Carl Sandburg tops the field at Conant

By Chris Walker For the IWCOA

One of the things that a few of the individual champions shared during Saturday’s 16-team Hruska Classic was that they didn’t become wrestlers until they entered high school.

Elgin senior Fabian Ramirez (175), Leyden junior Erick Worwa (215) and De La Salle Institute senior David McCarthy (285) are each just a few years into the sport, yet they found themselves crowned as champions during their first invite of the season.

Carl Sandburg, which had five champions, won the invite with 299 points, while Glenbard North, which had three champions, took second place with 239.5. Oswego was a distant third at 150.

“I was a fat kid in middle school and I learned that my cousin, before he went into the military, that he wrestled and was a big wrestling fan,” McCarthy said. “My family has always been in martial arts and things like that and used to do karate and a lot of gymnastics stuff, and when I got to high school I played football and they came out and talked to me and said ‘Do you want to wrestle? I was like my whole family wrestled so why not I give it a try? I didn’t make weight freshman year, I was like 315 (pounds), but I made weight sophomore year, went to state and was like, ‘This is it, this is what I want to do.’”

It’s hard to imagine a big kid like McCarthy getting picked on, but he acknowledged that it happened.

“I grew up in a very big, fighting family and I’ve always been the smallest height-wise and weight-wise,” McCarthy said. “I’m always getting picked on by everybody else so I had to learn a way to defend myself and now I’m going head-to-head with 6-5, 300-something pound people and I’m like it’s my defense mechanism.”

McCarthy had some family members hooting and hollering for his efforts after his victory. In a rematch of last year’s title bout, McCarthy won by fall over Round Lake senior William Cole in 1:47. Last year, McCarthy was pinned by Cole in the opening minute. 

“I love my family but they are a little embarrassing,” McCarthy said. “But they come out and support every tournament. Somebody is coming, no matter who it is, somebody is there, two or three people. Somebody is always there to support, it always goes deep with the family.”

Elgin’s Ramirez started wrestling during his freshman year. Now a senior, Ramirez finished in third place at Conant last year. He won the title on Saturday after pinning Oswego East senior Demetrius Walker-Hill in 11 seconds.

“I saw it coming in and he shot, and I was like in awe because I’ve been in this position before,” Ramirez said. “I thought that if this is what he’s going to do then you got to punish that, and then just lifted him over, an 11-second pin. It’s something I can’t even explain. I just don’t think when I wrestle, I just go, I just react.”

Conant is a familiar place for Ramirez. Last year he won the Class 3A Conant sectional at 190 with a 9-5 decision against St. Charles East sophomore Cooper Murray. Two years ago, his sophomore season ended after he got pinned by Glenbard North senior Johnnie Robertson in the quarterfinals at 170 of the Class 3A Conant sectional.

“My brother wrestled so I wanted to do it and did that, and then during my sophomore year I was here at sectionals,” he said, “I lost in the first round and that really broke me. I was very very angry that I had lost that match because, you know, I was inexperienced and I hadn’t even wrestled for this long so it made me want to commit to it. I’ve gone to Gomez Wrestling RTC ever since then and he just made me who I am. It doesn’t matter who is in front of me anymore, it’s just another thing.”

Ramirez just finished up the football season as the Maroons went 3-6.

“It still doesn’t feel real,” Ramirez said, “I’m still in shock because I’m from Elgin so it’s like … an unknown school. (Soccer) is the only thing we got. But I don’t like stereotypes and I try to break them. So I’m going to come out and ranked fourth at 190 I saw that and I don’t know, I’m here to make waves, some changes, to change the system (at Elgin).”

Leyden’s Worwa is another kid who hadn’t wrestled before high school. In fact, Worwa really wasn’t into athletics until he signed up for wrestling just a couple years ago. Now a junior, Worwa is only in his second varsity season, but already has a tournament championship on his resume for the new year. He won it with a 12-9 decision over South Elgin senior Deremit Zamora.

Just like Ramirez, Worwa has to thank an older brother for inspiring him to give wrestling a shot.

“No sports at all before wrestling,” he said. “It was pretty much my brother wrestling. When he was a senior I was a freshman and he told me I should join wrestling so I did. Freshmen year went well. I was all-conference and went to fresh-soph state that year and fell in love with the sport and really enjoyed myself. I figured this is my life now so let’s enjoy it as well as I can.”

