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Wauconda's NLCC title effort is worth the weight

Both teams really wanted the first-ever Northern Lake County Conference wrestling championship Friday night at Wauconda.

This dual meet between long-time rivals Grant and Wauconda started off as a knock-down, drag-out battle that looked like it could come down to the final few matches to decide the outcome.

But when it got to the heavier weights, the visiting Bulldogs could not compete with the host Bulldogs, as Wauconda ultimately rolled to a pretty impressive 34-21 NLCC victory to claim that first-place crown.

Starting at 138 pounds on senior night, Wauconda senior Tyler Husko (33-6) pulled out a narrow 3-2 decision over Spencer Welter before 145-pound teammate Nick Schomer added a 5-1 decision over Frank Urman to stake the hosts to an early 6-0 lead.

Grant (16-7, 5-1) bounced back with 2016 state qualifier Jacob Melton posting an 11-1 major decision at 152 before senior teammate Mark Lantz-Warner edged Mickey Landvick 5-3 at 160.

Then No. 11-ranked Class 2A squad Wauconda (19-4, 7-0) fell behind 10-6 as Grant 170-pounder Justin Spies captured an exciting 3-1 overtime decision against Devin Parrish.

The host Bulldogs would cut the gap to 10-9 when Zac Finn (23-14) posted a 4-3 decision over Ryan Alsip at 182.

Then came the first turning point of the meet, as Wauconda 2016 state qualifier Tyler Stankiewicz (14-7) pinned his opponent in 5:28 to give his team the lead for keeps at 15-10.

Then in what had to be one of the wildest matches of the 2016-17 season between any two wrestlers, Wauconda 220-pounder Jared DeWyze pulled out an 11-10 decision over Kris Krey in double overtime. Krey was called for stalling with less than two seconds left in the third period, forcing a 9-9 tie and overtime.

That huge victory led to an even bigger win in the next bout as Wauconda 285-pounder Mike Turzynski (23-6) pinned his man in 4:54 to give the Bulldogs a 24-10 lead with five matches remaining.

"You can't win a dual meet when you give up pins, and we lost a lot of tight matches," said Grant coach Lenny Grodoski. "I think some of our varsity inexperience showed tonight. They have a senior-heavy team, and consistency is the key."

Wauconda almost kept the momentum going as freshman Lucas Kaiser almost pinned Grant freshman Zach Hitzler with Kaiser building a 9-1 lead after one period.

Hitzler bounced back with a near-pin of his own in the second period before ultimately pulling out an exciting 15-12 decision to keep Grant's chances alive, trailing 24-13 with four matches left.

Grant 113-pound freshman Dylan Rienkinberger (24-12) followed with a 14-5 major decision to cut the gap to 24-17. But then came a huge pin by No. 6-ranked senior Justin Mitchell (31-5) at 120, and Wauconda was on its way to the title with a 30-17 lead at that point.

126-pounder Delon Kanari put the finishing touches on the celebration with a 9-1 major decision over Tucker Rogan clinching the team victory.

Grant's Sam Maldanado closed out the meet with a 15-4 major decision over Ryan Zahari to account for the final score.

Grant owned the former North Suburban Conference Prairie Division with an 88-1 record in dual meets with its only loss at Wauconda in 2012.

"Stankiewicz wanted to get us started with the first pin of the dual, and Turzynski was not going to let that (pin) slip away," said elated first-year Wauconda coach Mike Buhr, who praised his four heaviest wrestlers. "Grant is a tough program, they always have been, and our guys kind of rose to the occasion."

Stankiewicz missed much of the early stages of the season due to injury. But he is hoping to return downstate while trying to lead his team to their first regional title since 2009.

"In 2012 we were the only team to beat them (Grant), and it feels great to start off our new conference with a big win," said Stankiewicz, whose team will also host a Class 2A individual sectional meet. "We have to keep working hard in practice like we do every day and we hope to win the regional."

  Grant's Sam Maldonado, left, is controlled by Wauconda's Tyler Husko at 138 pounds on Friday at Wauconda. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Wauconda's Nick Schomer, left, escapes the grasp of Grant's Frank Urman at 145 pounds on Friday at Wauconda. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Grant's Jake Melton, right, controls Wauconda's Erik Heinzinger at 152 pounds on Friday at Wauconda. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Grant's Mark Lantz-Warner, right, throws Wauconda's Mickey Landvick at 160 pounds on Friday at Wauconda. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Grant's Mark Lantz-Warner wins his match against Wauconda's Mickey Landvick at 160 pounds on Friday at Wauconda. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Grant's Justin Spies, left, takes on Wauconda's Devin Parish at 170 pounds on Friday at Wauconda. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Grant's coach gets into the action against host Wauconda on Friday. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Wauconda's Zac Finn wins his match over Grant's Ryan Alsip at 182 pounds on Friday at Wauconda. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
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