Dylan Ramirez was a big part of the best football season in Niles North’s history.
Chris Albandia, his wrestling coach, said Ramirez carried that success — the Vikings football team won two playoff games for the first time in the fall — over to the mats. The junior heavyweight qualified for the Class 3A state tournament by finishing fourth at the Conant Sectional on Saturday, Feb. 13, in Hoffman Estates. He lost the third-place match 4-2 to Rolling Meadows senior Maciej Pogorzelski.
“We absolutely expected this from him,” Albandia said after Ramirez’s state-clinching, 3-2 win over Lane Tech junior Jeremiah Olojo in the consolation semifinals. “He got progressively better over the season. This was a tough sectional. There are some kids he lost to this season that are here and going home. He timed things just right.”
The top four in each weight class moved on to the state tournament, which runs Thursday, Feb. 18, through Saturday, Feb. 20, at the University of Illinois’ State Farm Center.
But Ramirez (29-9) didn’t do it alone, according to Albandia. Four of Ramirez’s fellow linemen on the football team — junior Raymar Delemios, junior Bledar Jahovic, sophomore Michael Pimentel and junior Elmir Nikezic — joined him on the wrestling team and were instrumental in helping him advance to his first state tournament, the coach said.
“It was great to have them with me,” said Ramirez, who was a two-way starter on the football team and earned all-Central Suburban North honors. “It was a lot of fun. We got after each other, and they helped me achieve this.”
Evanston
Chris Rivera rested his backside on the gym wall and put his hands on his knees.
Rivera needed a chance to catch his breath. The 106-pound junior earned his first trip to the Class 3A state tournament, but it wasn’t an easy road.
After losing in the second round, Rivera won four matches in the back draw to take third place, beating Mount Prospect freshman Andrew Baysingar 8-0 in the consolation final. Rivera (46-5) finished 5-1 at the sectional.
“It was good to finish the tournament strong,” Rivera said. “It was good to recover from that loss. I was determined to get to the state tournament.”
Rivera, who finished second at the Maine East Regional, said practicing against teammate David Rivera-Kohr, a 126-pound senior and Princeton recruit, in the week leading up to the sectional tournament was helpful in reaching his goal.
“I got beat up,” Rivera said. “It was a hard week. [The coaches] really pushed me, but that’s why I felt good here.”
Evanston coach Rudy Salinas said Rivera normally doesn’t train with Rivera-Kohr, but the other light weights were not available to practice due to injuries. Salinas said he’s considering letting the two go at it again to prepare for the state tournament.
“It was sink or swim for Chris,” Salinas said. “David gave him that edge. Maybe he can do that again.”
Rivera-Kohr (40-1) and senior 182-pounder Jaalen Banner (43-7) were Evanston’s only other state qualifiers. Rivera-Kohr placed third with a 7-3 win over Leyden senior Wesam Alabed. Banner also took third. He earned an 8-7 win over Glenbard West’s Jack Vesevick.
Notre Dame
The Dons had three wrestlers qualify for the state tournament at Conant.
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Senior Tom Simon (32-14) finished fourth at 220, senior Jake Barzowski (40-1) took third at 138 and junior Josh Barzowski (32-7) placed second at 152.
Maine South
Ibrahim Nasir (37-4) advanced to the state tournament by taking second at 220 pounds at Conant.
Matt Harness co-hosts a golf podcast called Teeing Off. Find it on Twitter (@Teeing__Off) or at www.facebook.com/teeingoffpodcast and on iTunes.
Twitter: @harnesspreps
This story has been changed to reflect the following correction:
The article misstated Dylan Ramirez’s grade in school. He’s a junior, not a senior.