Numbers work against Glenbard South

It was a numbers game for the Glenbard South wrestling team Thursday in a Metro Suburban Conference dual meet at Riverside-Brookfield.

First the good numbers. The Raiders were 5-0 in matches where a senior competed and finished the night 6-5 in the 11 matches wrestled.

However, Glenbard South had to forfeit three weight classes, and when the final result was added up, the Bulldogs were 39-27 winners.

Raiders coach Derrick Crenshaw said that Glenbard South faces a challenge with no wrestling feeder program. So when students join the team there, they are not as experienced as other wrestlers in the area.

“Everybody that won, except for one sophomore, was a senior. It’s the way it is, (the wins) come from juniors or seniors. We don’t have the numbers without a feeder program.”

The meet started at 285 pounds, and the Raiders’ first win came at 106 when Younas Dhaher won by fall in 4:29. The next victory came from sophomore Mike Bertone at 126. He nearly pinned his opponent with just seconds left in the first period but would get his fall at 4:46 of the match.

Riverside-Brookfield scored on forfeits at 132 and 138 to go up 30-12, and then the Raiders enjoyed two straight wins.

William Collins won a 9-6 decision at 145, and Carson Anderson prevailed 4-2 at 152.

At 170 Mike Scholl held a slim lead over his foe throughout most of the match before getting a fall at 5:10.

The last victory of the night for the Raiders came at 220 as Zak Georgitsis, wrestling his first match of the season at 220, won 3-0. Georgitsis was a sectional qualifier at 220 last season.

As there is no Metro Suburban Conference meet, teams usually only have one shot against each other during the season and lineups are made to match up as well as possible against an opponent. Thursday was no exception.

“We have a lot of good, young wrestlers and we weighed in a lot today for Glenbard South,” said Riverside-Brookfield coach Mike Boyd.