Rob Sherrill
01-09-2008, 01:29 PM
In our on-air commentary during Illinois Matmen's Dvorak webcast, we talked about the 140-pound weight class and how strong it was at that tournament.
And with the likes of Wheaton North’s Eric Terrazas, Fenwick’s Bobby Barnhisel, Rockton Hononegah’s Rob Fenicle, St. Rita’s Mike Migawa and Yorkville’s Derek Jones all wrestling there, the Illinois presence was very strong, even though nobody in that group claimed the Dvorak championship.
But starting with the Berman Holiday Classic at Palatine the next week, 140 started getting a lot more interesting.
Rock Island’s Reese Taylor, Downers Grove North’s Joe Foreman, Hinsdale South’s Jon Goldsher and Minooka’s Ryan Warczynski all came down from 145 to compete at Palatine. And Lincoln-Way Central state champion Josh Kratovil went the other direction – up from 135 – for a little extra competition. He got it in the finals from Taylor, whom he beat 6-1 in a battle of unbeatens.
The exodus from 145 continued last week as another pair of senior unbeatens, Glenbard South’s Mark Griffin and Burlington Central’s Curt Mastio, also made the drop. Both went on to win tournament titles last weekend. So did the weight’s top-ranked wrestler, state placewinner Danny Monaco of Glenbard North, who was impressive at The Clash National Duals at Rochester, Minn. with a 6-0 record.
So what’s happening? Apparently, Monaco’s workout partner, Vince Ramos, is considered untouchable at 145. At 140, though Monaco seems head and shoulders above the rest, he has lost to Fenicle this year – so all the key players obviously have high hopes that they’ll put together the hot weekend at the right time.
But there’s another question: What if Kratovil finds the landscape at 140 so inviting that he decides to stay there? And what would Kratovil’s defection do to the 135-pound weight class – and to 130, if one or more of those principals (Oak Park-River Forest’s Ellis Coleman?) decides to stay up a weight. Maybe one of those counting on the hot weekend at 140 may see if he can make it happen at 135 instead.
The additions to 140 also have made a mess of several sectionals. Let’s start with Fenton – in particular, the Willowbrook regional. There you’ll find Foreman, Griffin and Goldsher…along with Montini’s Alex Saunders and Lyons Township’s Pat Murphy. Even for the standouts, it will be the battle of a lifetime just to advance to Fenton. There, Barnhisel, St. Patrick’s Jimmy DiNino, Elk Grove’s Robert Pechacek and Glenbard West’s Paul Stano will be part of the field.
The Lake Park regional doesn’t provide any margin for error, either, with Monaco, Terrazas and Hoffman Estates' Tommy Wadas all there. The sectional, at Naperville North, brings Epp and Plainfield Central’s Josh Toton into play from the Romeoville regional.
And last, but not least, at the Rock Island sectional, the home-mat advantage may not do much for Taylor. Assuming he gets past Sterling’s Austin Hanabarger in the Moline regional, he’ll have Fenicle, Mastio and Jones all waiting for him.
Kratovil (should he stay here), Migawa, Warczynski and Grant state champion Lee Munster should have little difficulty advancing.
It’s safe to say we haven’t seen the last of the seismic shifts at this weight class.
And with the likes of Wheaton North’s Eric Terrazas, Fenwick’s Bobby Barnhisel, Rockton Hononegah’s Rob Fenicle, St. Rita’s Mike Migawa and Yorkville’s Derek Jones all wrestling there, the Illinois presence was very strong, even though nobody in that group claimed the Dvorak championship.
But starting with the Berman Holiday Classic at Palatine the next week, 140 started getting a lot more interesting.
Rock Island’s Reese Taylor, Downers Grove North’s Joe Foreman, Hinsdale South’s Jon Goldsher and Minooka’s Ryan Warczynski all came down from 145 to compete at Palatine. And Lincoln-Way Central state champion Josh Kratovil went the other direction – up from 135 – for a little extra competition. He got it in the finals from Taylor, whom he beat 6-1 in a battle of unbeatens.
The exodus from 145 continued last week as another pair of senior unbeatens, Glenbard South’s Mark Griffin and Burlington Central’s Curt Mastio, also made the drop. Both went on to win tournament titles last weekend. So did the weight’s top-ranked wrestler, state placewinner Danny Monaco of Glenbard North, who was impressive at The Clash National Duals at Rochester, Minn. with a 6-0 record.
So what’s happening? Apparently, Monaco’s workout partner, Vince Ramos, is considered untouchable at 145. At 140, though Monaco seems head and shoulders above the rest, he has lost to Fenicle this year – so all the key players obviously have high hopes that they’ll put together the hot weekend at the right time.
But there’s another question: What if Kratovil finds the landscape at 140 so inviting that he decides to stay there? And what would Kratovil’s defection do to the 135-pound weight class – and to 130, if one or more of those principals (Oak Park-River Forest’s Ellis Coleman?) decides to stay up a weight. Maybe one of those counting on the hot weekend at 140 may see if he can make it happen at 135 instead.
The additions to 140 also have made a mess of several sectionals. Let’s start with Fenton – in particular, the Willowbrook regional. There you’ll find Foreman, Griffin and Goldsher…along with Montini’s Alex Saunders and Lyons Township’s Pat Murphy. Even for the standouts, it will be the battle of a lifetime just to advance to Fenton. There, Barnhisel, St. Patrick’s Jimmy DiNino, Elk Grove’s Robert Pechacek and Glenbard West’s Paul Stano will be part of the field.
The Lake Park regional doesn’t provide any margin for error, either, with Monaco, Terrazas and Hoffman Estates' Tommy Wadas all there. The sectional, at Naperville North, brings Epp and Plainfield Central’s Josh Toton into play from the Romeoville regional.
And last, but not least, at the Rock Island sectional, the home-mat advantage may not do much for Taylor. Assuming he gets past Sterling’s Austin Hanabarger in the Moline regional, he’ll have Fenicle, Mastio and Jones all waiting for him.
Kratovil (should he stay here), Migawa, Warczynski and Grant state champion Lee Munster should have little difficulty advancing.
It’s safe to say we haven’t seen the last of the seismic shifts at this weight class.