High school wrestling: Marian Central wins 3rd consecutive Class 2A regional championship

WOODSTOCK – After three years, Marian Central wrestling has perfected the art of the team trophy picture.

The Hurricanes know that photos with 20 or 30 people turn out better if they use the bleachers, some in front, some behind – a nice even distribution of faces.

Marian put that knowledge to good use Saturday after winning its third consecutive IHSA Class 2A regional title. The Hurricanes won the Woodstock North Regional with 228 points, well ahead of Cary-Grove (135.5) in second and Crystal Lake Central (132.5) in third.

“I’m superproud of these guys,” coach David Silva said. “They really care about each other, and we are a supertight team. It’s pretty fun.”

Marian had six individual regional champions and two runners-up. Four more Hurricanes wrestlers finish third, advancing to next weekend. The top three in each weight class advanced to the Class 2A Deerfield Sectional.

The regional title also means Marian advances to the Fenton Dual Team Sectional on Feb. 25, keeping hopes for a team trip to state alive.

“It’s awesome,” junior Niko Lopez said. “It’s a great feeling to go into the room and grind. Everyone’s got the same goal.”

Lopez won the 182-pound regional title, pinning Prairie Ridge’s Tommy Evans in the second period. Lopez had been trailing, 7-5, in the match.

Other Hurricanes winners were Elon Rodriguez (120 pounds), Scott Burke (126), Daniel Valeria (132), Bryce Shelton (138) and Dylan Connell (170). Hugh Holian (145) and Kaden Randazzo (160) finished second.

Crystal Lake South won four individual regional titles. Amador Castro (106), Christian Olsen (113), Peyton Timmons (145) and Shane Moran (152) won their weight classes.

Crystal Lake Central’s Caden Ernd (160) and Ramon Fuentes (285) won regional titles for the Tigers. Ernd beat Marian’s Randazzo in a battle of two wrestlers ranked in the top eight in their class by the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association. Ernd fought for a 6-0 decision.

“I just had to keep my pace up,” Ernd said. “I think I did a pretty good job keeping my pace, and I got my points when I needed them.”

Prairie Ridge’s Kyle Koelblinger (195) and Josh Crandall (220) won regional titles. Crandall just returned to the mat after missing three weeks with a thumb injury. He defeated Cary-Grove’s Joe Swanson, 12-3, in the final. Both are highly ranked in their class, as well.

“It’s always tough,” Prairie Ridge coach Trey Breeden said of Crandall's injury. “You can ride a bike, you can run, but when you’re not on the mat, it shows a little bit. The gas tank was a little down today, but we’ll get it back.”

Lopez’s win over Evans was another marquee matchup from the day. Both are ranked in the top 10 at 182, with Evans ranked third and Lopez 10th. Evans controlled the match early, building his lead to as much as four points.

“We were talking about that match all week,” Silva said. “We wanted that match. He just caught him in a transition, and we just kind of outwrestled him, outhustled him in that period.”

Breeden said Evans, who lost for only the third time this season, simply made a mistake.

“Like I told him, doesn’t matter this week,” Breeden said. “We move on to next week. That’s what it’s all about.”

Marian’s Bryce Shelton defeated Woodstock North’s Isaiah Vela in the final at 138. Both are ranked in the top 10. Shelton won with a first-period pin.

“I got in the right position, and I had to finish,” Shelton said. “It’s awesome. We put in the work every single week, and then to show it in the tournaments, it’s what we work for.”

IHSA Class 2A Woodstock North Regional

Team scores: 1. Marian Central 228, 2. Cary-Grove 135.5, 3. Crystal Lake Central 132.5, 4. Prairie Ridge 128, 5. Crystal Lake South 112.5, 6. Woodstock 67, 7. Woodstock North 42.5.

Championship matches (both wrestlers advanced)

106: Castro (CLS) def. Evans (PR), 10-8.

113: Olsen (CLS) def. Reyes (WN), injury fft.

120: Rodriguez (Marian) p. S. Ilkow (PR), 3:48.

126: Burke (Marian) p. C. Suyko (C-G), 1:58.

132: Valeria (Marian) def. C. Gruen (C-G), 9-5.

138: Shelton (Marian) p. Vela (WN), 1:53.

145: Timmons (CLS) tech. fall Holian (Marian), 15-0.

152: Moran (CLS) p. Adams (Wdk), 4:41.

160: Ernd (CLC) def. Randazzo (Marian), 6-0.

170: Connell (Marian) def. Parks (CLC), 8-0.

182: Lopez (Marian) p. Evans (PR), 2:51.

195: Koelblinger (PR) def. Ryerson (CLC), 18-10.

220: Crandall (PR) def. Swanson (C-G), 12-3.

285: Fuentes (CLC) def. Mattran (PR), 19-10.

Third-place matches (winner advanced)

106: Davidson (Marian) def. R. Gruen (C-G), 6-0.

113: Fitzgerald (Marian) p. R. Koelblinger (PR), 5:18.

120: Hodory (Wdk) def. Immer (C-G), 7-2.

126: C. Ferree (PR) p. Cote (Wdk), 3:12.

132: Butler (CLC) def. Iversen (Wdk), 5-3.

138: Lezama (CLC) def. Z. Kitchen (CLS), 8-6.

145: Vincent (C-G) def. Johnson (CLC), 7-0.

152: Braden (Marian) def. P. Suyko (C-G), 6-2.

160: Peters (C-G) p. Goetz (WN), 5:22.

170: Sivertsen (CLS) def. Wade Abrams (C-G), 6-4.

182: Rands (C-G) def. Barrick (CLC), 4-0.

195: Gaddy (Marian) def. Grell (Wdk), 5-0.

220: Hudec (CLC) p. Loiselle (Wdk), 3:42.

285: Beeksma (C-G) p. Pawlak (Marian), 4:20.