De La Salle hosting sectional

In the first year of a three-class high school wrestling state tournament, area teams will be at various regional sites.

In Class 3A, four regionals will feed into the De La Salle Individual Sectional and the Marist Dual Team Sectional.

It all starts with regional play Feb. 6 and 7 at Mount Carmel, St. Ignatius, Morton and Shepard. The 10-team field at Mount Carmel includes Brother Rice, Marist, Morgan Park and the host team. St. Laurence and St. Rita have been assigned to St. Ignatius. Stagg, Shepard, Sandburg and Eisenhower will be part of the field at Shepard.

In Class 2A, Evergreen Park, Ag Science and Richards are part of the Bowen Regional, which feeds into the Lemont Individual Sectional and the Riverside-Brookfield Dual Team Sectional.

The IHSA state individual finals will be Feb. 20 and Feb. 21 in Champaign's Assembly Hall.

The IHSA state dual-team title will be decided Feb. 28 at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington.

Shepard back in the groove

The holiday break is over, and Shepard coach Scott Richardson is ready to go.

"Our season is going well right now," said Richardson, whose team owns a 12-5 dual-meet record (through Wednesday). "It's good to be back from the break. It gets the kids back to some structure."

Richardson praised the work of several of his grapplers.

"Mike Grice is leading us with a 19-1 record," Richardson pointed out.

"Stephan Williams is 17-4, Coery Felker is 12-6 and Dohane Niesh is doing a good job.

"We wrestle a lot in the next few weeks, so our kids need to be focused when the regional tournament starts."

Hot streak for EP's McLain

Evergreen Park coach Matthew Harding has been impressed with freshman Jesse McLain.

"Jesse has a 14-1 record, but he is unbeaten at 103 pounds," Harding said.

"Senior Pat Hand is also having a good season at 135 pounds with a 13-5 record."

The Mustangs own a 4-9 dual-meet record (through Wednesday).

"We are experiencing a lot of individual success," Harding said.

Frias, Kush lead Richards

Richards has a young team, led by senior captains Joel Frias and Pat Kush.

"Both young men are great leaders in the practice room," coach Jim Powers said.

"Frias has the team's best record at 14-4.

"We also have two solid juniors in Dion Willette and Sammy Affenah, and a great group of sophomores led by Andy Criavllone."

Stagg wrestlers shine

Stagg coach Brian Jackson has several wrestlers who have left smiles on his face.

"Senior Nick Gray has been outstanding with an 18-1 record at 130 pounds after winning the Rich East Rocket championship," Jackson said. "Junior Kevin Malarick is unbeaten in 17 matches at 103 against wrestlers from Illinois, having lost twice to Indiana kids at the Rocket."

Jackson also praised the work of junior Steve Miller (16-3 at 215 pounds), freshman Kevin Moylan (18-3 at 112), senior Steve Yaros (17-2 at 189, Rocket champion), junior Brian Studnicka (15-5 at heavyweight) and senior Mike Fabian (12-7 at 152).

Stagg is 10-3 (through Wednesday) in dual meets after beating Brother Rice and St. Laurence and losing to Argo. The Chargers finished second in the Rocket team standings.

Alan Macey can be reached at amacey@southtownstar.com or (708) 802-8834.