St. Charles East on schedule, wins at Maine West
If St. Charles East hopes to repeat as Upstate Eight champs in a couple of weeks, it's important that Jason Potter's club is at full strength and in form when his Saints go to host Geneva to defend their crown.
Consider that plan very much on track.
On Saturday afternoon in Des Plaines, the Saints showed they are well equipped to lift another conference trophy by sweeping all three of their duals at Maine West, including an opener with Northern Illinois power DeKalb (14-4-0) with a thrilling 32-29 comeback victory.
The Saints later bounced both Rolling Meadows (13-4-0) and the host Warriors to run their overall record to 13-4-0.
"Ramon (Lopez) was cleared just before the Dvorak, and went out and wrestled that same day (finally) getting us at near full strength for the second half of the season - now we'll see how things go for us," said Potter, who watched his team open a big lead against Maine West before putting away the hosts 54-12 and then finishing off a depleted Rolling Meadows squad 42-26.
The Mustangs lost Casey Jauch (160) and Grant Palmer (220) to injuries during the day following a tough loss at Prospect the night before.
"We reviewed our matches with Prospect from out loss at their place on Friday and saw that we lost every close match, which is not a good thing to do against a team which could win our conference, a regional title, and perhaps get downstate" said Meadows coach John Bassler. "Then today, we come out and compete at a much higher level, but we lose a couple of guys along the way, which made competing with another solid team (St. Charles) that much tougher."
The Saints were forced to chase a 20-point deficit against DeKalb when the returning state qualifying trio of Parker Stratton, Jackson Montgomery and Brad Green put 14 of those 20 points on the scoreboard with a OT decision, pin and technical fall. But then Keone Derain and Lopez rallied St. Charles East.
"We lost some very good guys from our team last year, but we've got a solid lineup this season too," said Derain (152 pounds), whose only two losses of the season were to No. 3 Matt Rowland (Willowbrook) and Joey Gunther (Libertyville). "But it's taken us a little time to get everyone in place. I've lost to two of the best in the state this year, but I learned a lot from those two losses. It was my performance at state last year that left a bitter taste in my mouth, and that's what has provided me with the motivation to be better this season after falling short of my goals in Champaign."
Derain went 1-2 at state last season yet still finished with a 43-8 record.
After pulling within (11) at 29-18 following a forfeit at heavyweight, Joe Ruffino, Lucson Schneider and Anthony Rubino, who was near flawless during his three wins on the day, ripped off three straight wins, to eke out a 3-point triumph.
DeKalb was victimized once again with another valiant come-from-behind victory, this time in the second round when Rolling Meadows, trailing by as much as 20, roared back to win on the last bout when Liam Collins held state-ranked Brenden McGee at bay. A tech fall would have ended the match in a draw, with a pin giving the Barbs a 1-point victory.
"What a great effort from the guys," said Bassler of the 36-34 win, which was done without Jauch, who was on his way to the hospital following a severe poke in his eye during his Maine West match.
Bassler later found out Jauch had some bleeding behind the eye, which will force the senior to miss some time to recoup. Palmer appears to be on a similar recovery path after suffering a concussion during his match with Will Leite of St. Charles East.
"That was a tough break for both guys, but we'll deal with it while they're on the mend," said Bassler.
DeKalb conceded consecutive falls from Palmer, heavyweight Marcej Pogorzelski, and later Jacob Holm (113), who followed Jackson Kohlberg's 6-0 decision, drawing the Mustangs within 31-30 after Holm's big pin.
A forfeit at 120 put the Mustangs up 36-31 before Collins strong effort helped keep DeKalb from winning. Kohlberg finished 3-0 on the day at 106 pounds for Meadows.
Lance Weber's Maine West club enjoyed its closest match of the day during its opener with Rolling Meadows (39-31) but the Warriors gave away too many points due to forfeits and lacked the extra firepower to get snag its lone win of the day.
"It's hard when we were giving away four or five weight classes today, but we were beaten by better teams than us, so we've got to continue to work harder when we get back in the room," said Weber.
Senior Joey Vogeney continues to shine with each outing, as the Naval Academy-bound Warriors star went 3-0 on the day to run his record to 29-1 at 170 pounds.
"The record and state ranking really don't mean much at all, it's all about what happens next month in Champaign," said Vogeney, who was one win away from a medal last February after amassing a 42-8 record. "I don't want to peak too early, but I also know that I am right where I have to be at this point of the season. The hard work never stops, and it won't until I realize my dream of being on that podium in Champaign."