WRESTLING: Stevenson’s Valchev, Jolcover, Weber advance to sectional

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Stevenson's Ned Valchev (bottom) finds himself in a tight spot against Barrington's Mark Shealy in the 182-pound final at Saturday's regional. | Brian O'Mahoney~for Sun-Times Media

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Updated: March 10, 2012 8:24AM

If you’re looking for a description of Ned Valchev’s wrestling style, it may take awhile. 

You can try asking his coach.

“It’s very unorthodox,” said Stevenson coach Shane Cook. “He does some things that have never been seen in the sport.”

You can even ask Valchev. 

“I’m not much of a shooter. I’m more of a defensive wrestler,” said the 182-pound Valchev. “I don’t use offense often.”

That’s the best answer you’re going to get. While his style may be unconventional, the results are indisputable.

Valchez wins … a lot. 

Make it 30 victories this season for the junior, including runner-up finishes in the North Suburban Conference tournament and in regionals. Consistent trips to the podium will boost confidence in one’s style, whether it fits into a box or not.  

“I feel kind of proud of myself that I’ve made it this far,” Valchev said. “I’m hoping to make it to State — that’s my goal.”

He got one step closer on Saturday at the Stevenson Regional, making it to the title match against Barrington’s Mark Shealy. After two one-sided decisions to reach the championship bout, Valchev (30-10) fell in the first period — pinned in 1:13 — for his third loss to Shealy this season. But it’s been a long climb up the ladder for Valchev, who wrestled mostly on the JV level last year.

A summer spent making the rounds at tournaments and camps were catalysts for his quantum leap as a junior. A fourth-place finish in the Barrington Tournament, in November, was a sign the work was paying off.

“I came out of the blue,” Valchev said. “I didn’t expect it for myself, and it got the ball rolling from there.”

And it hasn’t stopped since. Sure, Valchev’s style on the mat is open to interpretation, but this is not: he’s a winner. 

“Ned’s a kid who has committed himself to the sport,” Cook said. “We tell him just go out there and do whatever you do, that thing you call wrestling.”

Recap: Stevenson finished sixth overall (78.5 points) at its own regional on Saturday.

In addition to Valchev, Mark Jolcover (29-9) at 106 and Justin Weber (34-4) at 152 earned sectional berths.

Weber followed up his conference championship with a regional crown. The junior dominated his title match — a 9-3 decision — consistently denying Barrington’s Nick Shealy an opportunity to gain an offensive foothold. 

“Right now he’s wrestling at a level that’s high quality,” Cook said. “The goal is to get Downstate, and beyond, and get him on the podium. If he continues to go at this pace, he will put himself in a good position to do that.”

Jolcover, a senior, continues to add chapters to his comeback story. After missing his entire junior season with a neck injury, he advanced to sectionals in a thrilling, third-place match victory over Lake Zurich’s Jerry Nigro, which ended in a 4-2 overtime decision.

All of Jolcover’s teammates and coaches surrounded the mat in his home gym as the determined Jolcover finished off Nigro, ensuring him one more week of action.

“He’s been an inspiration to a lot of us. Now he as the opportunity to wrestle again,” Cook said. “Because he was there for all of them, these guys are bought in all the way.”

Two Patriots came one win short of sectional berths.

Corey Edidin fell to Palatine’s Sergio Hernandez 11-4 in the third-place match at 220.

Brad Meyer of the Pats was edged by Buffalo Grove’s Eddie Haro 3-1 in overtime at 285. He finished the season 16-12.

The future: Cook has consistently said this is a rebuilding year for the Patriots, who will return 10 of 14 regional wrestlers next season. 

“We have a very young team,” he said. “We’ll go through this year with some growing pains, and hopefully the investment will pay off.”

On the schedule: Stevenson’s qualifiers will compete in the Barrington Sectional on Friday and Saturday.