St. Charles East pins its way past Geneva
The two-time defending wrestling champions of the Upstate Eight River Division were up to familiar tricks on the first night of the season Tuesday night in Geneva.
St. Charles East's Adam Carlson, Anthony Rubino and Niko Derain all recorded third-period falls in the opening four matches.
Nine matches later, the Saints' Will Leite earned yet another fall to mathematically eliminate the Vikings in the early showdown.
The expected duel between the two state-ranked programs never completely materialized as St. Charles East never trailed in its 42-23 dual-match victory.
"A lot of the pins came in the clutch for us," said St. Charles East 160-pound returning state qualifier Keone Derain.
The senior recorded the Saints' fourth of five final-period falls; St. Charles East led 27-13 after his pin.
"This is my (senior year)," the elder Derain said. "I want to leave it all out on the mat. We have high expectations (as a team)."
After an exchange of victories at 182 and 195 pounds, Geneva had three remaining matches to overcome a 30-23 deficit.
But Leite, an undersized heavyweight a year ago, needed only 61 seconds to extend the Saints' winning streak in the River.
The conference title is determined solely on dual matches, and St. Charles East has run the table two straight years.
"I didn't want to be another face (as a light heavyweight), so I decided to make the cut (at 220) and seek a state title," Leite said. "I didn't want to waste any time (against my opponent)."
St. Charles East senior Connor Plumb then provided desert for the team with a match-ending fall at heavyweight.
Geneva was competitive, winning six of the 14 matches.
But the Vikings could not overcome the Saints' massive bonus points.
"It was not wrestling smart," Geneva coach Tom Chernich said of key mental mistakes that led to the Saints' three opening wins at 106, 113 and 126 pounds.
"(St. Charles East) wrestled harder than us. They knew what matches they wanted to keep close. They knew what matches they needed to get pins. That was tough."
Ivan Velchis' career began on a promising note for Geneva with a come-from-behind win at 113 pounds.
Trailing 18-3 after younger Derain pin, Geneva rallied to within 8 points on consecutive decisions by returning sectional qualifiers Mike Huck and Brock Perry at 138 and 145 pounds.
The spread was still 8 points when the Vikings' lone returning state qualifier, 170-pounder Mitchell Bradberry, recorded the only Geneva fall of the match.
"We told the guys if they had a chance to get a fall it would take a lot of pressure off the team," St. Charles East coach Jason Potter said. "We have a lot of new faces in the lineup. It's a nice mix of old and young."