West Aurora Wrestlers Fall at Team State Meet

BLOOMINGTON—West Aurora surprised defending Class 3A wrestling champion Minooka by claiming two of the first three weight classes.

“We didn’t expect to lose at 171 and 189 pounds,” Minooka coach Bernie Ruettiger said.

Unfortunately for the Blackhawks, their first attempt to win a trophy at the team dual-meet finals was unceremoniously denied by the Indians with Minooka’s 35-24 triumph in Saturday morning's quarterfinals at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

“It set the precedent for future teams,” junior Brandon Warren said of the Blackhawks’ first Elite Eight appearance. “It finally recognizes that West Aurora wrestling has an impact at this level.”

Aaron Hett and Michael Ortiz negated a Minooka pin at 189 pounds with simple decisions at 171 and 189 pounds.

But the momentum proved to be short-lived, as Minooka claimed an unexpected win at heavyweight.

Minooka trebled the Blackhawks’ deficit to 18-6 with a win at 112 pounds as state qualifier Brandon Walz was bumped up a weight from the individual state series.

“I feel really great about the senior class,” West Aurora coach Mike DiNovo said. “(Walz) didn’t really wrestle for us as a junior.”

Alberto Tijerina is yet another senior who has patiently bided his time behind state gladiators Miguel Venecia and Nicholas Drendel.
The 119-pounder nearly had a fall before settling for a 6-0 win.

But Minooka would close out the match by claiming the next four weight classes, including the final performances by Venecia and Drendel.

Trying to maximize its scoring potential, Drendel was moved up two weight classes from his third-place individual state run at 125 pounds.

“Miguel wanted to wrestle (Bobby Zabel),” Drendel said. “They had a really good match the first time (at the Granite City tournament over winter break).”

Venecia, the Blackhawks’ two-time state qualifier, had an early lead against the Indians’ state medal-winner.
But the final prep outing by Venecia turned dramatically down the stretch when he was placed in a compromised position and pinned with seven seconds remaining.

“I was just dead tired,” Venecia said.

That left it up to Drendel to take his last turn on the mat for the Blackhawks.
But the senior was addled by illness, and he had few options against a much heavier Blake Montella.

State runner-up as a junior, Drendel had his season close at 43-2 with the 11-3 defeat.

“I wrestled two weight classes up, so I’m not that disappointed (with the loss),” Drendel said. “I’m sure (the loss) will hit us much later. When I look back at it, it’s the best West Aurora wrestling team ever.”

Greg Jacquez won the final contested match at 140 pounds for West.

Minooka forfeited the final two weight classes to make the final spread more palatable for the Blackhawks.