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Last school year, the wrestling season was pushed to the spring/summer due to COVID-19 and didn’t include an IHSA sanctioned postseason.
This year, wrestling is back in its traditional winter time slot with a full schedule, including an IHSA postseason.
“I am really excited for this season,” Princeton coach Steve Amy said. “We made the best of a bad situation last season. I think we had more dual meets than we did practices, so this year I am really looking forward to watching the progressions that our guys can make from week to week.”
Here is a look at each of the area’s wrestling teams:
La Salle-Peru
Coach: Matt Rebholz
Top returning wrestlers: Connor Lorden, Gunnar Skoog
Top newcomers: Reegan Kellett, Gunnar Wright, Connor Sines
Worth noting: In his first full season leading his alma mater after last spring’s shortened COVID-19 season, Rebholz will have an inexperienced squad. “We are rebuilding this year,” Rebholz said. “We’re looking for continual development at the younger level. … It is nice to be back to a semi-normal season with tournaments. Our team is developing and working to get better every practice. The new coaching staff is excited to be starting then new season.” … While the Cavs are young, they do return Lorden, the spring 2021 NewsTribune Wrestler of the Year. He went 35-4 last season and placed fifth at 195 pounds the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association State Tournament. Rebholz said Lorden is looking to win a state championship and get onto L-P’s career wins leader board. Rebholz also said Skoog is aiming for a state berth.
St. Bede
Coach: Sam Allen
Top returning wrestlers: Mason Hurst, Jr.; Henry Orteza, Sr.; Evan Englehaupt, So.; Ben Koyak, Sr.; Ryan Migliorini, Jr.; Gavin Hahn, So.; Matthew Pozzi, Sr.
Top newcomers: Ryan Nawa, Fr.; Logan Pineda, Fr.; Garrett Connelly, Fr.; Jake Migliorini, Fr.; Marco Rizzi, Fr.; Jack Maschmann, Fr.; Grady Gillan, Fr.; Blair Stuepfert, Fr.
Worth noting: The Bruins return plenty of experience, but also have a freshman class Allen is excited about. Leading the returners is Migliorini, an Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association sectional qualifier last season at 195 pounds and Orteza, who went 14-7 at 126 but is bumping up to 132. Koyak, who will wrestle at 160, missed most of last season with injury. “I would like to be able to fill at least 13 out of the 14 weight classes more often than not this season for duals and tournaments and qualify as many as possible for sectionals,” Allen said. “We are young but most of our young guys either have previous wrestling experience or great determination so far. I think we are going to retain all eight of our freshmen. That is good for the makings of a future contender for a regional championship team.” … Among the freshmen, Nawa, Pineda, Connelly and Jake Migliorini have previous wrestling experience, while Rizzi, Maschmann, Gillan and Stuepfert have shown promise.
Putnam County-Hall
Coach: Jerry Kriewald
Top returning wrestlers: Denzel Sobin, Sr.; Connor Brooker, Sr.; John Davis, Sr.
Top newcomers: Roman Mack, So.; Brian Martinez, Fr.; Bailey Herr, Fr.; Eli Leota, Fr.; James Erwin, Fr.; Chris Nelson, So.
Worth noting: Kriewald returns to lead the Panthers after having to miss last year’s spring/summer season due to work commitments. He has three veterans in Brooker, Davis and Sobin. Brooker went 32-6 and was an Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association state qualifier last year. Davis was 23-9 last season, while Sobin was 15-10. “Being a smaller team with a great coach to wrestler ratio, our team has high expectations,” Kriewald said. “I have coached Connor and John for 10 years and it is time for all that work to pay off and stand on the podium at the end of the year. Denzel Sobin is responding well and working hard everyday drilling with Connor and John. The six newcomers will do well with opponents with equal experience level for sure. Our program will give up a lot of forfeits but have great success at tournaments.”
Mendota
Coach: Dale Meyers
Top returning wrestlers: Ethan Hanaman, Sr.; Kailyn Jezewski, Sr.; Danny Juan Gama, Jr.
Top newcomers: Rhett Watson, Fr.; J.P. Belmente, Jr.; Diego Sandoval, So.; Angi Serrano, Fr.; Loralie Hart, Fr.
Worth noting: Due to limited numbers, the Trojans didn’t have much of a season in the spring/summer, but numbers are improved this season as wrestling moves back to its traditional slot in the winter. Hanaman and Jezewski are four-year wrestlers, while Gama was on the squad last season. Meyers said he thinks Hanaman has a shot at qualifying for the state tournament, while Gama, Watson and Serrano have the potential to earn sectional berths. “Individually, I think we’re going to do great,” Meyers said. “We have a lot more of the weights filled. Hopefully, that will get us a couple of team wins. They’re all looking powerful, they’re all working really hard and they’re all really smart. They all give 100 percent every day, which is worth a whole lot to me.”
Princeton
Coach: Steve Amy
Top returning wrestlers: Steven Benavidez, Sr.; Matthew Harris, Sr.; Augie Christiansen, Jr.; Carson Etheridge, Jr.; Drew Harp, Sr.; Jesse Wright, Jr.; Payne Miller, So.
Top newcomers: Ace Christiansen, Fr.; Izaiah Smallwood, Fr.; Anthony Vujanov, Fr.; Justin Wicaryus, Sr.
Worth noting: The Tigers bring back plenty of experience, led by Harris, who placed fourth at 126 pounds at the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association State Tournament last year, along with sectional qualifiers Benavidez, Augie Christiansen, Harp and Miller. “I feel we have quite a few wrestlers with a great shot to get to state,” Amy said. “Quite a few of these guys have been in the program a long time and have put in the work to be in that position.” Along with the returnees, Wicaryus transferred from Amboy, while the freshmen could contribute as well. “Our goals for the season are always the same,” Amy said. “The main goal is to win the regional and give ourselves an opportunity to compete and get to team state. For our individuals, the ultimate goal is to wrestle on Saturday night at the state tournament. And we have a few guys that may have an opportunity to do that as long as we continue to progress and stay injury free.”