29th Dvorak Wrestling Tournament Today, Friday at Harlem

By Bob Balgemann, REPORTER

 It could be looked on as an early Christmas present for fans of high school wrestling. That gift is the 29th Dvorak Wrestling Tournament being held today (Dec. 22) and Friday in the main gymnasium at Harlem High School. This is an event that some bill as the best tournament going on in the state during this busy time of year. The current field includes 33 teams from Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin. They are: Antioch, Bishop McNamara, Bolingbrook, Crystal Lake Central, Dakota, Edwardsville, Freeport, Glenbard North, Algonquin Jacobs, host Harlem, Arlington Heights Hersey, state-ranked Hononegah, Hortonville, Wis., Huntley, Iowa City West, Iowa, Legancy Christian Academy, Ohio, and Luxenburg Casco, Wis. Also, Marist, Mason, Ohio, Metra Valley, Milton, Wis., Mount Carmel, Mukwonago, Wis., Nequa Valley, Plainfield East, Plainfield South, Providence Catholic, Chicago St. Rita, Sterling, Timberland, Mo., Wheaton North, Willowbrook and Yorkville. Seven of those teams are either state ranked or have received an honorable mention from IllinoisMatmen.com.

Sessions will begin at 9:30 a.m. today and at 9 a.m. Friday and continue each day until concluded. Friday’s third, fifth and seventh-place matches will be in the afternoon, to be followed by the championship competitions. A concession stand will be open both days.

Defending champion Lake Highland Prep is not participating this year. In 2015, Mount Carmel finished second with Hononegah in fifth and Harlem in 14th. Four Huskies, all Seniors, earned places last year. Jenner Hecox was fourth at 195 pounds; Anthony McKinney was fifth at 285; Dylan Elmore, sixth at 138; and Brandon Elliot, eighth at 220. The Indians went home with one champion, Anthony Cassioppi, now a Junior, at 285. Blake Zalapi, also a Junior this year, was second at 220 with Fernie Silva, a Senior, being third at 160. Cassioppi currently is ranked first in the State at 285 by IllinoisMatmen.com. Zalapi is ranked third at 220; Junior Dominic Ballano, honorable mention at 160; and Senior Jordan Shahnikian, sixth at 182.  For Harlem, Senior Dalton Hambrock is seventh at 195. He was a state qualifier for the Huskies last season.