Wrestling: Libertyville, Barrington take top two tourney finishes
It was a good weekend for Libertyville wrestling.
The Wildcats held off a charge from Yorkville, reigning state champion Lockport and finally tourney host Barrington to take top team honors Saturday night in the 27th annual Moore-Prettyman Invitational.
“We might have our troubles from time to time in dual meets, but we're going to be a very good tournament team,” said Libertyville coach, Dale Eggert, whose team used plenty of balance in the medal race to outscore Barrington by 6 points (173-167). Third-place Yorkville (165) held a 1-point advantage at 143-142 just before the lunch break.
“We were short a key guy, and I know that both Lockport and Marmion Academy were missing a few of their regulars,” said Barrington coach Dave Uchik. “But this was a great tournament from start to finish, with a terrific field that had nearly half of the teams here scoring 100 points or more.”
The Broncos, who trailed both Libertyville and Yorkville for most of the day, were always within closing range of the two leaders and finally went ahead of Yorkville on the strength of individual titles from Markus Hartman (152) and Jake Meyer (195).
Meyer's triumph was compled by pin in 3:05 over Nick Stemmet of Yorkville.
“I'm not as big as most of the guys at (195), and I'll likely drop back down to 185 later this week,” said Meyer, a fixture in Barrington's lineup for three seasons and a three-sport standout. “But I knew his confidence dropped after that first takedown. Then I just caught him on his back and finished him off.”
Perhaps the most anticipated final of the day was at 126 pounds, one of the three high-profile divisions here. The title bout featured the No. 1 rated 2A and 3A athletes, Austin Macias of Burlington Central and Fabian Lopez from DeKalb.
Macias, who gave Burlington Central its first state champion in program history last February, held a 3-0 advantage with an escape and takedown early into the second period before Lopez, a sophomore, finished a crafty ankle pick to get even it up at 3-3.
The two stars traded escapes before Macias went up for good (6-4) with four minutes remaining and held on to earn his title.
“I had never wrestled (Lopez) before so I didn't know what to expect,” said Macias, who won 36 matches a year ago. “But it was a fast-paced match right from the start. I knew if I kept good position and worked hard for six minutes, I could come away with the win.”
Fifth place Marmion Academy (151.5 points) celebrated a pair of individual titles. The first came from Trevor Chumbley, who navigated his way through a star-studded 132-pound division which included seven state qualifiers, including Robert Precin of Andrews. Chumbley outlasted him 3-1 in the final.
Cadets senior Nate Jimenez, a state runner-up last season at 160, started this tournament in the fast lane and never took his foot off the gas pedal until defeating Prospect senior Ryan Vedner 11-5.
“Last year was such a letdown when I came up short of my goal of winning a state title,” said Jimenez. “This year I am more confident, and from here on out I will just let things flow as I continue on my journey.”
Vedner, who won 25 times last year in his first full season in the Knights' lineup, was one of a handful who had close calls.
The Fremd duo of Cole Riemer (145) and Adam Kemp (160) both lost heartbreaking 1-point decisions, each to opponents from Hinsdale Central.
Riemer kept himself in his bout with Liam Drury when his takedown near the edge tied it at 5-5 with 90 seconds remaining. But Drury's escape moments later closed out the Vikings senior.
Kemp led 3-1 midway through the second period against Luke Skokna but conceded a takedown with 15 seconds left, and that made the difference. Kemp won 30 matches a year ago, third on the team behind heavyweight Zach Niemec and Riemer, who collected 40 victories.
Waubonsie Valley junior Garrett St. Clair, a transfer from Aurora Central Catholic after qualifying twice for the sectional, saw his chance to lift a championship trophy dashed by Brady Fisher of Yorkville at 220 pounds.
“I've never competed in a big 3A tournament like this one after being at (ACC) for two years, where we were a 1A team,” said St. Clair. “But I am excited to be at Waubonsie Valley, and to have a great coaching staff to help me improve in order to compete at this level.”
St. Clair, a two-time regional champion, won 32 matches last season.