Mustangs Qualify Three for IHSA State Wrestling Tournament

The Downers Grove South Mustangs continued to roll this past weekend as three wrestlers advanced to the IHSA State Wrestling Tournament after placing in the top four at the Sectional Tournament at Shepard High School.  This particular sectional was billed as the "toughest in the state" as it included top five teams Carl Sandburg (defending state champs), Marist, and Marmion Academy.  Wrestlers who placed in the top four were able to qualify for the state tournament.  This is only the third time this has been accomplished in school history and the first time since 1985 that three Mustangs will be represented in Champaign.  Here are the wrestlers who will be wrestling at the IHSA State Tournament:

126- SO- Joe Nugent-  Joe battled back from a tough Friday night loss to eventual Sectional champion Mark Gasbarro from Marist to third place.  Joe's road back included wins over Hinsdale South, Eisenhower, and St. Rita to punch his ticket to Champaign.  Joe finished the day with a win over Jake Vales from Sandburg, who had been ranked in the Top Eight in the state according to Illinois Matmen.

160- SR- Alex Anaya-  Alex battled his way to a fourth place finish in a loaded 160 lb weight class that included five wrestlers ranked in the top 12.  Alex lost a tough decision to #2 Pete Andreotti from Marist, but battled back for three wins on Saturday to qualify for the state tournament.  Alex dropped a close decision to #3 ranked Nuntrae Jackson from Brother Rice.  Alex's three victories on the weekend bring him a little close to the all-time wins record at Downers Grove South which is held by former 2X All-State Wrestlers Mark Lenkowski.

285- JR- Mike Hobbs-  Mike wrestled his tail off and his only loss on the weekend was to #1 ranked Brian Allen from Hinsdale Central.  Mike had wins over wrestlers from Curie, Oak Lawn, Mt. Carmel and punched his ticket to Champaign with a pin over Josh Hickey from Marist, who was a state place winner in 2012.  Mike finished the day with a win in the ultimate tie-breaker over 37-2 Corinthian McBridge from TF South.  Mike also moves closer to breaking the most pins in a season record which is held by former State Champion and current Michigan HWT Ben Apland.

RJ Hickock (145) and Sal Oecugara (220) also wrestled in the sectional tournament but failed to placed in the top four.  RJ was one match away and had a win over a wrestler ranked in the top 8 from Carl Sandburg, but dropped a close decision to a Marist wrestler in the match to qualify for state.  Sal bounced back from a Friday night defeat with a win on Saturday, but loss to previously undefeated Luke Roth from Naperville Central to end his season.  RJ and Sal wrestled that tails off all year and will be missed in the line-up next year for the Mustangs.

The three remaining Mustang wrestlers will conclude their season at the IHSA State Tournament this weekend (Thursday, February 13 through Saturday, February 15) at the University of Illinois in Champaign. The top six in each weight class will be considered All-State.