Wrestling: Huntley, Crystal Lake Central, Harvard prepare for team sectionals

Dillon Carlson won’t need to wait long to seek revenge for his state championship loss.

The Crystal Lake Central senior dropped his second match in a span of a week to Deerfield’s Benjamin Schvartsman on Saturday in Champaign when Carlson lost the Class 2A 160-pound title.

Now Carlson will likely get a chance to wrestle Schvartsman again on Tuesday when Deerfield and Crystal Lake Central meet at the Class 2A Woodstock North Dual Team Sectional.

“It’s another match with him, and he knows that,” Carlson said. “It will be a state finals rematch, that’s always good to see.”

A dual win Tuesday will give Central, Huntley and Harvard a chance to compete in their respective classes at the IHSA Team Dual State Tournament on Friday and Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

Harvard will face Newman Central Catholic in the Class 1A Rock Falls Dual Team Sectional, while Huntley will take on Libertyville in the Class 3A Stevenson Dual Team Sectional.

Seven Deerfield wrestlers competed at the individual state tournament. Schvartsman won the 160 title and is 46-0 on the season while Kai Neumark finished second at 138. Lucio Morgan (145), Stamos Tsakiris (152) and Aiden Cohen (170) finished fifth in their respective weights, while Renzo Morgan (132) finished sixth.

The Tigers had five wrestlers at the state tournament with Carlson being the lone wrestler to place. The program last qualified for the team state tournament in 2017 when it reached the quarterfinals. Deerfield placed fourth in 2017 when it competed in Class 3A.

The Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association ranks Deerfield (16-4) third in its class while Crystal Lake Central (15-11) is ninth.

Central coach Justen Lehr knows it’ll be a tough matchup but is looking forward to the challenge Deerfield will present.

“It looks like it’s going to be a barnburner,” Lehr said.

Huntley’s opponent, Libertyville, had four wrestlers compete at the state tournament, with Josh Knudten winning the 182 title. Austin Gomez (170) and Caelan Riley (120) both finished third. Three Red Raiders competed in the state tournament.

The IWCOA ranks the Wildcats (14-5) 12th while the Fox Valley Conference winning Red Raiders (17-5) are ranked 16th. Huntley last competed in the tournament in 2018 when it finished fourth. Libertyville qualified for the quarterfinals in 2014.

Huntley coach B.J. Bertelsman liked this matchup more a few weeks ago when his roster was less banged up, but the coach knows the transition from wrestling at state to competing three days later can be tough for wrestlers.

Bertelsman is looking forward to watching his seniors get at least one more chance to compete.

“You don’t get the chance every year to be top eight at state and represent at the state tournament,” Bertelsman said. “Of course, you want to go. If not, so be it, but we’ll make the most of it and go out with a bang.”

Harvard will try to advance to the dual team state tournament for the first time since 2014 when it takes on Newman Central Catholic.

Four Comets competed at the individual state tournament, led by Brady Grennan (120) and Will Rude (138), who both finished third. Carter Rude (126) earned a sixth-place finish. Harvard’s Ivan Rosas led the way for the four Hornets wrestlers at the individual state meet when he finished third at 145.

Newman Central Catholic (19-4) is ranked 14th by the IWCOA, while the Kishwaukee River Conference champion Hornets (15-3) are ranked 20th.

Rosas is looking forward to competing together again, but he’s also looking to make some noise this week.

“It’s super nice,” Rosas said. “Especially since everybody is ready to wrestle on Tuesday, the goal is Bloomington on Saturday. We’ve done it before, so we’re planning on doing it again.”