Wrestling notes: Richmond-Burton’s Emmett Nelson on verge of breaking program’s wins record

Emmett Nelson seemed destined to make Richmond-Burton history this year if everything went according to plan.

After finishing runner-up at the IHSA state tournament his first two seasons and placing at state last year, Nelson had the potential to reach some major milestone, including the Rockets all-time wins record.

Nelson achieved one of those milestones and is set to break another. He reached 150 career wins earlier this season and could break the all-time wins record this weekend.

Despite being on the cusp of history, Nelson isn’t too worried about stacking wins.

“I’m definitely grateful for the opportunity, but I just don’t really look into records and stuff like that,” Nelson said. “I’m just glad to be able to compete as much as I can.”

Nelson sits at 161 career wins heading into action Wednesday. He’ll need four more wins to break Garrett Sutton’s record that he set in 2014. The Rockets will compete in a couple Kishwaukee River Conference duals Thursday before participating in an invitational at Muskego, Wisconsin, on Saturday.

Although Nelson wasn’t worried about the wins, reaching 150 and potentially setting the program record is still impressive. In his coach’s and dad’s view, the numbers showed how dominant Nelson’s been since he joined the Rockets lineup as a freshman.

“It just means that he’s really tough because for you to have 150 wins, you’re obviously wrestling sick and injured,” R-B coach Tony Nelson said. “There’s no one who stays healthy for four straight years, so for him to always put it on the line no matter what, I think that’s to me the most impressive thing.”

Emmett Nelson has his sights on bigger things than records heading into the final weeks before the start of the playoffs. Not only does Nelson want to finally capture an individual state championship, he also wants to compete for the dual team state title.

“I’m definitely grateful for the opportunity, but I just don’t really look into records and stuff like that,” Nelson said. “I’m just glad to be able to compete as much as I can.”

—  Emmett Nelson, Richmond-Burton senior

He believes the Rockets, which includes his freshman brother Lelan, have put in the work throughout the years for this moment.

“It would be awesome because I’ve been training with these kids since I was 8 years old,” Emmett Nelson said. “We’ve all grown up together and we’re doing all the right things for years.”

Marian Central’s Jimmy Mastny making case for county’s best

Hurricanes co-coach Jordan Blanton holds sophomore Jimmy Mastny in high regard – the highest, actually. Last year as a freshman, Mastny went 31-1 and won every postseason match by fall or forfeit on his way to the Class 1A 157-pound individual state championship.

Blanton himself is one of the area’s most accomplished wrestlers in McHenry County history with a career 152-1 record at Richmond-Burton and three state titles.

But Blanton fully believes that there hasn’t been anyone as talented as Mastny to come through the area.

“I’ll just say it, I don’t think there’s ever been a better wrestler in McHenry County than Jimmy,” Blanton said. “I was a really successful wrestler myself. Four-time state finals, three-time state champion. Another wrestler from Marian, Rich Powers, was a two-time state champ and a three-time All-American in college. Dylan Connell was a four-time state champ here.

“But Jimmy is the best wrestler that’s ever competed in this area. And he’s just getting started.”

Mastny continues to be a beast on the mat this season.

On Saturday, Mastny won both of his 190-pound matches by fall over Mount Carmel’s Kenny Segerson and Joliet Catholic’s Isaac Clauson as the Hurricanes swept a home triangular at Landers Pavilion.

Blanton said he tweaks the Hurricanes’ lineup with the intention of putting Mastny in matches against only the top competition.

And Mastny is always up for the challenge.

“We chase guys a bunch and move him and [Dan] French around between 190 and 215 to give [Mastny] the toughest matches we can,” Blanton said. “And he just goes out there and he pins and techs and majors the best kids from around the country all the time. He’s putting together something that I think is really special.”

Huntley leads from all ages

The Red Raiders have run out to an impressive start in the Fox Valley Conference, starting 6-0 heading into action Wednesday. A lot of that has to do with Huntley’s strong leadership.

It’s come from different ages. Huntley coach B.J. Bertelsman said junior Colin Abordo leads the lower weights while sophomore Radic Dvorak and senior Dylan Cerny have led the upper weights.

“We have a lot of kids that do great in the room … ” Bertelsman said. “Our seniors this year that are in the varsity room, they’re doing great.”

Dvorak and Abordo stepping up at a younger age isn’t unique for the Red Raiders. Former Huntley wrestlers Zach and Sam Spencer and David Ferrante all came into leadership roles early. Bertelsman said he expects freshman Dylan Knaus to do the same in the coming years.

“It’s good to see that,” Bertelsman said. “That means that you got a pretty good, accomplished wrestler coming into your program.”

Hampshire ‘riddled with injuries’

On paper, the Whip-Purs lineup heading into the season made them contenders in the FVC. But injuries to some key starters and illnesses have prevented Hampshire from realizing their full potential.

“We’ve been riddled with injuries this year,” Hampshire coach Matt Todd. “It’s been a year like I don’t remember, just with injuries, and then we’ve had illnesses running through the room, too. So it’s been a very trying year, but the kids have been stepping up and really working hard to make sure that they are right there with them.”

Sophomore Carter Hintz is out for the season after he dislocated his kneecap. Other wrestlers have dealt with nagging injuries for much of the year while Todd has been forced to fill in lineup spots because of illnesses.

Although it’s been something he hasn’t seen before, Todd was proud of the way the Whips have responded to adversity.

“It’s been a whirlwind of injuries and sicknesses and everything this year,” Todd said. “So it’s just learning to take the punches and just try to continue to improve and just wrestle how you know.”

• Northwest Herald sports editor Alex Kantecki contributed to this report.