Schaumburg Invite a preview of dual-team state tournament 

By Mike Garofola for the IWCOA

Wrestling fans were able to get a close look at five teams that will be a part of the first ever dual-team state championship later this month, when Schaumburg hosted eight clubs at the 2024 Schaumburg Girls Invite on Saturday.

There was some terrific competition jammed nicely into a neat little round-robin package that gave all of those on hand a guaranteed three matches.

“Girls wrestling continues to grow leaps and bounds, and in a few weeks it’s going to be an exciting day of wrestling at Hoffman Estates, at the dual-team state championships,” Schaumburg head coach Matt Gruszka said.

Gruszka has been one of the biggest advocates for the sport, and one who continues to be a positive voice for all involved.

“Today you were able to see five of the 16 teams who will be a part of that historic Saturday at Hoffman Estates, plus another good group of wrestlers from the other teams we invited here today,” Gruszka said.

The host Saxons, along with Hoffman Estates, Homewood-Flossmoor, Minooka, and West Aurora will compete in the dual-team  state finals on December 28.

East Aurora, Oak Park-River Forest and Yorkville were present in Schaumburg as well, bringing with them wrestlers who competed in groups of four wrestlers for both the JV and varsity level.

Here’s a closer look at each club that was on hand:

East Aurora

Ryan Mick considers himself the luckiest wrestling coach around, thanks in part to quartet of seniors he enjoys on his East Aurora varsity roster.

Ruby Becerra, Brittany Chavarria, Yoheadi Contreras and Brenda Escobedo came in as freshmen, and immediately impressed Mick, and his staff.

“(Those) four are just incredible young women, who excel both in the room, and the classroom, as each comes to practice each and everyday ready to work hard, and lead by example – it’s like having four assistant coaches in the room,” said Mick, who admits to getting emotional when speaking of his quartet.

Escobedo is fully enjoying her senior season.

“We all want to have better results, but all of us enjoy this sport so much, our teammates, and just being together in the room each day,” said Escobedo, who was 19-8 a year ago.

Escobedo (140) who is likely on her way to Aurora University next fall, says getting better shots, and being more confident in herself were two things she worked on during the offseason.

Chavarria, an IWCOA fifth-place medal winner in freestyle, wants to increase the number of take-downs in her matches and, like Escobedo, says her mental game has improved since last season.

“We have a list of goals as individuals and as a team,” said Chavarria (125-130), who also plans to attend Aurora University.  “We want to win another conference title; I do as well, and making it to state is very important to me.” 

Contreras, who will compete at 155 this season, would claim the best record for the Tomcats last season at 20-10.

“After losing in the blood-round at regionals last year, my obvious goal was to get out of regionals and wrestle well enough to make it to sectionals and possibly state in my final year of high school,” said Contreras.

Last but not least is Becerra, who on Monday received the best news of her young life when she was accepted to attend Northwestern University, where she plans to major in neuroscience.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself at times last year, but I feel so much better about that part of my game,” Becerra said. “With regionals not going very well last year, I know I will be better prepared for this year.” Becerra went 14-11 last season.

Mink is overseeing a program that reflects the growth explosion of girls wrestling in Illinois.

“We have a terrific group of wrestlers, with numbers that have consistently improved with each season to where we stand with over fifty right now,” Mink said.

“I give everything that I can, both on and off the mats, because these girls give so much of themselves back to our program.”

Hoffman Estates

Seniors Sophia Ball and Anjali Gonzalez led a contingent from Hoffman Estates that enjoyed a terrific day at the home of division and league rival Schaumburg.

Ball, the 2024 state runner-up at 120, and Gonzalez, fifth a year ago at 235, were a perfect 3-0 on the day, as were teammates Roselyn Comier, and Jennifer and Judy Soto.

“This is a good team we have, we’re getting better with each day in the room, and we have some girls who are ready to step up this season,” said Ball, who suffered her lone defeat last season in her state final against Angela Cassioppi.

Ball is a two-time state medalist.

Gonzalez, who would like to wrestle in college while pursuing a degree in art, hopes to make her third trip to the state tournament her most memorable one.

“I was dealing with an injury during the offseason which required some physical therapy, but I am feeling so much better now,” Gonzalez said. “I feel if I stay healthy, continue to work, stay hungry and mentally strong, I’ll be able to make a run at a state title.” Gonzalez had three pins Saturday, which required just over two minutes to record.

“I am a lot stronger and tougher than last year, so I know I’ll be able to handle my opponents at 235 pounds,” said Gonzalez (32-7) who is a two-time state qualifier.

