Depleted Kaneland falls to Sycamore
Wrestling is debated to be both an individual and a team sport.
In terms of the former, Kaneland could be pleased, but the latter view was a 48-33 dual-meet victory for visiting Sycamore on Thursday night.
The Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference East meeting began with a 12-0 lead for the Spartans (2-2, 1-0) thanks to the first two of five weight classes Kaneland forfeited.
Deduct those 30 points and the host Knights (0-4, 0-1) owned a 33-18 advantage based on winning six of the nine individual matches actually wrestled.
"Obviously we believe our team record is misleading until we get a full lineup," Kaneland coach Joe Orosco noted. "Despite that reality, the kids are working hard and bringing maximum effort to their individual matches. Right now five forfeits are a killer."
Technically four of those were at 113, 120, 126 and 132, but the overall meet began with the 126-pound weight class. Kaneland's Zane Possen began the comeback bid at 138 needing just 1:28 to put Bradford Edwards on his back.
"The team score wasn't really on my mind since my own goal is to always get six or as many points possible for my teammates," Possen said. "Getting the pin early was a relief because you know you got your job done."
After a forfeit at 145, the Spartan lead climbed to 24-6 as 152-pounder Zak Kozumplik recorded a pinfall in 4:55 over Keith Clausen. But that was followed by back-to-back pins in favor of the Knights. Trevor Jones needed just 30 seconds while Hayden Patterson rallied for a third-period lead prior to imposing his will just 21 seconds ahead of a final horn.
"Knowing I had an edge in experience combined with how hard we practice and condition, I believed it would pay off," Jones said in regard to the night's quickest fall 160.
The 170 bout featured a pair of familiar foes in Patterson and Sycamore's Artimus Cunningham, who both had honorable mention rankings in last year's final Illinois Matmen ratings for 160.
"As long as a match hasn't gotten out of hand, I always believe I can come back. It's nice to win this one, but I'm sure I'll see him two more times this year," Patterson said before admitting he knew their seventh career meeting gives him a 4-3 edge over his Spartan counterpart. "Thanks to all of our conditioning, I knew my gas tank wasn't empty."
Sycamore gained a 30-18 lead after 182-pounder Matthew Hunter earned a 3:42 fall over Jacob Urban. However the Knights made things interesting thanks to consecutive sticks by Riley Vanik and Colin Gussman. Vanik needed 3:42 to flatten Ben Cottone at 195 and Gussman used 3:21 to stick Nick Salsberry and knot the team score at 30-all.
"Regardless of the team score my job is to get a pin," Gussman said. "The first few minutes I was a little sloppy, but I knew I was in control. Considering what I can do next to win is the reason I like the sport."
The Spartans mathematically locked up the win when Joey Beaudoin was able to pin Connor Park in 23 seconds for a 36-33 lead well ahead of receiving the last two forfeits.
Kaneland's Nathan Orsoco got an early takedown and after Trevor Boryla escaped, added another takedown for a 4-1 lead. The Knights' 106 pounder got an escape of his own in the second period and then rode out the final period to account for Kaneland's final 3 points.