Glenbard North's Gomez completes the 3-peat
CHAMPAIGN - Mark Hahn received a significant going-away present from Austin Gomez on Saturday night at individual state wrestling.
In his final official duty as coach at Glenbard North, Hahn guided Gomez to his third consecutive Class 3A championship at the University of Illinois' State Farm Center.
The Iowa State-bound 138-pounder concluded his senior season with no in-state losses in finishing with a 46-1 record.
Gomez had a second-period fall against Mt. Carmel's Kendall Coleman in his last prep match.
"(Gomez) is the real thing," said Hahn, who is retiring after three decades and 11 state trophies, including the 2011 state championship. "It's all class. He epitomizes Glenbard North wrestling. He is always offensive. He tries to score in every position."
Gomez, whose only loss in Champaign the last four years came as a freshman in the semifinals, is the third three-time state champion in program history. Tony Ramos and Jared Cortez are the others.
"(Hahn) is the best wrestling coach in the country, in my mind," Gomez said. "He's like a second father to me. I love that man to death."
Montini has had an equally prolific number of individual state champions since the turn of the century.
In their second year in Class 3A, the Broncos once again showcased their abilities in the lower to middle weights.
Joey Melendez also defended a state championship for Montini at 113 pounds, and Woods' second title in three years came two classes later at 126.
"This was another chance to prove to everybody what Montini wrestling is all about," said Melendez, who had to traverse an extraordinarily difficult field in preventing the perfect season Stagg sophomore Domenic Zaccone was seeking.
Melendez secured an 11-2 major decision over Zaccone (41-1).
"You have to beat them eventually," Melendez said of his star-studded side of the bracket.
In the 126-pound final, Woods' second-period escape against Oak Park- River Forest junior Anthony Madrigal.
Woods would have three consecutive state championships had Louie Hayes' late takedown led to his sole loss last year.
"You learn from that loss," Woods said of the 2-1 setback to the former Sandburg standout. "You always have a feeling you can get better. (Tonight) I got a little scared from last year's loss."
In the final Class 3A championship match, the Broncos' Will Lewan had a late takedown to win the 145-pound title.
Dylan Ragusin, the fourth Montini finalist, had to settle for runner-up status at 106 pounds.
There were three DuPage County Class 3A finalists in a four weight-span between 182 pounds and heavyweight.
But Jack Jessen, Mason Kroening and Niko Ivansevic all had their state-championship dreams vanquished at the hands of opponents.
Jessen, the Willowbrook junior riding a 50-match winning streak, had to settle for his second second-place finish in his 182-pound collision with fellow unbeaten Kordell Norfleet of Marian Catholic.
"He has a really good technique on top," Jessen said of Norfleet. "I tried scoring, but he has really good defense. I felt like I had to get it on more (as time was running out)."
Norfleet (46-0) was gracious in defeat.
"He's 50-0 for a reason," the defending Class 2A champion said. "He wasn't there by accident."
Kroening, making the first finals appearance for a Waubonsie Valley wrestler since 1998, fell 12-4 to nationally ranked Sandburg senior Pat Brucki in the 195-pound finale.
"I thought Mason did well battling him," Waubonsie Valley coach Brad Caldwell said. "I was proud of his effort."
At heavyweight Ivanisevic was powerless to prevent Rockton Hononegah junior Anthony Cassioppi from ending the season with a 48-0 record.
The Hinsdale Central senior was pinned early in the second period. IC Catholic Prep junior Joey Bianchini won the first state championship in program history with his 113-pound victory in Class 1A.