Whether it’s the former Dallas Cowboys famed “triplets” of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin or the currently en vogue trio of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce from Boston Celtics notoriety, good athletes tend to excel in threes.
The Riverside Brookfield wrestling team will call upon the talents of its own “Big Three,” namely returning sectional qualifiers Nico Torres (23-10 last season), Zack Moreno (21-9) and Don McGregor (18-15) to build off last year’s 14-6 dual match record. Last season, the Bulldogs finished second behind Fenton in the Metro Suburban Conference and also garnered second place showings at the Guerin and Lisle tournaments.
During the playoffs, RB capped off its solid run by taking fifth in regional competition and had five sectional qualifiers, including Drew Hunt and Kyle Kiburz, who both graduated last spring. Hunt enjoyed a stellar senior year with a 26-4 mark.
“Last year was a real good season,” said RB head coach Neil Dughetti said. “There was a lot of improvement.”
Of course, like the aforementioned Garnett and his popular “We not Me” Adidas commercial, this year’s Bulldogs are emphasizing a unified team approach coupled with hard work as the keys to a memorable campaign.
“I am very proud of our kids,” said Dughetti. “They have been working hard every day and they want to have a great season. Our goal is to win our conference.”
Other RB grapplers expected to contribute at the lower weight classes this season are Kegan Buttimer (103 pounds), Ernie Principe (112), and Vincent Vallez (119).
Buttimer is a promising freshman and Vallez is one of the team’s leaders.
Dughetti has also penciled in sophomore Christopher Russell at 135, sophomore Nick Lopez at 152, and senior Terrance Tait at 171 as other starters.
In the heavier weight divisions, Frank Chico (189) joins a pair of football players in Matt Regnier (215) and William Vermillion (275) to round off the Bulldogs’ junior-laden lineup. Chico is known for his toughness, while Vermillion has good technique and Regnier is an outstanding all-around athlete.
“I think we should be much more successful this season,” said Regnier, who played defensive end/linebacker for RB. “Our conditioning has been very good. We’re a younger team this year, mostly juniors and sophomores, but I think we’re more of a team.”
Looking to dethrone conference champion Fenton in the Metro Suburban, the Bulldogs will also have to contend with conference foes Elmwood Park and Ridgewood.
On Saturday, the Bulldogs travel to Guerin for the Gator Classic.