Carbonneau said of the corresponding regional results last week.  “The rest of us were playing for that last spot (to the state tournament Friday in Bloomington). The rest of us were duking it out.”

Neuqua Valley survived the other nine combatants to secure third place as Richie Mattia rose to the occasion with a 75 to frame the Wildcats’ 324 total.

Hinsdale Central had the individual champion in Emil Riegger, who outlasted Batavia senior Gavin Newkirk in a two-hole playoff after the two finished regulation with matching 2-under 70s, but Roscich was third and Wild was fourth with their rounds of 71 and 73.

Ryan Park and Caden Pierce solidified the Hilltoppers’ title with a pair of 79s.

The Red Devils were consistent behind Mike Spitzer (78) and matching 79s from Jack Mulligan and Jack Inabnit.

But the Devils could not overcome the combined excellence of Roscich and Wild.

“We are fortunate to play a sectional out here,” Wild said. “We were feeding off each other. We know the course better than anybody. There were some tough pins, but it worked in our favor.”

“It’s kind of cool winning three straight,” Roscich said. “It’s another step in making it deep into state. My irons were subpar, but I got around with my short game.”

In his medalist performance, Riegger had a sticky situation on the first playoff hole with Newkirk almost assuredly ready to pounce with a par at worst.

“I was 15 yards away but chipped it to about three feet,” Riegger said.

Riegger secured the up-and-down and emerged victorious with another par at the second extra hole.

“I was playing pretty well today,” Riegger said. “On the back nine I started to fall apart a little bit.”

Mattia and Wheaton Warrenville South senior Danny Zawoyski tied for fifth with their 3-over 75s.

“He put the team on his shoulders and carried us,” Carbonneau said of Mattia.

“I have been struggling to stay focused through my entire round,” Zawoyski said. “I was hitting the ball very well. I drilled a 20-footer to save bogey (on the front). That got me going.”

WW South was fourth at 328.

Among other local individuals who made the at-large cut for the two-day state finals this weekend in Bloomington, a Metea Valley triumvirate overcame a wrenching conference and regional stretch to snare three of the six local spots.

The Mustangs’ Kyle Bucher was seventh with a 77, and senior teammates Arjun Vyas and Aman Shah were in a four-way tie for eighth with their 78s.

“It’s still a bitter taste,” Bucher said. “Having the three of us go to state is awesome. My putting was great. The hole looked ginormous.”

Salil Khanduja (Waubonsie Valley) and Mason Olenczak (Wheaton North) were inside the individual cut by a stroke to make the state grade.