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A year ago, Antioch set a school record with seven qualifiers for the individual state meet.
But as senior Devin Nobiling said during the Class 2A Deerfield Sectional on Saturday, “we knew we were something special” this season.
The Sequoits established a new standard, qualifying nine wrestlers for the state meet that begins Thursday in Champaign.
Meanwhile, four of Grayslake Central’s five wrestlers at the sectional will make the trip to the state meet, and junior Adrien Cramer has some advice for his teammates.
“If you have been eating Culver’s every day and Steak ‘n Shake, eat Culver’s and Steak ‘n Shake,” said Cramer, a three-time state qualifier. “Don’t change up anything you’ve already done.”
Nobiling was among Antioch’s qualifiers, finishing third at 152 pounds.
Four Sequoits reached the final match in their respective weight classes but lost: senior Alex Barbarise at 120 pounds, senior Danny McPherson at 132 pounds, senior Niall Schoenfelder at 195 pounds and junior Max Ness at 285 pounds.
Four other Sequoits qualified while finishing third: freshman Caleb Nobiling at 106 pounds, freshman Anthony Streib at 113 pounds, senior Luke Menzies at 126 pounds and senior Elijah Reyes at 138 pounds.
Reyes, who had been sick all week, pinned Grayslake North senior Nick Kozanecki in the second round of their third-place match.
“You have to stay hydrated and get fluids in you and not get depleted,” Reyes said. “It’s so rewarding after all the work we’ve put in.”
Antioch already has qualified for the Class 2A team dual sectional. On Feb. 25, the Sequoits will compete against Fenton.
But first up is the individual state meet.
“This year we have the mindset of we are going to do this as a team,” Devin Nobiling said.
Perrin sticks it out: Isaiah Perrin, who worked out with Lakes early last season but decided not to remain on the team, was all in from the beginning of his senior season.
Perrin is one of two Lakes wrestlers who qualified for the individual state meet. Perrin placed fourth at 285 pounds at the Deerfield Sectional, and senior Kurtis Smith finished third at 170 pounds.
“I play football, and I’m a very aggressive person,” Perrin said. “That helps me on the mat.”
Perrin, a two-way lineman, injured the MCL in his right knee during football season. He reinjured the knee in his 6-2 blood-round decision over Prairie Ridge senior Nick Mattran. Perrin wrestled in the third-place match and fell to Lake Forest senior Jack Owen on a third-period pin.
“(The injury) has been an ongoing thing, on and off,” Perrin said. “I’ll be fine.”
Cramer leads Rams: Cramer was Grayslake Central’s lone sectional champion. He won at 182 pounds when Marian Central junior Niko Lopez forfeited the title match.
Rams senior Joey Jens made the title match at 170, dropping a 7-1 decision to Marian Central junior Dylan Connell, while senior Jayson Weidma and freshman Aaron Cramer finished fourth at 120 and 152, respectively.
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Knights together again: All three of Grayslake North’s state qualifiers competed at the same middle school: Palombi Middle School in Lake Villa.
Senior Jake Jozwiak led the Knights at the sectional, finishing second at 126 pounds. Senior Alex Castiglia was fourth at 113, and senior Nick Kozanecki was fourth at 138.
All three now will finish their careers in Champaign.
“For all of us to make it together is pretty special,” Castiglia said.
Jon J. Kerr is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.