Lake Park snares regional title
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Lake Park’s depth was able to trump Schaumburg’s star power for the team title at the IHSA Class 3A Schaumburg wrestling regional Saturday.
The Lancers boasted eight wrestlers in the finals and qualified nine to the Downers Grove North sectional en route to a 194.5 point day.
Schaumburg was runner-up with 182 points.
The Saxons featured four individual champions — senior Bryan Peterson (140), senior Pat Felde (171), senior Joe LaManna (189), and junior Josh Marchok (215).
“It just shows that the coaches are doing their job, our team’s getting a lot better, and we are working hard,” LaManna, who pushed his record to 36-1.
Marchok pinned his opponent in the first period of each of his first two matches, then won the championship match by default to improve to 31-0.
“I feel good,” Marchok said. “We’ve had a good couple weeks of practice, and heading into state I feel physically ready. You can get a couple bumps and bruises, but it’s nothing you can’t overcome. I feel good. I feel like I’m in shape, and I’m ready to wrestle.”
“It was a great win for us,” said Lancers coach Todd Raymond. “I’m really proud of the kids. They stepped up and really went for it. They know the challenge ahead. They know more than likely we’ll be going against one of, if not the best team in the state (Glenbard North), but they didn’t shy away from that. They want that opportunity to go against one of the better teams.”
Lancers senior 145-pounder Joey Kubica, who won the regional championship for his weight class, said his coach told the team they had a good chance to win the Schaumburg regional and advance to the state team sectionals.
“It’s a great accomplishment for our team,” Kubica said. “We’re going to be wrestling one of the top teams in the state, Glenbard North, that will be a good opportunity to see where we stand against the best.”
Along with Kubica, junior Jon Verlotta (112 pounds), junior Matt Adcock (130) and senior Chris Kowalski (152) were the Lancers’ regional champions.
Raymond singled out Adcock as putting together an impressive effort.
“He beat a tough DeKalb kid (Evan Jones) in the semis, and then he beat (Mitch) Alexander from Conant,” Raymond said. “He, in my mind, had an outstanding day.”
Conant finished fourth with 147 points. The Cougars had one individual champion, Vince Gottardo at 135 pounds, who won a gritty 4-3 decision over Lake Park’s Blake Santi.
“I knew I could beat him,” Gottardo said. “He took me down early, and I was down in the match, but I knew I could come back.”
Hoffman Estates finished in eighth in the 10-team field with 56 points.
