West Aurora senior Noah Quintana feels deeply fortunate for a return trip to Champaign.
After qualifying for the Class 3A individual state meet as a sophomore in 2022, Quintana suffered an eye injury during the sectional that prematurely ended his season last winter.
It’s why he was a bit cautious entering another postseason.
“In the weeks leading up to the sectional, I was joking with my coaches about just getting through without any injuries,” Quintana said. “Or having the same incident as last season.”
Indeed, Quintana (28-6) got through the eye of the storm at Saturday’s Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional, finishing second at 157 pounds to punch his ticket back to the State Farm Center.
Quintana, who is 105-20 over the last three seasons, went 40-8 as a sophomore in qualifying at 144 pounds. He finished 37-6 last season at 160.
Moses Quintana, his older brother, also qualified for state at 152 when Noah was a sophomore.
“Not qualifying last year just acted as fuel for my senior year,” he said. “I just told myself I was going to do whatever I had in order to get back here.
“I didn’t do it my junior year and I was going to make up for that as a senior.”
Last season, Quintana helped junior Dominic Serio prepare for his first state meet. Now, the two are part of five Blackhawks who qualified for Champaign.
“Noah is a great teammate and a great person,” Dominic said. “I think what really makes him elite is how he stays calm under intense pressure.”
The memories from Quintana’s sophomore season remain permanently etched in memory.
He’s ready for his final moment.
“I just think these big tournaments really prepare you for the stress and nerves you feel, especially when you’re down in Champaign,” he said. “Being there before, I definitely feel more calm.”
Moses Quintana is now a sophomore student at Loyola. Noah has also elected to forego college wrestling opportunities to focus on his academics.
“It’s a bittersweet experience, but it feels great to be back in Champaign,” he said. “I’m just going to go out there and do what I do and see how it turns out.”
All in the family
Dominic and Dayne Serio are the first pair of brothers at West Aurora to qualify for state since Noah and Moises Quintana in 2022.
Dominic Serio (29-2), a junior, was the sectional runner-up at 150. Dayne (34-5), a sophomore, finished third at 165.
More brotherly love
After powering Sandwich to a Class 1A regional title, freshman Cooper Corder and his brother Miles, a senior, are poised for a deep run in the individual state meet.
Cooper Corder (32-3) won the Byron Sectional at 138, while Miles (38-9) finished third at 144.
Darkhorse candidate
Elgin junior Fabian Martinez interrupted St. Charles East’s dominant sectional run with an upset victory over sophomore Cooper Murray at Conant.
Martinez (20-4) has earned a top-four seed at state.
End of one run
Kaneland senior Kamron Scholl had his 44-match winning streak end in a tough 5-3 overtime loss to Galesburg’s Rocky Almendarez in the 120-pound championship match of the Class 2A Sycamore Sectional.
“I was never trying to intentionally have an undefeated season,” Scholl said. “I just want to go up against good competition. I didn’t feel the pressure of being undefeated.
“The loss did help. I can practice, and I can learn what I need to work on and what I did wrong.”
Scholl (44-1) is already looking forward to his first-round match at state.
“I’ve done a lot more with training, lifting, working out, running and eating right,” he said. “That has helped with my strength and endurance.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