The Hawks will be at Conant this week along with Schaumburg, then take some time off in advance of hosting the dual-team state tournament on December 28.

Homewood-Flossmoor 

Vikings head coach Scott Aronson admits he’s having more fun than ever with a program that continues to see more success come its way as the numbers continue to grow in the room.

“It’s an absolute blast coaching this sport,” Aronson said. “It’s just amazing to see how it’s growing all around the state and at Homewood-Flossmoor.”

Aronson was named the 2023-2024 Coach of the Year in Illinois by the 

National Wrestling Coaches Association.

“It’s exciting to see a wrestler like London Gandy come along to become such an outstanding talent so quickly, and to have others starting to make a name for themselves as well,” added Aronson, who was the man in charge of the boys program at H-F for eight years.

As a sophomore last year, Gandy advanced to the state tournament at 110 pounds and finished with a respectable 22-16 record.

“Physically and mentally London has grown so much since a year ago, and she has the confidence of a lion now,” Aronson said.

Gandy was unstoppable in her three matches Saturday, and points to an invaluable experience in the off-season.

“(Fargo) was such a great experience for me,” said Gandy, who was 2-2 there. “It taught me a lot about myself, and what I have to do in order to be the best that I can.

“I did not do well under pressure, and panicked a little, but now I feel that my confidence is so much better and that I have a stronger mental approach to everything with this sport. There’s always a lot to learn, and I am willing to do whatever it takes.”

In addition to a glowing report on Gandy, Aronson highlighted a trio of Vikings as the day drew to a close.

Senior Nina Hamm, who lost in the blood round at the Evanston sectional, was 27-11 last year, and a state qualifier as a sophomore.

Makayla Marr qualified for state last season as a sophomore, and Aronson said she is as tough as they come, and he believes the improvement from sophomore Amara Nwoye (135) will lead to plenty of victories before the season comes to an end.

Minooka

It was another solid day on the mats for the Minooka Indians, who look to repeat as regional champions and go even further in the postseason.

The Indians lost just four from its championship club, including state qualifiers Eva Beck (27-13) and Peyton Kuetlzo (34-13). But Minooka returns a solid core beginning with a pair of seniors in Palmer Calvey and Beth Castro.

“This team has been working hard and we are all confident in each other,” Calvey said. “If we continue to work, this will be a very good year for us. I worked a lot on my set-ups, and my position on top during the offseason, so I am confident that will help me this season.”

Calvey lists Loras College as one of a handful of colleges she’s considering, but fellow senior Beth Castro will take a different route following her graduation this spring.

“I want to go into the trades as a welder,” said Castro, “There’s a shortage in a lot of the trades, and welding is something that I am very interested in.”

Castro is also considering college where a business management degree would provide the skills needed for a role in team management as well.

For now, her focus is set squarely on the wrestling season.

“I am asking for a lot more help from our coaching staff this year – trying to be as open minded as I can to whatever they help me with,” Castro said.

Juniors Sabina Charlevoix and Ezra Rodriguez are ready to make their mark on the season and for head coach Minooka coach Paige Schoolman.

“I’ve been in this sport for three and a half years, and I really feel like the work I’ve put in will have me ready for this season,” Charlevoix said. “Last year I wrestled at the Clash, and that experience helped me a lot also.”

Charlevoix will compete at either 125 or 130 for the Indians.

As a sophomore last year, Rodriguez sent 16-10 and advanced into the Geneseo sectional, where she lost her opener, 2-0.

“I was happy with the way my things went for me in just my second year of being in the sport,” Rodriguez said. “Being able to have success in regionals, and get into sectionals gave me a lot of confidence headed into this year.

“I really think we’ll do well this year as a team, and with some really good freshmen, we should be even better than last year.”

Minooka will host its own mega-dual on Saturday.

Oak Park-River Forest

Although not at full strength, Oak Park and River Forest head coach Patrick Woulfe nonetheless was quite pleased with the effort his club put forth.

“We were a little down today, but we performed well, especially Pearl Lacey and Lariyah Apollo, who both finished second in their group,” Woulfe said. “Pearl is a senior and leader of our program.

“I felt like she is doing a great job or wrestling in her positions, and competing to make her opponent wrestle where she wants the match to be.”

Lacey recorded pins in her first two matches, needing just under two and a half minutes to do so on her way to a 2-1 day.

“(Pearl) is having fun, and trying hard, and as a coach that’s all you can ask for,” Woulfe said.

Apollo made quick work of her first two opponents as she used all of 1:52 to register pins before running into 2024 fifth-place state medalist Anjali Gonzalez from Hoffman Estates.

