Wrestling: Brazil is Vernon Hills’ lone champ at NSC Tournament

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Vernon Hills' Jordan Reich (right) battles Round Lakes' Tyler Johnson at 106 pounds during Saturday's NSC Tournament. Reich took sixth place. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media

Updated: April 2, 2012 1:55AM

When Vernon Hills wrestler Jeremy Sullivan went to sleep Friday night, he was dreaming of pins on the wrestling mat.

The next day, he got stitches instead.

A head-butt from Libertyville’s Sal Ayala during Saturday’s North Suburban Conference tournament sent Sullivan to the hospital. The wound was closed, but by the time he returned to the Wildcats gym, so was his day.

“It took a while at the hospital, so I missed my match for third place,” said Sullivan, a 160-pound senior. “Then my (fifth-place match) guy got disqualified for biting.”

Biting? It might be better that Sullivan didn’t wrestle the guy. One flesh wound is plenty for one day. 

On a team loaded with previous state-meet qualifiers — Jeremy Brazil (285), Danny Klema (152) and David Pierce (145) — Sullivan is what one might designate as a late bloomer. He picked up wrestling as a sophomore — at the urging of Klema. 

“I was always interested but never pulled the trigger,” Sullivan said. “I finally decided to do it, and instantly fell in love with it.”

After seeing time on varsity as a junior, Sullivan has given the Cougars more depth in the middle weight classes. Always strong, and employing an aggressive style — which includes shooting in on his opponent — Sullivan is on the verge of a milestone this season. 

“I want to make the 30-win club,” said Sullivan, who’s 27-13 overall. “That’s my dream since I started wrestling, to get some accomplishments.”

Added coach Jerry Miceli: “He’s come a long way. He’s going to be a dark horse at regionals. Every week, he’s getting better.”

Once he gets the stitches out, more accomplishments are well within sight for Sullivan. 

Recap: It was a top-10 finish for Vernon Hills in the conference tournament. The Cougars ended the two-day meet with 67 points, good for 10th place. One champion emerged, as Jeremy Brazil defeated Libertyville’s Chris McDermand in the 285-pound title bout, pinning him in the second period. 

“I told him not to take anything for granted. He knows the kid (McDermand), he’s worked out with him, and they are good friends,” Miceli said “You go out, set the pace, let him know who’s boss — and let’s get out of here.” 

Brazil (35-1), runner-up at State last season, was one of three medalists for the Cougars at the conference meet. Sullivan and Jordan Reich (106), who finished in sixth place, were the others.

Reich (26-16), who weighed in at a pint-sized 95 pounds, received a glowing review from his coach.

“Remember the name,” said Miceli of Reich, only a sophomore. “He’s got good technique. He’ll be there. He knows how to wrestle.”

Vernon Hills was not at full strength by the end of the tourney Saturday. Felipe Vasquez (120) had to forfeit his first match, and Klema (31-8) didn’t make it to the final rounds, losing to eventual third-place winner Kayne MacCallum of Libertyville. David Pierce (145) didn’t compete in the tournament. 

High mark: The Cougars (20-7 overall) finished the regular season with a fourth-place finish in the NSC Prairie (3-3). The 20 victories marks the highest total in school history. 

“We don’t have a lot of depth, but we have guys who get the job done,” Miceli said. “I don’t know if we have a tournament team, but we have a dual team. The kids find a way to win.”

On the schedule: Vernon Hills competes in an IHSA regional at Marengo on Saturday.

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STANDINGS: Grant (224.50) Libertyville (213.00) Antioch (166.50) Lake Zurich (147.00) Zion-Benton (134.00) Stevenson (111.00) Warren (102.50) Wauconda (91.50) Mundelein (76.50) Vernon Hills (67.00) Round Lake (62.00) Lakes (43.00) Lake Forest (22.00) North Chicago (16.00)

FIRST PLACE FINISHERS: Nick Kramer, Grant (106); Steve Polakowski, Libertyville (113); Ben Soumar Grant (120); Mike Gussarson, Antioch (126); Abel Rios, Zion (132); Matt Ornoff, Mundelein (138); Austin Pettinato, Libertyville (145); Justin Weber, Stevenson (152); Scott Hoff, Lake Zurich 160); Tony Cashmore, Grant (170); Zach Freundt, Antioch (182); Shakhiem Chapman, Warren (195); Quinton Quarles, Grant (195); Jeremy Brazil, Vernon Hills (285)