Mustangs take 2nd at IHSA Regional

Winning a Regional title was one of the goals for the 2014-2015 Mustangs.  This past Saturday, the Mustangs took 2nd place to Lyons Township in the nine team IHSA Regional, which was held at Morton East High School in Cicero.  While the outcome was not what the Mustangs wanted at the beginning of the year, the efforts of the wrestlers at the Regional was nothing short of remarkable.  Of the twelve wrestlers that participated in the Regional, eight placed, and six advanced to the IHSA Sectional, which will be held at Downers Grove North High School on February 13th and 14th.

For the first time since 2011, the Mustangs boasted three Regional Champions in one season.  Junior Ahmir Hooks (126) won his first Regional title and earned his second trip to Sectionals as he dominated his competition, winning 14-1 against his Morton opponent in the finals.  Junior Tyree Johnson (138) won his first Regional title after losing in the finals last season.  Johnson also wrestled very solid on the day and was not challenged in his final match against his opponent from Hinsdale Central.  Junior Ryan Gurski (182) pulled off one of the bigger upsets of the tournament as he went from unseeded to Regional Champion!  Ryan came from behind in his first two matches and pinned his opponent from Downers Grove North in the finals.  Ryan also advances to the Sectional Tournament for the second consecutive year.  Freshman Sergio Villalobos became the first Freshman at DGS since 2011 to qualify for the Sectional Tournament as he earned 2nd place on the day.  Sergio upset the #2 seeded wrestler from Lyons Township in the semis before dropping a 5-0 decision to the wrestler from Hinsdale South.  Junior Mark Chapman (152) advanced to the Sectional Tournament for the first time with a 2nd place finish and Senior Ramy Abd improved upon his 4th place finish last year to finish in 3rd, and punch his ticket to Sectionals.  Senior Matt Harms (145) and Junior Patrick Wilson (220) dropped their 3rd place matches and will be Sectional alternates.  

The six Mustangs will be back in action at Downers Grove North High School on February 13th and 14th in the DGN Sectional.  This sectional will boast some of the top programs and wrestlers in the state, and the top four will advance to the IHSA State Tournament next week in Champaign.