When:
Friday, Saturday.
Where:
Assembly Hall, Champaign.
Wrestlers to watch:
103 — Matt Garelli, Fenwick (43-1). 112 — Nick Fontanetta, Crystal Lake South (39-0). 125 —Steve Galliardo, St. Patrick (43-0); Danny Sabatello, Stevenson (38-0); Eddie Klimara, Providence (37-0); Nick Drendel, West Aurora (38-0). 140 — Luke Smith, Wheeling (40-0). 171 — Jack Dechow, Richmond-Burton (28-0). 215 — Josh Marchuk, Schaumburg (34-0). 285 — James Buss, De La Salle (35-0).
Returning state champions:
2A — KeVon Powell, Montini (103); Alphonse Vruno, Sandwich (112); Ben Whitford, Marmion (119); Trevor Jauch, Crystal Lake Central (125); Stephen Robertson, Montini (140); Joey Kielbasa, Crystal Lake Central (145); Brandon McBride, Montini (152); Dylan Reel, Washington (160); Austin Marsden, Crystal Lake Central (189). 3A — Danny Sabatello, Stevenson (119); Joey Gosinski, Glenbard North (125); Steve Congenie, Willowbrook (152); Sam Brooks, Oak Park (160).
Top 5 storylines
1. With the suspension of St. Rita’s Jahwon Akui, who will win at 171? Akui was one of three state champions vying for the title along with Oak Park’s Sam Brooks (160) and Willowbrook’s Steve Congenie (152).
2. Hinsdale Central senior Jack Allen, two-time runner up at 285, on track for first title.
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3. Crystal Lake Central’s Trevor Jauch (140), Gage Harrah (189) and Austin Marsden (215) enter with top seeds. Joey Kielbasa, 145-pound champ last year, goes for it all as No. 2 seed at 152.
4. Montini’s Stephen Robertson (48-2) closing in on the career victories record (201). With an individual title at 152 and an unbeaten run in next week’s team tournament, he will surpass former teammate and current Ohio State football player Garrett Goebel.
5. Something’s gotta give at 125. Four unbeaten wrestlers — Sabatello, Galliardo, Drendel and Klimara (a combined 156-0) — will make the 125-pound semis fun to watch. Sabatello bested Klimara for last year’s 119-pound crown.