At last year’s Chris Hruska Wrestling Classic, Worwa got dropped by Sandburg senior Ahmad Jaffal in his second match of the day.

“Last year I didn’t place at this tournament and this year I got first and am currently undefeated,” Worwa said. “It feels really good. I’ve been practicing and been pushing myself everyday. It just feels good to get started and to get on top. I’m starting to win more and be more confident in myself.”

He outlasted Zamora to earn the 215 title.

“I think the difference was pure determination,” Worwa said, “Me and the other guys, we were really determined. We were pushing each other. We were trying to get it. I was just going for the points, going for the shots, I didn’t want to lose so I was pushing myself. I was just in my mind ‘Don’t lose, push yourself, you’ve been pushing yourself all week hard. You earned it,’ and I just wanted to prove it to myself.”

It didn’t take long for Worwa to fall in love with the sport and the team while also becoming a talented competitor.

“I love the team,” he said. “Spending time with basically guys who have become your brothers over the season feels really good, especially when you push yourself constantly and you’re getting better. It feels amazing. That’s what I like about it. You see yourself improving that’s what I really enjoy about it.”

Sandburg’s Rocco Hayes (120), Madden Parker (138) and Ryan Hinger (150) won for the second straight year at Conant. Hayes was named Most Valuable Wrestler for the second consecutive year.

“Yeah, so today was a pretty good day overall,” Hayes said. “Getting to my offense has been a big part of my success and just having a great mindset going into matches.”

Hayes is coming off an off-season of hard work, including some at the University of Virginia where he’ll continue next year.

“My off-season was good,” he said. “I trained at Virginia for some time and just made sure I got better and stronger overall. I’m a new me from last year. I’m a totally new person on the mat. I’m coming for a lot this season and I have a great mentality right now. From last year, I have just gotten bigger and stronger and that is what I needed. I became more technical and more offensive.”

He took care of business quickly and efficiently, earning pins at 0:55 in the quarterfinals, 2:29 in the semifinals, and 2:39 in the final. 

Tyson Bruce (132) and Wyatt Hochgraber (165) also won for the Eagles.

Bruce took fifth last year at Conant and did not qualify for state, 

“Since the season ended last year I’ve just been grinding basically all off-season through freestyle and Greco and I was practicing at R13 Wrestling with Carson Beebe and I think he helped me get a lot better,” Bruce said. “I’m way more focused on on my technique and foot work and being real smart on the mat and knowing what to do. I think that really helped with the jump there, and then just being more focused this year than anything.”

Sandburg coach Clinton Polz likes what he’s seeing from Bruce.

“He’s put in a lot of time over the years and it’s really starting to pay off and show on the mat,” Polz said. “So I’m really happy for him. He’s become a leader in our room and in the off-season and in-season.”

Polz said the Eagles were still missing one wrestler but expect to be at full strength soon.

“A lot of our guys aren’t down to their certification weights yet so that’ll happen next week for a lot of them.” Polz said .”So a lot of guys will be sliding down a weight class. I’m pretty happy with what we saw today with most of them up a weight class today.”

Glenbard North freshman Vannak Khiev won in his debut high school tournament. Kalani Khiev (126) and Julian Holland (190) also enjoyed championship days for the Panthers.

Oswego senior Brayden Swanson defeated Sandburg sophomore Brady Ritter, 4-1, to win at 150.

South Elgin’s Nick Dilallo won at 113, beating fellow freshman Kyle Hayes of Sandburg by tech fall. 

New Trier senior Tagg Miller scored a 13-9 decision win at 157 over Oswego senior Ethan Essick.

Sandburg also won the Hruska last year. Runner-up Glenbard North won it in 2022. The Eagles finished third that year.

“I think this team has only one goal in mind and it’s to win a state title this year and compete,” Bruce said. “It’s an uphill battle this year with some of the teams, but we finished pretty strong here today and that’s just great motivator for next week and weeks to come. I just hope we continue to do that.”

Motivating athletes was one of the late Chris Hruska’s many abilities. The former Conant wrestling coach died of cancer in 2011 and the school now hosts the Chris Hruska Wrestling Classic each winter.

