Kevin McGavin

Jacobs' Ryan Golnick pinned De La Salle's David Ortiz for the championship at 220 pounds in the Randy Conrad Invitiational on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020.

Wrestling notes: Jacobs’ Ryan Golnick comes up with a signature win in taking Batavia Invitational title

January 22, 2020 at 5:11 p.m.

Jacobs junior Ryan Golnick faced a stern task Saturday afternoon in the 220-pound championship match at the Batavia Invitational. But Golnick had been there before this season. "I have wrestled...

Oswego's Zach Sato, top, wrestles against Rockton Hononegah's Louden Schnake in the 138-pound match during the West Aurora Mega Duals in Aurora on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019.

Wrestling notes: Zach Sato and Derek Torza deliver like ‘hammers’ at back-to-back weights for Oswego

January 20, 2020 at 5:35 p.m.

Oswego's Zach Sato and Derek Torza shine a light on how much of a strength it is to have accomplished wrestlers at consecutive weight classes. "It's great to have hammers...

Wrestling notes: Returning state qualifier Charlie Millington moves back to heavyweight for Waubonsie Valley

January 14, 2020 at 7:16 p.m.

It is not unusual for coaches and their wrestlers to map out a strategy for the season far in advance. Charlie Millington was an undersized state qualifier last season in...

Huntley's Sam Spencer, left, battles Montini's Dylan Ragusin in the 126-pound match of the Class 3A state wrestling quarterfinals at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019.

Wrestling notes: Huntley’s Sam Spencer stays focused, wants to ‘make more history for my legacy’

January 14, 2020 at 6:10 p.m.

Huntley senior Sam Spencer was beyond disappointed when his Saturday plans were curtailed by the unpredictable Chicago winter. The Red Raiders were supposed to travel to Aurora for a loaded...

Yorkville's Ben Stemmet tries to escape from DeKalb's Blah Dahnweih at 195 pounds in the Class 3A state semifinals at The IHSA Class 3A State Wrestling Semifinals were held at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019.

Wrestling notes: Yorkville’s Ben Stemmet makes strong statement by winning first 20 matches

January 13, 2020 at 9:35 p.m.

Yorkville's Ben Stemmet could not have scripted things any better. In winning his first 20 matches, the 220-pound senior ran the table in capturing major invitational championships at Barrington and...

Wrestling notes: DJ Akins leaves football behind, goes ‘on a monster run’ at 170 pounds for Larkin

January 7, 2020 at 8:33 p.m.

Compared to the wrestlers who dot the state rankings, DJ Akins is clearly a neophyte. "He only started wrestling as a sophomore," Larkin coach Earl Danan said of Akins, his...

Wrestling notes: Waubonsie Valley sophomore Antonio Torres has lofty ambitions but is taking the season ‘one step at a time’

January 7, 2020 at 8:28 p.m.

Antonio Torres is not about to get ahead of himself as the wrestling season progresses in January. "I am just going to take it one step at a time: regional,...

Yorkville's Nick Stemmet, right, battles against Willowbrook's Jack Jessen at 182 pounds in the Class 3A state meet on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018.

Wrestling notes: Stanford commit Nick Stemmet wants to live up to top ranking for Yorkville by winning state

January 6, 2020 at 7:33 p.m.

Nick Stemmet is in rarified air as the calendar flips to 2020. Twenty-four matches into his senior season, the 195-pounder has yet to taste defeat for Yorkville. Stemmet, a Stanford...

Wrestling notes: ‘Not that big,’ Naperville Central senior Angelo Eklou uses his speed to his advantage at 220 pounds

December 26, 2019 at 10:01 p.m.

Angelo Eklou is not your prototypical 220-pound wrestler. "I am not that big," the 5-foot-9 Eklou said. But the Naperville Central senior is on a mission in his final season...

Jacobs' Jake Harrier, left, works to turn Barrington's Marko Hennin during their 132-pound championship match at the Class 3A Dundee-Crown Regional on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019. Harrier's season-opening 17-match winning streak ended at the Dvorak Invitational over the weekend.

Wrestling notes: Jacobs senior Jake Harrier, a three-time state qualifier, looks forward after his first loss of the season

December 26, 2019 at 5:44 p.m.

The wrestling gods have not been terribly generous to Jacobs senior Jake Harrier the past three years. "Downstate he has had some of the toughest draws I have ever seen,"...

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