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Barrington tops Conant, clinches share of MSL West title

If anyone wondered whether Barrington had enough to overtake wrestling power Conant, surely there can be little doubt now.

On Friday night the Broncos treated a big alumni and youth wrestling crowd by stunning the reigning Mid-Suburban League champs to take hold of the West Division lead entering the final week of the regular season.

The convincing 37-22 victory gives the Broncos at least a share of the MSL West title. Barrington will finish its league meets at Fremd next week, while Conant and coach Chad Hay face Hoffman Estates.

"We came out a little flat tonight and gave up far too many bonus points," said Hay, "but Barrington did a great job out there tonight and deserved their win."

The Cougars fell to 3-1 in the West.

"It was a very good night for Barrington wrestling, and one that helped erase the five pins we gave up to them last year when they beat us up real bad," said Broncos senior Julius Smith (21-4), who got his club rolling with the first of four Barrington pins. "I am sure just about everyone figured the result tonight would be in favor of Conant, but we were able to get some great work and victories from our underclassmen tonight plus earn those bonus points early on to give us a lead we never gave up."

The Broncos earned enough bonus points from their four pins and one major (by freshman Markus Hartman at 106) to outscore the Cougars with just those five results.

After Conant's Griff Rose (20-3) and Dan Andress (22-2) opened the festivities with decisions at 152 and 160, up stepped Smith who needed just 39 seconds to draw the Broncos (11-3-0) back level at 6-6. Two bouts later, John Depersia (195) recorded a pin at 1:52 to give the hosts a 15-6 lead. Heavyweight Alex Zenter executed a fall of his own at 3:03, and the Broncos (11-3-0, 4-0-0) never looked back.

"There was tremendous focus from all of the guys prior to the start of this dual, as we dedicated this evening to those that we have lost and miss in our lives, which for me was my father, who I lost to cancer, and would have loved to be here for this night, especially after watching that terrible loss we took from Conant last year," said Barrington coach Dave Udchik. "Let's not forget that Conant is a great team, with a great coaching staff as well, and that's why I am so proud of the effort from our entire lineup which helped provide a fantastic show on a night where we have so many former and future wrestlers in the stands."

Hartman improved to 23-2 with a 13-4 major decison which pushed the Barrington advantage to 25-9 before Nick Oskorev's 7-3 decision at 113 breathed some life into the Cougars' hopes.

Barrington got back on track as Jake Cysewski recorded yet another pin to increase the Broncos' lead to 31-15.

Kyle Peisker (22-1), fast becoming one of the top 120-pounders in the state, won by pin to bring the Cougars within 19 points at 31-18.

But Jake Meyer's exciting 11-6 win in overtime over Brian Smith essentially sealed the outcome as Barrington led 34-18 with just two bouts remaining.

No. 1 Bobby Alexander moved his record to 23-0 after his 12-0 major at 145 for the visitors, setting up a 1-0 decision in the finale for the senior Connor Boundy to cap a wonderful night for Barrington.

"Maybe this is the wake-up call the guys needed before things really get important, and hopefully we get another chance later on at the conference tournament to avenge tonight's loss," said Hay.

Barrington will be at the Lockport mega-duals today, while Conant hosts Libertyville, Lyons Township and DeKalb.

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