Glenbard North wins, but Lake Park sees progress
As it is for all high school wrestling teams in the state, Glenbard North and Lake Park are entering the final week of the regular season and trying to get their lineups healthy and ready for the postseason.
The Lancers were in a tough position Friday night when they traveled to Glenbard North to take on the Panthers. Lake Park was forced to forfeit seven weight classes and the Panthers cruised 60-16.
However, the Lancers won four of the seven matches that took place, and Lake Park coach Anthony Cirrincione praised his team for its effort.
"That felt great. We had to forfeit seven matches because of injuries and unforeseen circumstances, and to win four was great," he said. "The kids wrestled hard, were physical and didn't back down."
The meet began at 132 pounds and Glenbard North won the first two matches that were wrestled. Joey Czernek won by fall in 3:06 at 138 as did Brandon Fierro in 1:27 at 152.
Lake Park then proceeded to win four of the next six matches. A takedown by Jake Hooten in overtime gave him a 4-2 win at 170. David Hardwick won by decision 8-4 at 195 and Anthony Gulyk prevailed in 2:52. The final Lancers win of the evening came at 106 as Luke Badger won by major decision 9-0.
"(Badger) lost to that same kid twice last year. That shows the progress that he is making," Cirrincione said.
The final match wrestled overall was at 113 where Glenbard North's Elijah Gilliam earned a fall in 1:25.
Lake Park has a busy final week of the regular season as it travels to Naperville Central on Thursday followed by a home meet Friday against Neuqua Valley and then Saturday's Downers Grove South Mega Duals. The DuPage Valley Conference championship is Jan. 30 at Glenbard North.
Cirrincione said Badger and Jackson Schoen (145 pounds), who missed Friday's meet due to injury, are the Lancers' best hopes for conference titles and he thinks Lake Park will have a full lineup by the start of regionals.
As for Glenbard North, which will be at the Lockport Mega Duals on Saturday, coach Mark Hahn is also trying to get the squad 100 percent ready for the start of the postseason. The Panthers host Neuqua Valley on Thursday, followed by a trip to Metea Valley on Friday to close out the conference dual meets.
"We're a little bit sick, a lot going around. We're getting better (competitively) but have a long ways to go. Tonight we had a lot of different guys in the the lineup and that's OK," Hahn said. "Joey Czernek did well at The Clash (Jan. 1-2 tournament in Rochester, Minnesota) and has been doing well ever since. Elijah Gilliam has been working real hard and getting better."
Glenbard North has five wrestlers ranked in Class 3A according to illinoismatmen.com - Abe Assad (120) No. 7, Austin Gomez (126) No. 1, Mike Milan (132) No. 10, Anthony Morre (145) No. 9 and Tom Czernek 160 (No. 6).
"I think the difference in the conference meet could be a few points. Naperville Central gets better this time of year. Once Wheaton North gets healthy they will be one of the challengers and Naperville North is tough and there's Metea Valley," Hahn said.