Conant Chris Hruska Wrestling Classic championship matches

106 – Vannak Khiev (Glenbard North) 2-0, Fr. over Anthony Hayes (Carl Sandburg) 2-1, Jr. (Fall 1:35)

113 – Nick Dilallo (South Elgin) 6-0, Fr. over Kyle Hayes (Carl Sandburg) 3-1, Fr. (TF-1.5 4:38 (20-2))

120 – Rocco Hayes (Carl Sandburg) 4-0, Sr. over Sammy Sikorsky (Geneva) 2-1, Sr. (Fall 2:39)

126 – Kalani Khiev (Glenbard North) 3-0, Sr. over John Sheehy (Notre Dame) 2-1, Sr. (Dec 11-6)

132 – Tyson Bruce (Carl Sandburg) 4-0, Sr. over Trey Thompson (Glenbard North) 3-1, Jr. (Dec 4-1)

138 – Madden Parker (Carl Sandburg) 4-0, Sr. over Matt Goolish (Conant) 3-1, Sr. (Fall 1:11)

144 – Brayden Swanson (Oswego) 5-0, Sr. over Brady Ritter (Carl Sandburg) 3-1, So. (Dec 4-1)

150 – Ryan Hinger (Carl Sandburg) 4-0, Sr. over Dillon Griffin (Oswego) 4-1, Jr. (Fall 2:38)

157 – Tagg Miller (New Trier) 3-0, over Ethan Essick (Oswego) 2-1, Sr. (Dec 13-9)

165 – Wyatt Hochgraber (Carl Sandburg) 4-0, Jr. over Adnan Askar (Carl Sandburg) 3-1, (Fall 1:34)

175 – Fabian Ramirez (Elgin) 4-0, Sr. over Demetrius Walker-Hill (Oswego East) 5-1, Sr. (Fall 0:11)

190 – Julian Holland (Glenbard North) 4-0, Sr. over Chris Davis (Carl Sandburg) 3-1, Jr. (Fall 0:26)

215 – Erick Worwa (Leyden) 4-0, Jr. over Deremit Zamora (South Elgin) 6-2, Sr. (Dec 12-9)

285 – David McCarthy (De La Salle) 3-0, Sr. over William Cole (Round Lake) 6-1, Sr. (Fall 1:47)

Third-place matches

106 – Evan Hamilton (South Elgin) 2-4, Jr. over Ryu Yamazaki (Conant) 1-2, Jr. (TF-1.5 4:31 (19-3))

113 – Ray Long (Notre Dame) 2-1, So. over Jaden Quito (Glenbard North) 1-2, So. (MD 18-5)

120 – Alex Rodriguez (Leyden) 2-1, Jr. over Jaylen Sandy (Bloomington) 1-2, So. (Dec 13-6)

126 – Luis Flores (Conant) 3-1, Jr. over Aiden Ortiz (Oswego) 4-2, Jr. (MD 10-2)

132 – Andrew Wendt (Geneva) 2-1, Sr. over Mike Goolish (Conant) 2-3, So. (Fall 1:39)

138 – Braeden Grisham (Oswego East) 6-1, Sr. over Richard Morales (Glenbard North) 1-2, Sr. (Dec 5-3)

144 – John Greifelt (Notre Dame) 2-1, Jr. over Tyler Barlow (Bloomington) 1-2, Jr. (Dec 12-8)

150 – Victor Chevganov (Conant) 3-1, Sr. over Dane Henson (South Elgin) 2-5, Jr. (Fall 3:30)

157 – Nick Nicosia (Carl Sandburg) 4-1, Sr. over Rylan Kradle (Glenbard North) 1-2, Sr. (Dec 5-3)

165 – Erik Esquivel (Glenbard North) 3-1, Jr. over Mylan Williams (Curie) 2-2, Sr. (MD 9-1)

175 – Ahmad Alomari (Carl Sandburg) 4-1, Sr. over Edgar Gomez (Round Lake) 6-2, Sr. (Fall 3:32)

190 – Terrelle Jackson (De La Salle) 3-1, Sr. over Michael Keany (Notre Dame) 2-2, Sr. (Fall 3:13)

215 – Malic Breish (Carl Sandburg) 3-1, Sr. over Kelvin Harris (Bloomington) 2-2, Sr. (Fall 0:47)

285 – Brodie Slou (Oswego) 4-1, Sr. over Joshua Edwards (Oswego East) 4-4, Sr. (Fall 1:32)

Fifth-place matches

113 – Damian Ramos (Conant) 4-1, Fr. over Justin Forbes (De La Salle) 3-2, Fr. (Fall 4:36)

