Jacobs takes down Dundee-Crown to claim FVC Valley title
Jacobs made quick work of Dundee-Crown Thursday night in Algonquin and in doing so, the Golden Eagles (14-0-0, 5-0-0) clinched their first Fox Valley Conference Valley Division wrestling title with a 62-15 victory over the Chargers.
"I think all of us are very happy to finally lock down the Valley Division," said proud Jacobs coach Gary Conrad, who along with a big home audience honored five seniors at its annual Senior Night, including veterans, Chris Dranka (138, 22-3) and Dean Lane (160, 21-1).
"After being so close the last two years, it feels amazing to win the division during our senior year," admitted Dranka, who along with Lane helped lead their club to the championship of the 37th Urbana Classic last weekend with individual titles.
"A lot of our success has to do with so many of us coming in at the same time after being together in the Wizards Wrestling Club and we've got a great coaching staff, beginning with coach Conrad," echoed both Dranka and Lane, who served as captains along with Jack Golnick (220, 26-2) and heavyweight David Schillmoeller, who put the home side ahead for good 21-12 after the Chargers' dynamic duo of Chase Raap (182) and Christian Brunner (195, 32-0) dominated with back-to-back pins after Lane and Loren Strickland (170) opened the proceedings with forfeit wins.
"Chase is going to be the guy here next year for us, and his growth has been fun to watch right from the beginning, and what can you say about Christian Brunner - he's just being Christian Brunner," said D-C coach Tim Hayes with a wry smile.
Brunner, of course, is a two-time state medalist, and current top-rated 195-pounder in the state, who the Chargers' first-year head coach and former D-C star has had the opportunity to watch his three-year star domination up close and personal.
"Christian brings the level way up in the room for us, and after we've sorted out those who want to be with us, and those who do not, we've got a very good core of guys in the room, with plenty of potential, led of course by top guy in the state."
"It was a rough beginning for us this year, but now everyone who stayed around is all in and believes in the program, and trusts coach Hayes, and if everyone works hard from here on out, and during the offseason everything should be on the way up around here," said Brunner, who last year was third at the state tourney and went 44-2, one year after going 43-2 as runner-up to Colton Emmerich of Deerfield.
Brunner would pin the Golden Eagles 'leading pin artist Michael Bujacz at 3:22 for only the second of three wins on the night by D-C.
"Christian is an absolute beast, the best around, he's got a vise grip, and Michael didn't stay away from what he is so dangerous at. Hopefully he learned from this experience and will go six minutes with (Brunner) at the FVC tourney in two weeks," offered Conrad.
After Richard Zambrano recorded a hard-fought 7-5 triumph at 106 it was all Jacobs, which reeled off four pins in its next five bouts with David Dudych (23-6) adding a technical fall, as the 2016 Valley champs outscored their guests 35-0 down the stretch to close the night out.