Area Sports Roundup: Marist leads way with 11 wrestlers heading to state

By Jeff Vorva
Staff writer

An army of area wrestlers is headed to the state tournament, with 49 set to hit the mat in Champaign.

During sectional action on Feb. 12, area wrestlers feasted on opponents. Marist will send 11 to the tournament, which begins Thursday at State Farm Center on the University of Illinois campus. Brother Rice and Mount Carmel will each send nine.

The area produced 16 sectional champions, with Mount Carmel leading the way with four.

At the Class 3A Hinsdale Central, the RedHawks and Caravan did a lot of damage.

Marist will send George Marinopoulos (106), Michael Esteban (113), Will Denny (120), Jesse Herrera (126), Owen Dunlap (132), Ricky Ericksen (145), Tommy Boland (160), Jake Liberatore (170), Conor Phelan (182), Peter Marinopoulos (sectional champ at 195) and Ghee Rachal (sectional champ at 220).

Mt. Carmel will send Seth Mendoza (sectional champ at 106), Damian Resendez (113), Jairo Acuna (120), Sergio Lemley (sectional champ at 126), Eddie Enright (132), Colin Kelly (sectional champ at 160), Rylan Breen (182), Elliot Lewis (195) and Ryan Boersma (sectional champ at 285).

Sandburg will send Rocco Hayes (106), Sammie Hayes (sectional champ at 120) and Kevin Zimmer (285).

Lyons will send Gunnar Garelli (126) and Cooper Schodrof (170).

Shepard is sending Damari Reed (a sectional champion at 152).

Morton will send Anthony Lopez (113).

Class 2A
In the Class 2A Hinsdale South Sectional, Brother Rice, Riverside-Brookfield and Morton combined to send 20 grapplers to Champaign.

The Crusaders are sending Bobby Conway (120), James Bennett (126), Al Perez (sectional champ at 138), Connor Nelligan (145), Charles Connolly (152), Nate Chirillo (sectional champion at 160), Tom Bennett (sectional champ at 170), Colin Ashley (sectional champ at 182) and Gabino Perez (195).

Riverside-Brookfield is sending Edgar Mosquera (113), Mateo Costello (sectional champ at 126), Brock Hoyd (170), Liam Cote (182), Thurman Givens (195) and Joe Midona (220).

St. Rita will send Austin Dangles (sectional champion at 113), Donovan Allen (sectional champ at 120), Sean Larkin (sectional champ at 132), Isaac Gayton-Reilly (145) and Jon Fulgencio (170).

Evergreen Park is sending Mike Torres (170), James Williams (182), Connor Rinearson (195) and Eduardo Antunez (220).

Richards is sending Dom Paul (138) and Adnan Abuzir (220).

Kennedy is sending Victor Alvarado (106) and Raymond Begay (sectional champion at 285).

De La Salle is sending Raymond Alvarado (106).

Class 1A
Advancing from the Class 1A Coal City Sectional, St. Laurence will send Henry Coughlin (160) and Mike Gentile (170).

Nazareth will send Gabe Kaminski (220).

Girls Bowlers State-Bound
Morton’s girls bowling team is heading to the state tournament for the first time since 2015 after finishing second in the Hinsdale South Sectional on Feb. 12 at Bowlero Lanes in Woodridge.

The Mustangs shot a 5,542 in six games to finish runnerup to York’s 5,746. Reavis just missed qualifying with a fifth-place finish of 5,224.

Abigail Garfio rolled a 1,235 to lead the Mustangs and was third overall. Michelle Baeza’s 1,173 was fifth. Others helping Morton to state were Ashley Baeza, Nayeli Gutierrez, Nyla Lawson, Tania Teliz and Zenaba Alassani.

Curie sophomore Nina Kick is headed to state individually after firing a 1,186.

Boys Hoops Playoffs
The boys postseason basketball seedings were announced last week.

In Class 4A, Lyons is seeded third in the 17-team Proviso West Sectional behind Whitney Young and Curie, while Riverside-Brookfield picked up the fourth seed. Morton is 10^th and Argo 15^th.

At the 17-team Thornwood Sectional, St.  Rita picked up the third seed behind Kenwood and Homewood-Flossmoor. Brother Rice is fourth, Marist 10^th, Stagg 13^th, Sandburg 14^th and Reavis 17^th.

In Class 3A, Mount Carmel is seeded second at the 18-team Hinsdale South Sectional behind Simeon. Nazareth drew the fifth seed, St Laurence is eighth, Bogan 10^th, Solorio 11^th, Goode 14^th and Kennedy 16^th.

At the Marian Catholic Sectional, Evergreen Park is seeded seventh and Richards 11^th.

In Class 2A, Gage Park is the 10^th seed in Sub-Sectional A of the Julian Sectional, while Catalyst Maria is 11^th. In Sub-Sectional B, Chicago Christian is seeded 10^th.

Celtics Onward
Three area residents are among 18 Providence student-athletes who will continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level.

Billy Meiszner of Orland Park will Kent State on wrestling and academic scholarships. Meiszner, son of Bill and Deanna Meiszner and a graduate of Century Junior High, plans to major in finance. He is a member of the honor roll and is involved with Habitat for Humanity. As an athlete, he was the wrestling team MVP as a junior, and served as team captain both his junior and senior years.

“Providence has given me knowledge I will need in college,” Meiszner said.

Devin Devine of Palos Heights will attend St. Ambrose on football and academic scholarships. Meiszner, son of David and Therese Devine and a graduate of St. Alexander, plans to major in mechanical engineering. He is a member of the honor roll and National Honor Society, and has also been a member of the Providence Bags Club. In football, he was been named First Team All-Conference in the Chicago Catholic League-east Suburban Catholic Conference his senior season.

“Playing in a tradition of greatness in the CCL and the rigorous classwork has made me ready to take the next step,” Devne said.

Shaw Stukel of Orland Park will attend St. Ambrose University on baseball and academic scholarships. Stukel, son of Douglas and Dina Stukel and a graduate of Orland Junior High, plans to major in business with a minor in marketing. He is a member of the honor roll and National Honor Society.

“Providence has prepared me with communication, life skills and great family atmosphere values,” Stukel said.