Naperville Central wins Naperville North Regional

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Batavia's Anthony Scaccia (right) and West Aurora's Greg Jacquez battle for position in the 138-pound match. | Mike Mantucca ~ For Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 6, 2012 8:24AM

Naperville Central continued its recent streak of big-meet success with a team win in the Naperville North Regional Saturday.

“To be honest with you, a second-place finish in the DVC and a regional championship (were) nothing but a dream (early in the season),” Redhawks coach Rob Porter said. “We couldn’t believe that we could be that successful. At one point this year, we were 1-7 (in dual meets).”

The Redhawks, who placed second to power Glenbard North last Saturday at the DuPage Valley Conference meet, scored 154.5 points to edge second place-finishing Downers South’s 153.5 score. With the regional win, Naperville Central punched its ticket for a trip to the team sectional at West Aurora later this month. First, though, the Redhawks will send their qualifying individuals on to the individual sectional at Glenbard North.

West Aurora was fourth in the team standings with 137 points. Batavia finished seventh with 69 points, and Metea Valley’s 58 put it in eighth place.

The Blackhawks had four individual champions with Carlos Jacquez (106 pounds), Sean Anthony (113), Greg Jacquez (138) and Austin Beebe (285) prevailing in their respective weight classes.

Metea Valley’s Austin Graham took third at 132 pounds to become the Mustangs’ lone representative at Glenbard North. He outlasted Batavia’s Charlie Smorczewski in a 3-1 decision.

Graham, a junior, now holds a 28-12 record and even bigger dreams.

“I’m hoping I can make it to the state and be Metea Valley’s first state qualifier,” Graham said. “It would be great.”

Three notable rematches from the DVC tournament occurred at the Naperville North Regional.

At 170 pounds, Naperville North’s Eric Krieger (32-4) failed to avenge a 4-3 loss to Wheaton South’s Steven Franke (32-3), losing by a 1-0 margin this time.

Then, at 182 pounds, Naperville Central’s Luke Roth sought redemption for a 6-0 DVC loss at the hands of Wheaton South’s Evan Welsh. Instead, Welsh won 10-0 in the regional do-over match for a major decision victory.

And later, at 285 pounds Naperville North’s Colin Goebel tried to defend a 3-1 triumph at the DVC meet over West Aurora’s Beebe. Beebe prevailed in this rematch in a 7-4 tiebreaker.