High school wrestling insider: Huntley's David Ferrante is Athlete of the Week

Athlete of the Week

David Ferrante, Huntley, jr., 170

Ferrante won the IHSA Class 3A 170-pound state championship Saturday in Champaign.

In truth, this week's award goes to all three local state champions: Ferrante, Marian Central's Dylan Connell (Class 2A, 160) and Crystal Lake South's Christian Olsen (2A, 113). Connell and Olsen have already won athlete of the week honors this season, however, so Ferrante will take the honor.

Ferrante is not only Huntley’s first wrestling champion, but also the Red Raiders’ first wrestler ever to reach a title match. He is now a two-time state medalist after winning a fourth-place medal at 152 as a freshman. He is committed to wrestle at Northwestern.

Huntley coach B.J. Bertelsman hopes Ferrante’s success is the first of many for the program.

“It’s like that first chip in the dam, and it’s a big chip and hopefully it causes a flood,” Bertelsman said. “Six state qualifiers coming back [next year], including David.”

NORTHWEST HERALD POWER RANKINGS

1. Marian Central: The Hurricanes (23-0) had the most state medalists – four – of any McHenry County school. They defeated Antioch at the Class 2A Wauconda Dual Team Sectional to advance to dual team state.

2. Huntley: Ferrante was the Red Raiders' only state medalist. Huntley (22-9) finishes the season short of dual team state after a loss to Prospect at sectionals.

3. Jacobs: The FVC runners-up did not have any state medalists. John Ridle (145) and Jake Harrier (132) each finished one win short of a medal in Class 3A.

4. Crystal Lake Central: Central's Brock Montford (182) held a 4-3 lead late in a Class 2A state title match before falling, 8-5, against Coal City's Daniel Jezik. Freshman Dillon Carlson (113) and sophomore Caden Ernd (152) were each one win short of a medal.

5. Crystal Lake South: Olsen is South's first state champion since Eric Barone in 2015. Teammate Jason Burburija (220) was one win short of a medal.

WORTH NOTING

No small feat: Even though he lost the title match, Central's Montford went home happy with his performance. A year ago, he didn't even qualify for sectionals. Now the senior ends his career as a state runner-up.

“I got a lot better,” Montford said. “I think mostly what changed was my mindset. I think I got physically stronger.”

Montford bulked up from 145 to 182 over the offseason. He was seeking to become Central’s 18th state champion in school history. The last was current Air Force wrestler Lenny Petersen, who won back-to-back Class 2A titles at 138 in 2016 and 2017.

Freshman focus: After winning a state semifinal Friday, Marian freshman Josh Glover (106) said he "thought it was a dream." The freshman fell short of the ultimate dream, losing Saturday's championship match, 9-1, against Bloomington's Chad Bellis.

Still, coach David Silva thinks Glover has a bright future on a young Hurricanes squad.

“He was just a better wrestler than us at this point," Silva said of Bloomington’s Bellis. "I told Glover he had a lot to be proud of, he had a great tournament.”

WHAT TO WATCH

Marian Central vs. Chatham Glenwood, 9 a.m. Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington: Winner advances to the 2 p.m. state semifinal and is guaranteed to take home a state trophy. The state championship and third-place matches get underway at 6 p.m.