Notre Dame wrestlers Jake Barzowski and Marco Orlandi both overcame injuries this season to earn trips to this week’s Class 3A state tournament.
Barzowski, a junior, qualified at 138 pounds, and Orlandi, a senior, advanced at 170. Both had to win matches in the wrestleback semifinals Saturday at the Glenbard North Sectional to get to the University of Illinois. Both finished fourth at the sectional.
This is Orlandi’s second consecutive appearance at the state meet and the first for Barzowski.
“This is awesome,” said Orlandi, who beat Taft senior Dawid Wojs 7-3 in the state-clinching match. “I didn’t know for sure I would be wrestling.”
Barzowski is scheduled to wrestle Marmion sophomore Anthony Cheloni (31-11) in his opening-round match at the state tournament on Thursday while Orlandi is set to face Barrington senior Julius Smith (33-5) the same day.
Notre Dame senior Jimmy Gallardo took second at 113 pounds at the sectional and also advanced to state. Gallardo (28-4) will wrestle Hononegah senior Alex Rader (26-16) in the first round.
Orlandi (17-5) has a torn MCL, a partially torn ACL and a partially torn meniscus in his left knee. His right leg has a tight IT band. Notre Dame coach Augie Genovesi said doctors told Orlandi in December that he probably wouldn’t be able to wrestle in the state series.
“He’s a gutsy guy, a senior,” Genovesi said.
Barzowski (13-4) has battled bad ankles for most of the season.
But, after each missed nearly 50 days from late December to early February, both wrestlers got healthy enough for the Evanston Regional tournament.
“Neither of them could run,” Genovesi said. “They had to find other ways to train without running or wrestling.”
Barzowski said he spent most of his time riding a stationary bike or using his upper body to swing a heavy rope. But nothing could replicate what it takes to compete on the mat.
“I had to knock off some rust,” he said. “And my lungs are not fully there. I get gassed.”
It showed in his semifinal wrestleback against Lane senior Jake Davis. Barzowski led 4-1 before Davis sent the match into overtime. Barzowski, who lost to Davis in the regional final, scored a takedown in extra time to advance.
Orlandi’s win in the semifinal wrestleback avenged a loss to Wojs in the regional final.
“The goal from the beginning of the season was to get to state,” Barzowski said. “It didn’t change, even with the injuries. I wasn’t going to make any excuses. This is very satisfying.”
Twitter: @harnesspreps
