Metea Valley's Ervin set to march
CHAMPAIGN - Dylan Ervin is nothing if not resilient.
Since dropping the DuPage Valley Conference championship to bitter Waubonsie Valley rival Max Ihry at 195 pounds, the Metea Valley senior has found a way to survive.
Facing a 4-1 deficit Friday evening at the Class 3A individual wrestling semifinals to Bradley-Bourbonnais senior Mason Delong, Ervin secured the final 5 points of the match, including a decisive takedown in overtime, to earn the first championship berth in program history.
"I knew I had to get an escape and takedown (to tie the match in the third period)," the Mustangs senior said. "I saw my opening and dragged him back as hard as I could."
In overtime Ervin secured the historic 6-4 win.
"(Saturday) night is not only going to be about Metea," Mustangs coach Claudio Torres said. "Growing up (at East Aurora), I always wanted to be in the Grand March (the parade of finalists). I never had the chance. It's the first time for me, too."
Ervin will hardly be lonely on the final day of the individual wrestling season at the University of Illinois' State Farm Center. Six other local competitors won semifinal matches in Class 3A.
Montini will send three athletes in its bid for a first Class 3A championship.
Illinois recruit Dylan Duncan is a two-time defending champion; the Montini senior had a 3-point near-fall to vanquish Marmion junior Anthony Cheloni at 132 pounds.
"A lot of people say (a Class 2A championship) doesn't hold the same credentials (as Class 3A)," Duncan said.
Rudy Yates, who has defeated Duncan twice this season, has not lost this year for Sandburg in 46 attempts at 132 pounds.
"I have to be more ready at the start," Duncan said.
Real Woods is another undefeated wrestler; the Montini sophomore will have a Batavia sectional rematch with Sandburg senior Louis Hayes at 113 pounds.
Hayes' losses were both suffered at the hands of Woods.
Joey Melendez will be in the finals one class earlier at 106 pounds for Montini.
Glenbard North junior Austin Gomez seeks a second straight state title after improving to 42-1 with an 8-3 win over the Broncos' fourth semifinalist, senior Jimmy Pawelski.
"A lot of these guys who are trying to stall, I'm just going to push my offense," he said.
Matt Rowland, the top-seeded Willowbrook senior headed for North Carolina, was a one-man wrecking crew at 170 pounds.
Rowland had 7 takedowns and two 3-point near-falls to advance to a second consecutive finals match with a technical fall at 170 pounds.
"The coaching staff is awesome," Rowland said.
Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South senior heavyweights Matt Allen and Josh King, both committed to the Michigan State football program, will vie for heavyweight titles in Class 3A and 2A respectively.
"I love watching Josh wrestle," Allen said.
IC Catholic Prep became the first finalist in program history as well as the sophomore Joe Bianchini is 45-1 at 106 pounds in Class 1A.