Riverside Brookfield High School junior Danely Villagomez missed returning to the state meet in 2024 in her new weight class at 140 pounds. A very tough Schaumburg Sectional bracket certainly didn’t help. Villagomez also believes looking back that she should have been competing in a different class.
“That sectional was really hard, a lot of state placers and national qualifiers,” Villagomez said.
“This year I’m going 145. I had to cut a lot last year and I think that’s why I didn’t go as far as I hoped to. I’m just going to a weight class that’s more comfortable.”
Villagomez and senior Frankie Abasta are the Bulldogs’ two returning sectional qualifiers for second-year coach Dan Verr after the graduation of three-time state qualifier Eleanor Aphay, who became the program’s first state qualifier in 2022.
In her first season with the team, Villagomez joined Aphay at state in 2023, winning her first match 10-6 and then losing to two all-staters at 135 to finish 25-9. Last year, Villagomez finished 22-7 and was pinned in her two sectional matches.
“Qualifying for state as I did freshman year [is the goal]. That was a big motivation for me to work harder [this offseason],” Villagomez said.
“I just lifted a lot, went on runs and I think it’s helped my endurance be better and my strength.”
Regionals were added to the girls postseason in 2023. Abasta (18-8 at 110) reached sectionals by taking sixth at regionals but was unable to compete because of injury. This season, she is working her way back from concussion protocol.
Other returnees are senior Samira Giron Cantero, juniors Estefany Bejarano, Ella Hutar, Angelica Solis and Heidi Velazquez and sophomore Emily Anaya. Newcomers include seniors Lesley Castillo and Diana Garcia, junior Sascha Hayes and freshman Jaylah Cajamarca, Chloe Gonzalez and Alicia Mueller.
LTHS girls wrestling
After reaching sectionals the past two seasons followed by summer training that’s included national competition in Fargo, N.D., Lyons Township senior Avi Gonzalez is hoping for a different outcome this postseason.
“My sophomore and junior year I went 0-2 at sectionals,” Gonzalez said. “To end my senior year just winning at least one match at sectionals would make me really happy, one match or more.”
Gonzalez and sophomore Zoe Connelly are returning sectional qualifiers for the Lions’ third season, which has seen growth from five committed wrestlers their first year to 10 last season to now 18, including seven freshmen.
Also back from the regional lineup are juniors Sofia Turek and Ashley Uhler and sophomores Lorelai Brown, Mari Sorce and August Pulli.
“With the leadership of Avi and Sofia, they really work well with each other and help each other out,” LTHS coach Darwin DePina said. “Girls wrestling has really grown in the state the last few years and it’s very exciting to watch them compete.”
At 110, Gonzalez improved to 14-3 last season from 10-22 as a sophomore. This year, Gonzalez moves to 115.
“I’ve been putting in a lot of hours,” Gonzalez said. “Since I went my second year (to Fargo), it’s definitely helped a lot because I was able to last longer in my matches. You have to learn how to last long and be gritty, especially with conditioning. Regardless, you’re going to have to work on your strength.”
Connelly (20-9 at 125) went 2-2 at sectionals after taking third at regionals. Third-year wrestler Turek (10-6 at 135) and Sorice (4-5 at 130) won one regional match.
While LTHS is 3-0 so far this season, Connelly is 2-0 at 125.
“I’ve really put high expectations on myself for this year. I had to push myself really hard (off-season) to grow as much as I did last year,” Connelly said.
“This year, I’m really focused on the mental aspect. The goal is state, even if I don’t place or win any matches. I just want to qualify because I want to keep being able to grow.”
All of the West Suburban Conference schools now have girls wrestling teams and have added mid-week quads for more match opportunities. Gonzalez, Connelly, Turek and Uhlir earned all-conference honors last season.
