Wrestling leaders ready to take charge
HUNTLEY — Depth and experience will be the calling cards for the Huntley boys wrestling squad this year.
“Experience will be our strength,” Huntley head wrestling coach BJ Bertelsman said. “We have lots of returning starters and will be good up and down the lineup. With two months of work, the kids did a good job coming in while also working with their wrestling clubs.”
Sophomore Radic Dvorak, who was an IHSA Class 3A State Qualifier last season at 157 pounds, 36-10 final record, returns. He leads a group of wrestlers who had 20 or more victories last season.
“Dvorak matured as the season went on last year,” head coach BJ Bertelsman said. “I explained to him that he had to learn to wrestle in high school versus middle school, especially at those upper middle weights. Once he figured that out, he was good to go. He has wrestled a lot this off-season, so hopefully he keeps improving and sets on the (state tournament) podium.”
In addition to Dvorak, those back with the 20 plus wins include: junior Colin Abordo, 29-15 last season at 113, expected to compete at 120 pounds this season; senior Wyatt Theobald, 28-20 at 190, to 215 pounds; sophomore Gavin Nischke, 26-15 at 132, to 138 pounds and junior Cameron Abordo, 25-16 at 113, to 120.
Several wrestlers with double digit victories are also returning.
They are: Alexander Gutierrez, 17-16 at 126 pounds, to 132 this season; Matthew Keaty, 17-18, 138 pounds, to 144; junior Lucas Bittman, 15-17, 175 pounds, to 165; Dylan Cerny, 14-23, 215 pounds, to 190; Jullian Gutierrez, sophomore, 14-26 at 120 pounds, to 126; senior Vlad Maluhin, 13-14 at 144 pounds, to 150.
Newcomers who could contribute on the mat are: freshman Cael Saldona, 106 pounds; sophomore Waylon Theobald, 106 pounds; junior Collin Huminsky, 138 pounds, who had a 23-24 record at Geneva before transferring and senior Jesse Lovell, 4-6 record, 190 pounds.
Dvorak’s fellow Red Raider as a State Qualifier was Markos Mihalopoulos, who now wrestles at Campbell University in North Carolina.
Bertelsman is starting his 14th season leading the Red Raiders (227 dual meet wins), 16th overall. HHS was undefeated in nine Fox Valley Conference duals last season for the FVC championship and 23-5 overall in duals last season. Crystal Lake Central and Hampshire could be the top FVC challengers.
