St. Rita’s Jake Silzer advanced from Day 1 of the Class 3A state tournament on Thursday despite facing one of the more difficult first-round bouts the 120-pound field had to offer.
Silzer (40-3) defeated Evanston’s David Rivera-Kohr (46-4) in a rare preliminary match featuring athletes with 85 combined wins, the third most in all of 3A.
“He came out aggressive, but I stayed calm,” Silzer said. “I knew he didn’t face the schedule that I did.”
Silzer, a three-time state qualifier, is pleased to put the first day of the tournament behind him.
“The hardest part is definitely the first match,” he said. “I won my first match as a freshman but lost my first match last year, so I was a little nervous and wanted to get it out of the way so I could keep rolling.”
Marist’s Nick Lukanich (33-8) and Lincoln-Way Cental’s Vinnie Piunti (34-9) also made headway at 120.
Like Silzer, Lukanich was handed one of the more difficult opening bouts in a clash with Glenbard North’s Patrick Augustyn (40-6).
Silzer said he wouldn’t be surprised to face Lukanich in the state finals, whom he’s split victories with over his career. He leads the season series 2-1 after topping Lukanich at the Downers Grove North Sectional last weekend.
“(Lukanich) always finds a way to win,” Silzer said.
But first things first. If Silzer defeats Prospect’s Alex Preissing and Piunti upsets Oak Park-River Forest’s Alex Madrigal in their quarterfinal matches, the Southland products would meet in a state semifinal.
“I’m not paying too much attention to it,” Silzer said. “I tell myself that no one can beat me.”
St. Rita’s returning state champion, Austin O’Connor, also advanced at 132 pounds, while Nick Gasbarro (152), Alex Benoit (182) and heavyweight Tom Ford moved on for Marist.
Seeking his fourth state medal and first title, Benoit (33-6) must go through Hononegah’s top-seeded Tyler Demoss (35-0) to advance to the semifinals.
There were 91 falls recorded during the first round of the tournament, but none came faster than the 10-second pin posted by Oak Forest’s returning state finalist Francis Edelen in 2A’s 113-pound division. Edelen (36-6) dispatched Antioch’s Jacob Gross (42-6) to become one of six Bengals to advance to the quarterfinals.
Eleven other wrestlers secured pins in less than one minute of action, including Lockport’s Tyler Johnson (19-0) and Oak Forest’s Patrick Kristin (35-3).
From a team standpoint, Sandburg joined Oak Forest in picking up six victories. Top-seeded Rudy Yates (126 pounds) led the way with a technical-fall victory and remained on course to meet three-time state champ Kris Williams of Thornwood, who is on the other side of the bracket
Girls Basketball
Class 4A
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Lincoln-Way East Regional
Homewood-Flossmoor 76, Lincoln-Way East 25: Faith Suggs tossed in 21 points to boost Homewood-Flossmoor (17-6) in the championship. Quinn Madden racked up 11 points for Lincoln-Way East (18-11).
Marist Regional
Sandburg 61, Marist 57: Sam Youngwirth recorded 24 points to key Sandburg (24-7) in the title round. Marist finished 21-8.
Class 3A
Brooks Regional
Morgan Park 68, Chicago Christian 36: Cachet Johnson provided 18 points and five assists to propel Morgan Park (21-8) in the semifinal. Alleyah Burns (6 rebounds) and Tyana Porter (5 assists) chipped in 12 points apiece for the Mustangs. Abbie Bulthuis had a team-high eight points for Chicago Christian (16-12).
Evergreen Park Regional
Evergreen Park 59, Goode 32: Maddie Vojacek dropped in 18 points and Nicole Larkin scored 12 to vault Evergreen Park (21-8) in the championship.
Peotone Regional
Rich South 49, Rich East 44: Tierra Webb accumulated 19 points, five steals and four rebounds in steering Rich south (23-4) to the title. Ashley Dennis posted a game-best 20 points for Rich East (18-8).
Rich Central Regional
Oak Forest 40, Hillcrest 37: Taylor Sterkowitz put in nine points and Maddie Baxa netted eight to spark Oak Forest (19-10) in the final. Aliah Acker scored 13 points for Hillcrest (16-10) and Joshulyn Shepard had nine.
Men’s Basketball
Moraine Valley 77, Elgin.64: Niko Cahue poured in 21 points and grabbed six rebounds as visiting Moraine Valley (16-13, 11-3) captured first place in the Skyway Conference. Brian Townsend chipped in 15 points, 10 rebounds and six steals for the Cyclones.
Lewis 83, Illinois Springfield 78: Ryan Jackson (6 assists) rang up 24 points and Gabe Williams had 15 to spur visiting Lewis (19-6, 11-5) in the GLVC East.
Morton 85, Prairie State 81: Rodney Smith supplied 27 points and 10 rebounds in starring for host Prairie State (6-24, 4-10) in the Skyway Conference.
Men’s Volleyball
Robert Morris 20-25-25-25, St. Xavier 25-23-24-18: Sam Kull registered 18 kills and Moises Lopez dished out 40 assists to aid host St. Xavier (5-6, 3-4) in the Great Lakes Conference. Dan O’Keefe added 12 kills and 10 digs for the Cougars.
Women’s Basketball
Moraine Valley 65, Elgin 30: Nariman Jaber totaled 16 points, 16 rebounds and five steals in guiding visiting Moraine Valley (17-13, 11-3) to a share of the Skyway Conference championship.
Lewis 64, Illinois Springfield 37: Kristin Itschner scored 14 points to lead visiting Lewis (25-1, 15-1) in the GLVC East. Mariyah Brawner-Henley added 13 points and six rebounds for the Flyers, who held a 39-13 scoring advantage in the second half.
Prairie State 65, Morton 53: Tranikka Vance netted 16 points to propel host Prairie State (15-14, 10-4) in the Skyway Conference. Cierra Garrett tacked on 13 points and seven assists for the Pioneers.
Logan Malloy is a freelance writer. Freelance writer Josh Krockey contributed to this story.