“Lariyah is just a two year wrestler, and I was really proud of her fight today,” said Woulfe.

“(Her) final match was a great wrestler (Gonzalez) – so we got to see how Lariyah stacked up against an All-State wrestler, and I am excited to see she can close the gap as the season progresses.”

Teammates Alessandra Pina and Isabella Miller were 1-2 on the day, with each recording a pin.

The Huskies are away for their league opener against Downers Grove North, before taking part in the Homewood-Flossmoor quad on Saturday.

Schaumburg

Reigning MSL and regional champion Schaumburg once again saw its top wrestler Madeline Zerafa-Lazarevic overwhelm a trio of opponents, while receiving plenty of help from teammates Maya Brzosko, Aubree Jones and 2024 state qualifier Madyson Meyer.

All four posted 3-0 records on Saturday.

“I am really excited about this season, and the year that we can have,” said Zerafa-Lazarevic, who was second last year at state with a 37-3 overall record to give her a pair of state medals.

“Obviously my goal is to get on the top of the podium in Bloomington this year; of course that’s one of my goals. But I want to see our team win another conference title, and go on from there to win state as a team after finishing fourth last year.”

“We lost an amazing wrestler when Valeria Rodriguez graduated (Rodriguez was a three-time state medal winner), but we have a lot of depth this year, with some freshmen who came in with club experience.

“The new girls, along with those of us back will give us a great mix of wrestlers.”

Zerafa-Lazarevic will attend Illinois State University in the fall, which does not currently have a women’s program. But the affable Saxons senior will look to start a club program with the hope it will lead to a full-fledged D-1 collegiate program.

Not to be forgotten was the work from Alya and Nadia Razzak, who together were 3-0 at the end of the day.

The Saxons will be at Conant on Wednesday, then travel to Glen Ellyn on Saturday to compete in a quad at host Glenbard West.

West Aurora

West Aurora, was second a year ago at regionals and is one of the 16 teams that will take part in Hoffman Estates’ dual-team state tournament. Several of its wrestlers hope to do well in their group play, beginning with Kameyah Young, who went 21-4 last year and finished second in state at 100 pounds.

The Blackhawks star was 3-0 on the day, as was teammate Vicki Stackowicz.  Aiyanah Sylvester and Giselle Marin-Carrasco also earned plenty of praise from assistant coach Kayla Krieger.

“I was very proud of how the team wrestled today,” began Krieger, filling in for head coach Charles Graves. “A lot of our girls have been working hard in the room, and today they were able to see that pay off with some nice individual wins.

“Aiyanah has been consistent in her wrestling to start the season. She has a great attitude, absorbs as much information as she can, and is very competitive in the room and on the mat.

“Giselle (Marin-Carrasco) is another incredibly hard working wrestler. She comes to the room ready to work every day, and is gritty on the mat. We saw that today with her getting some good wins against tough opponents.”

Young continues to show an enormous amount of composure according to Krieger when giving a new move or two a try, while it’s the experience she’s gathered along the way that provides the type of leadership her teammates look up to.

Young was a preseason nationals champion during the offseason.

West Aurora is at Larkin this week before competing at the East Aurora Invite on the weekend.

Yorkville

Sophia Martin, Addison Tooley and Lauren Trotter all enjoyed a perfect day in Schaumburg, as the trio combined for five pins and a tech-fall (by Trotter) to lead Yorkville.

“(Overall) we were happy with the girl’s performance throughout the day, with many of our newer girls getting their feet wet at both the JV and varsity levels,” opined Yorkville head coach Kevin Roth.

“In just the few years of our existence, we feel this is the strongest group of freshmen we’ve ever had, with some coming here with prior experience from middle school.”

Janiah Murray earned praise from Roth after another solid day on the mats for the junior.

“Janiah is really coming into her own after building on her past success the last two seasons,” Roth said. “She was a bit undersized for the 190-pound bracket, but her quickness and strength makes her a force to be reckoned with.”

Murray feels like a different person on the mat this season.

“Last year wasn’t the greatest,” she said. “I felt like I could have been better. But I did a lot of extra work during the offseason to improve my fitness and strength, and my participation in Olympic Power lifting made me much stronger than a year ago.

“I really changed my diet also which is more of a high calorie diet, which includes fasting on Saturday for eight hours, and having my ‘cheat’ day on Sunday.”

Returning state qualifier Danielle Turner (30-13) and sectional qualifier Brooke Coy were unavailable for Yorkville. Roth expects both to return soon as his club prepares to host Batavia and Metea Valley on Wednesday in advance of competing at the East Aurora Invite this coming weekend.