For Naperville North's Zhang, trip to state a nice consolation
He didn't quite pull off the wrestling upset, but Naperville North's Chris Zhang did end the night on a big high on Saturday.
The Huskies' senior 220-pounder, who had already secured his first trip downstate, recorded a late takedown and three more points with a near fall before coming up short in a 7-5 loss to Hinsdale South's top-ranked Joshua King (41-1) in the championship bout at the Class 3A Downers Grove North sectional.
Zhang, who had lost earlier this season to King, went for a takedown early in the third period, but King was ready and increased his lead to 7-0. From there Zhang knew he didn't have much to lose late in the match, so he went on the attack.
"When I was going for that takedown at the beginning of the period I thought I might catch him by surprise, but he saw that one coming and he kinda got me on my own back," said Zhang, who heads to state with a 33-7 record. "It was kinda like my 'Oh No' moment."
But Zhang made things interesting late.
"I looked down and saw that the score was 7-0 so I thought nothing worse could happen from now on," he said. "The worst I could get was a pin (by King) so I just went for the throw. It was worth a shot. He happened to land on his own back. But I needed a little more time."
Zhang and teammate Stevie Schmult (160 pounds) advanced out of the rugged sectional along with several other area athletes, including six from Marmion Academy, four of them champions. Anthony Cheloni (138 pounds), Trace Carello (160), Riley DeMoss (170) and Nathan Traxler (182) all won titles for the Cadets, who finished third in the state last year.
"It was a very good day. We have six going, but more importantly I felt like the six that we have going all wrestled really well today and the momentum is there going into next week," said Marmion coach Ryan Cumbee.
Naperville Central, Wheaton Warrenville South and Waubonsie Valley each qualified two wrestlers for state, while Metea Valley 145-pounder Kenan Carter also moved on. For the Redhawks, Ben Williamson edged Downers Grove South's Tyree Johnson 3-2 in the third-place bout, while sophomore 106-pounder Jake Keating placed fourth.
"It was important to finish the tournament strong as well as set myself up to succeed in the state tournament," said Williamson, who earned his third state berth. "It's so awesome. I had a tough match in the semis today and that kinda got to me, but I stuck with it."
Williamson lost 6-0 to Wheaton Warrenville South's Qarin Jonnic in the semifinals, and Jonnic then lost a tough 4-2 battle with Cheloni in the finals at 138. Joining Jonnic at state will be Tigers teammate Cory Drummond, fourth at 132.
The Warriors are sending heavyweight Tyler Caldwell and Max Ihry, who took third at 195 after pinning Sandburg's Cole Bateman at the 2:38 mark.
West Aurora's Isaac Jacquez improved to 44-2 on the year after edging Sandburg's Robbie Precin 3-2 in the title bout at 113.
"I made it to state last year but was a little short off of placing," said Isaac Jacquez, who wrestled at 106 pounds as a freshman before moving up a class this year. "It feels great to be just down there again, to try and make it on that podium."
At 120 pounds West Aurora's Chachi Jacquez (47-3) beat Zach Villarreal of Lyons Township 6-1 in the third-place match after each wrestler had already secured state berths. The Blackhawks will send three grapplers to state, as Alex Gonzalez was fourth at 152.