120 – Isaac Velasco (Glenbard North) 2-1, Sr. over Vincent Arvetis (De La Salle) 2-2, So. (Fall 0:50)

126 – Oscar Kalman (Carl Sandburg) 4-1, So. over Jack Schweitzer (Bloomington) 3-2, Fr. (Fall 1:38)

132 – Brady Krueger (Notre Dame) 4-1, Jr. over Ryan Geogoplous (New Trier) 3-2, (Fall 0:56)

138 – Vincent Manfre (Oswego) 5-1, Sr. over Aamir Nieves-Allen (South Elgin) 2-5, Sr. (Fall 5:27)

144 – Angelo Gatses (Glenbard North) 4-1, So. over Sharjeel Saqibuddin (New Trier) 3-2, (Fall 2:43)

150 – Donovan Walsh (Notre Dame) 4-1, Sr. over Emir Mustapayev (Glenbard North) 3-2, Sr. (Fall 1:45)

157 – David Rueth (Geneva) 4-1, Jr. over Deniz Ozturk (Notre Dame) 3-2, Sr. (Fall 1:21)

165 – Marcus Regalado (New Trier) 4-1, over Kevin O`Grady (Oswego) 3-2, Sr. (MD 16-5)

175 – Joey Fitak (Glenbard North) 4-1, So. over Jackson Spizzirri (Conant) 3-3, So. (Dec 12-7)

190 – Karl Pretzer (South Elgin) 4-3, Sr. over Charlie Anderson (Oswego East) 5-2, Jr. (Fall 2:27)

215 – Jovan Cerny (Oswego East) 6-3, Jr. over Tyler Hvorcik (Glenbard North) 3-2, Jr. (Fall 1:03)

285 – Omar Alhmoud (Carl Sandburg) 5-1, Sr. over Jaylen Raab (Bloomington) 3-2, So. (UTB 3-2)

Seventh-place matches

113 – Nolan O´Grady (Oswego) 3-2, So. over Mateo Marin (Round Lake) 3-4, Jr. (TF-1.5 3:15 (16-0))

120 – George Driesbach (Geneva) 2-2, So. over Raval Drew (South Elgin) 0-4, Sr. (Fall 1:09)

126 – Matt Miralles (New Trier) 2-2, over Macarten Parker (Carl Sandburg) 2-3, . (MD 14-4)

132 – Emilio Chavarria (Round Lake) 7-2, Jr. over Jayden Edgar Gray (Elgin) 1-3, So. (Dec 12-8)

138 – Henry Quntar Jr. (Oswego) 2-2, over Melvin Cannon (De La Salle) 0-3, Sr. (Fall 4:55)

144 – Vladimir Castaneda (Conant) 2-2, over Gio Ortiz (Leyden) 1-3, Fr. (Fall 2:51)

150 – Yassin Aitzemkour (New Trier) 3-2, over Yuliel Quinonez (Curie) 1-3, Sr. (Fall 3:14)

157 – Nathan Jung (South Elgin) 3-5, Sr. over Emilio Guzman (Elgin) 1-3, Jr. (For.)

165 – Triston Stinson (Oswego East) 5-3, Jr. over Ian Hernandez (Round Lake) 4-4, Sr. (Dec 8-3)

175 – Daniel Aguas (Bloomington) 3-2, Jr. over Matthew Kessel (Notre Dame) 2-3, Sr. (Fall 2:36)

190 – Cooper Wynn (Oswego) 4-2, Sr. over Jaiden Thorney (Conant) 2-3, So. (Fall 1:53)

215 – Aiden Heiden (Oswego) 3-2, over Alaa Alrabi (Carl Sandburg) 2-3, (Fall 1:06)

285 – Dylan Hendee (Glenbard North) 3-2, Sr. over Victor Juarez (Elgin) 1-3, So. (Dec 4-3)

Team standings

1. Carl Sandburg 299, 2, Glenbard North 239.5, 3. Oswego 150, 4. Notre Dame 124, 5. South Elgin 114.5, 6. Conant 113.5, 7. Oswego East 90, 8. New Trier 86.5, 9. Bloomington 74.5, 10. De La Salle 72.5, 11. Geneva 67, 12. Leyden 61.5, 13. Round Lake 48.5, 14. Elgin 44, 15. Curie 22.