State ranked grapplers pace Red Raiders
HUNTLEY — Led by a trio of state ranked wrestlers, several senior leaders and families with multiple grapplers, the first half has been a strong one for Huntley’s boys wrestlers.
Huntley’s dual match record stood at 14-2, 4-0 Fox Valley Conference. It added four more wins at its own mega duals Dec. 28. HHS beat Bolingbrook 57-17, Morris 53-20, Mundelein Carmel 60-8 and Wheaton North 46-23.
Returning IHSA State Qualifier Radic Dvorak, 157 pounds, is 24-3 and ranked third by Illinois Best Weekly. He also has a team lead 17 falls, 132 team points and 37 takedowns. Huntley’s 113 pounder Colin Abordo is ranked eighth and Cameron Abordo is honorable mention at 120 pounds.
“The loss at state last year really motivated me,” Dvorak said. “I worked hard in the off-season at ISI Training in Elgin and that helped me a lot.”
“Dvorak has matured into a leader as a young sophomore,” Red Raiders boys wrestling head coach BJ Bertelsman commented.
Dvorak had another strong day at Huntley’s second mega quad dual meet on Jan. 4, as he was 4-0. Gavin Nischke, competing at 138, also had a good day with a 3-0 record. Colin Abordo also had three wins at 113 pounds.
Huntley was 3-1 in team results, beating Plainfield South 71-6, Rolling Meadows 66-15 and Schaumburg, 47-21 with the loss to Normal Community, 48-18. Huntley’s dual record was 17-3.
Bertelsman is pleased with the team’s progress so far, and team leaders are happy as well.
“We are doing well, we need a couple of kids to shore things up in January,” Bertelsman said. “Our kids will be battle tested for the IHSA State Series. Now to stay healthy. Goals are to go undefeated in the FVC, compete against a nationally ranked Hononegah team for a IHSA Regional Title and get as many State Qualifiers as possible. We have a couple max effort guys in the mat room, just need all 20 kids to be max effort every practice all practice and we will be awesome.”
Dylan Cerny, at 190 pounds is one of the team’s veterans and was 15-8 heading into the first home mega dual day. Cerny, according to team statistics, has eight falls and 82 team points.
“I’ve been wrestling for eight years, staring with Red Raider Youth Wrestling. I went to state once, in sixth grade. I think we have the team this year to make team dual state,” Cerny said.
HHS has multiple sets of brothers on the squad.
Recent records show juniors Colin Abordo had 23 victories at 113 pounds while Cameron Abordo had 16 victories at 120. “Both Abordos are hitting on all cylinders,” the coach said.
Soph Julian Gutierrez had 11 wins at 126 while brother senior 132 pounder Alex Gutierrez at 132 had 16 wins. Sophomore Waylon Theobald tallied 15 wins at 175 pounds before older brother Wyatt Theobald, 215, who had 17 triumphs. Nischke recorded 17 wins at 138.
“I love the brother combos and there is another Gutierrez in middle school,” Bertelsman said.
“I got beat up a lot by him,” Waylon said with a smile, referring to Wyatt.
“I’m taking it one match at a time, and hoping to get to the next level at state,” Wyatt Theobald said.
FVC matches
The Red Raiders have won six of the last eight league championships.
FVC dual match wins so far have come over Cary-Grove, Jacobs and Crystal Lake Central, with the win over the CLC Tigers as the closest at 37-28. Huntley is at Hampshire for an FVC match Jan. 8. They are also at Burlington Central on Jan. 10.
