Wrestling: Monreal-Berner heads Niles West’s four-man crew at sectionals

• Reprints

2/4/12 Skokie-Niles Wests Andrew Matias battles Maine Souths Zach Thallman. Stacia Timonere/for Sun Times Media

Article Extras

Updated: March 10, 2012 8:31AM

A year after he finished runner-up at regionals, Niles West junior wrestler Vaughn Monreal-Berner took another step forward Saturday, earning his first regional title.

The 182-pounder has some more unfinished business to attend to this week: placing in the top four at the sectional and earning his first trip to the Class 3A IHSA state tournament.

Monreal-Berner was a match away last year from a trip to Champaign, site of the state tournament. He doesn’t expect to be on the outside looking in this time around.

“I’m feeling really good right now. I have the momentum going and hopefully I’ll take it into the state tournament,” said Monreal-Berner, who upped his season record to 29-7. “Of course, it’s sectionals (this week) and everyone is going to be tough. But nothing short of state (will do). No way.”

Monreal-Berner certainly looked like a state-meet caliber wrestler at Saturday’s Niles West Regional. The junior earned an early pin in his opening match and then stuck Maine West’s Max Hanak (28-10) midway through the championship match.

“Vaughn dominated and he expects a lot out of himself,” Niles West head coach Anthony Genovesi said. “He wants to dominate and he did that today. Hopefully, he brings the same attitude (at sectional). There will be tougher competition. I know he wants to get down (state) and he wants to go dominate (at sectional).”

Three other Wolves qualified for the Glenbard North Sectional, which will be held Friday and Saturday. The top four wrestlers in each weight class advance.

Niles West junior Tommy Williams (24-12) won at 126, posting a 16-1 technical-fall win over Maine South’s Tony Mastrolonardo (28-11) for the championship.

“Tommy wrestled lights-out in the finals, he really did.” Genovesi said. “It was a one-point match the last time they wrestled. If Tommy wrestles (at sectional) the way he did in finals, he’ll put himself in good position next week.”

Wolves junior Anthony Underwood (21-10) finished second at 170. He fell 7-3 to Joe Caprio (37-1) of Rolling Meadows in the title match.

Improving sophomore Nick Vickers (18-21) also qualified for Glenbard North, coming in third at 106 pounds.

Wolves sophomore Isaac Reinemann (132) and senior Andrew Matias (160) finished fourth and will be alternates for the sectional.

The Wolves scored 103.00 points and came in fifth at the eight-team regional.

Niles North

The Vikings, who also competed at Niles West, had two sectional qualifiers.

Vikings junior Camerin Pascoe (24-12) won the title at 220 pounds, recording a 7-0 victory over Maine West’s Rogelio Rodriguez (21-11) in the championship match.

“(Pascoe) has been having a strong year,” Niles North head coach Chris Albandia said. “At times he’s had some mental lapses, where he would be in the driver’s seat and then do something that would put him in trouble. Hopefully, he’s past that. This is the best he’s looked all year. Hopefully, he’s putting it together at the right time. This is the time of year to be doing it.”

Albandia said Pascoe has a chance to earn a spot at the state tournament.

“From what I’ve seen and recall of our sectional, it seems to be wide open at 220,” the coach said. “There are some weight classes where you have guys who are pretty much locks, like they’re returning champions. But 220 in our sectional is a guessing game. I think that puts (Pascoe) in good position.”

Niles North sophomore Shawn Lavi (20-10) advanced after taking third at 113 pounds.

Three other Vikings finished fourth: freshman Hermez Abraham (106), junior Eric Berkovich (182) and sophomore James Edmond (285).

Niles North (60.00) came in seventh at regional.