Wrestling notes: Downers Grove South wins first regional title in 40 years

Jimmy Nugent finally solved Harrison Konder.

A Downers Grove South senior, Nugent bested Konder with a come-from-behind 7-5 victory in the championship match of the Mustangs’ Class 3A regional on Saturday.

“They have wrestled five times in high school,” Downers South coach Sean Lovelace said of his senior leader prevailing against the fourth-ranked Downers North sophomore for the first time. “All the matches have been close and tight. They always put on a show.”

It proved to be a historic breakthrough for the Downers South program as well.

The Mustangs had four champions among their seven finalists while also capturing five third-place matches.

In qualifying every competitor between 106 and 195 pounds to the Hinsdale Central individual sectional on Saturday, Downers South ended a four-decade postseason drought.

The Mustangs accrued 212 points to easily outdistance runner-up Lyons Township; Downers North, which matched Lyons’ three champions, was third as the Lions’ 155 points was one better than the Trojans.

Hinsdale Central had a pair of champions among its five advancing athletes to finish fifth with 100 points.

Anthony Lopez, the lone finalist for Morton, improved to 30-2 on the season in triumphing at 113 pounds.

“The semifinal round is what separated us,” said Lovelace, whose team won its first regional championship since 1982. “It was our regional to lose.”

The Mustangs (13-2) will face second-ranked Marist at a site to-be-announced three days after the individual state tournament is completed in Champaign on Feb. 19.

“Our kids are battle tested,” Lovelace said.

The Nugent victory was metaphorically instrumental for the Mustangs’ ascendancy.

“It’s not surprising that (Nugent) pulled it off,” said Glenbard West coach NIck Posegay, who directed his team to the title at Wheaton North. “He’s always been a tough kid.”

Nugent (32-6), ranked No. 6, handed Konder his second loss of the season against 34 victories.

Downers South crowned champions in three successive weight classes as sophomores RJ Samuels and Matty Lapacek had back-to-back first-period falls at 152 and 160 pounds; Will Schuessler then survived LT senior Cooper Schodorf 3-2 at 170 pounds to improve to 34-7 for the Mustangs.

Downers North freshman Tyler Tiango opened the championship festivities with a hard-fought 8-6 victory over Oak Park-River Forest sophomore Ruben Acevedo.

The Trojans, who advanced seven in all to HInsdale Central, also received championships from upper-weight mainstays Ben Bielawski and Jordan Lewis.

Bielawski had an early pin in the finals at 182; Lewis was uncontested at heavyweight in the championship match due to an injury default.

“Bielawski has been their workhorse for the past couple of years,” Posegay said.

“Downers South and Downers North have such a great kids’ program,” Morton coach Joe Helton said.

LT one-upped Downers North in more ways than just the team scoreboard.

The Lions had eight athletes extend their seasons to Hinsdale; Gunnar Garelli (126 pounds), Ben Zeman (145) and Cooper King (195) all emerged victorious via a simple decision, fall and injury default, respectively, in their championship matches.

The sectional-hosting Red Devils had their two season-long stalwarts, Cody Tavoso and Marko Ivanisevic, claim titles at 132 and 220 pounds.

Ivanisevic is 32-1 on the season.

“When I saw Ivanisevic at our dual match, I didn’t think anyone (in the state) could handle him,” Posegay said of the Devils’ breakout sophomore.

Lopez is the face of the Morton program in leading two other teammates to Hinsdale this weekend.

‘I think (Lopez) is ready to make that big jump, ever since he won the frosh-soph state championship last year,” Helton said. “He is firing on all cylinders.”

WW South advances three wrestlers to Hinsdale Central

At the Naperville Central regional on Saturday, Wheaton Warrenville South had three major-consolation champions in finishing sixth with 70 points.

Aarav Ledvora (106 pounds), Jaidyn Buziecki (132) and Sedeeq Al Obaidi (160) all had falls in their third-place matches to advance to the two-day sectional.

“Our goal coming in was to compete as hard as we could,” WW South coach Matt Jaosek said. “We did that; consequently, some guys made it, some guys didn’t. I think the guys can see the competitiveness it takes to get to the next level.”

IC Catholic Prep wins regional title

At Walther Lutheran, IC Catholic Prep, ranked No. 13 by the IWCOA, the coaches’ association, earned a decisive 226-141 victory over Lisle to capture the Class 1A regional.

Andrew Alvarado (113), Nick Renteria (120), Bryson Spaulding (126), Omar Samoya (132), Joseph Gliatta (145), Brandon Navarro (170), Michael Calcagno (182), Jadon Mims (220) and heavyweight Isaiah Gonzalez all captured titles for the Knights.

Renteria, Calcagno and Gonzalez have all tasted defeat just once this season.

Nazareth, third with 103 points, was led by 138-pound champion Zach Milos.