Trip downstate falls into place for Wauconda

This high school wrestling season has been a real odyssey for Wauconda.

The No. 6-ranked Bulldogs headed into the season as a pretty unheralded team without a lot of high expectations.

But after rolling to an impressive 49-21 victory over Chicago St. Patrick with seven pins Tuesday night at the Class 2A Crystal Lake Central dual-team sectional, Wauconda (22-4) will be heading to the Elite Eight meet for the first time in school history.

The Bulldogs will face eighth-ranked Oak Forest in the state quarterfinals at 9 a.m. Saturday in U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington as the Bengals rolled to a 55-15 victory over De La Salle in their sectional meet.

Host Crystal Lake Central fell behind early, but the Tigers bounced back with a 45-24 victory over Fenton to punch their ticket downstate. Crystal Lake Central will compete in the state quarterfinals at 11 a.m. Saturday against Washington.

Starting the dual meet at 285 pounds, Wauconda jumped all over St. Patrick with senior state medalist Mike Turzynski (37-14) pinning Bob Suwalski in just 45 seconds for a quick 6-0 lead.

Then freshman Lucas Kaiser (28-14) stepped up with a pin over Charlie Roy in 2:09 before sophomore teammate Evan Husko (33-13) added a 3-2 decision over Anthony Greco at 113 to stake the Bulldogs to an early 15-0 advantage.

Seven starting seniors, including 120-pound senior Justin Mitchell (41-7), kept the heat on the Shamrocks as Mitchell's pin over Brad Ritter in only 50 seconds boosted the lead to 21-0.

Then sophomore state qualifier Delon Kanari (10-3) captured a 10-2 major decision over Ed Barzowski at 126 and the Bulldogs were well on their way to victory with a commanding 25-0 lead.

"We came into the season expecting to be strong, and we're definitely scrappy and ready to brawl," said Turzynski, who placed sixth at the state meet last weekend. "At the beginning of the year our only goal was to win conference. And then we just wanted to win the regional, sectional, and go to state, and we've kept it rolling."

St. Patrick (13-14) got on the scoreboard when Delano Walker pulled off a 13-11 decision over Ryan Zahari at 132.

But Wauconda's pins stole the show on this historic night. Pins by senior teammates Tyler Husko (39-8 at 138), and Nick Schomer (22-12 at 145) put the Bulldogs on the brink of victory with a 37-3 lead at that point.

The Shamrocks did manage to cling to hopes of a miraculous comeback with a pin by Mike Valicento keeping their hopes alive at 152.

But in spite of Dan Baker's 7-2 decision over Mickey Landvick at 160, Wauconda had clinched the team victory following that match with a 37-12 lead and only four bouts left.

"We had the idea that we were going to win regionals, and getting farther than that is great," said Mitchell. "Winning the close matches we need to win (against Oak Forest) will be a key, and Saturday we're going to come out hot."

Wauconda 170-pounder Devin Parrish dropped a tough 3-1 decision. But the Bulldogs responded once again with pins by Zac Finn (33-20 at 182), and Frank Milella (33-15 at 195) putting the finishing touches on the huge win.

"Going into the season I wasn't really thinking about state, but there was definitely a good base built before I got there," said first-year Wauconda coach Mike Buhr, who replaced Tom Nance this season. "They just came together as a family this year, and they're not just wrestling for themselves, but for the guys next to them."

If Wauconda can get past Oak Forest, it would face the winner of the Lemont-Cahokia meet in the state semifinals and guarantee themselves a top-four trophy.

At 195 pounds, senior Tyler Stankiewicz (22-9) was not needed against St. Patrick. But he will be available to wrestle downstate despite having a broken left hand wrapped up from an injury he sustained at the individual sectional meet.

"It should be a good match (against Oak Forest), we just have to have everyone do their job and not give up bonus points," added Buhr. "The first year has been great - these guys have bought into the system we put in place and we're seeing the rewards from it."