Wrestling: Oughton brothers help Minooka win regional
By Dick Goss dgoss@stmedianetwork.com February 2, 2013 9:24PM
Updated: March 4, 2013 6:38AM
In a perfect world, Minooka coach Jeff Charlebois said he would have five more wrestlers competing in next weekend’s Class 3A Moline Sectional.
But when you consider his Indians won the Joliet Central Regional on Saturday, advanced nine to the sectional, had four champions and earned a berth in the dual-team sectional that comes up after the individual state tourney, he can’t complain.
“We would have liked to get more out — we have five kids who won’t wrestle next week — but no, it wasn’t a bad day,” he said.
The Oughton brothers, freshman Carson at 145 pounds and senior Corbett at 152, delivered the last two of three consecutive regional titles for Minooka. Senior Mike McNulty had won at 138, and Eric Velazquez capped the Indians’ run when he beat Providence’s Vince Ambrose 6-2 in tiebreaker overtime for the 220 title.
Minooka finished with 188.5 points to 156 for Bradley. Providence was third (111), followed by Joliet West (108). Joliet Central was seventh (84.5) and Plainfield South eighth (43) in the nine-team field.
The top three finishers in each of the 14 weight classes advanced to the sectional. Providence had 113-pound champion Ronald Triche among six qualifiers.
“We wrestled about as well as we could, and we hope our guys can make some noise next week,” Providence coach Keith Healy said.
West advanced four including 132 champ Jayvin Bandy, who beat Minooka’s Danny Ruettiger 4-2 in the final. Central also had four qualifiers, with unbeaten Trayvon Zabala at 120 and senior Sharod Wilson at 182 winning titles. Zabala became the first wrestler in school history to win four regional crowns. Wilson beat Minooka sophomore Nathan Gunn 4-2 in one of the day’s most anticipated finals.
“We’ve had some great wrestlers here who didn’t win four regionals,” Central coach Pat O’Connell noted.
“This feels good,” said Zabala, who is ranked third in the state at 120. “Thinking back to freshman year, I was really small and I didn’t think I could do this, but I really worked hard.”
A state title is all that’s missing.
“I was second at state two years ago and third last year when I got disqualified in the quarterfinals,” Zabala said. “I thought I could have won it last year, and now I’m faster on my feet and a little stronger.”
Plainfield South had a champion in unbeaten Miguel Silva, who is ranked No. 2 at 106. Silva recorded three pins Saturday.
Other area qualifiers: Minooka — K.J. Minor (106), Jeff Klank (160), Josh Bouie (195); Providence — Joe Fulco (126), Michael Stepuszek (152), Matt Glenn (160), Sean Burke (170); Joliet West — Darvell Flagg (106), Cory Winchell (120), Matt Robinson (138); Joliet Central — Drake DeBenedetti (126), Stan Whiting (145).
