Marre brothers on both ends of Glenbard North triumph
Brothers Anthony and George Marre have spent many years roughhousing and more recently have had some great battles in the wrestling room.
But when the Glenbard North athletes are not going at each other, they're usually piling up wins against opponents. Friday was more of the same as Anthony, a senior 160-pounder, and George, a junior at 145, each won big.
Glenbard North defeated visiting Lake Park 62-6 in a DuPage Valley Conference dual in Carol Stream.
The meet started at 160 pounds, and Anthony's second-period pin gave the Panthers a quick 6-0 lead. When George recorded a 15-3 major decision at 145 pounds, the younger Marre had increased his team's lead to 62-3 before Lancers star 152-pounder Vince Liebach ended the night with a 4-0 win over Luke Kohout.
"I felt I wrestled good. I got to my offense, and I was tough on top," said Anthony Marre, one of three returning state qualifiers this season for the Panthers. "That's my game plan for every match. Of course, every match is different."
What has not been different much in recent years is the outcome, as Glenbard North's program has gotten used to winning more than its share of matches and big meets. Friday's win improved the Panthers to 23-2 on the year and a perfect 7-0 in the DVC.
"There's a lot of history behind the program. We've got to keep it up," said the senior, who admits he's had a number of heated battles with his brother both in the wrestling room and at home.
"It's a nonstop battle. We both kind of wrestle the same style. If we wrestle in there (practice room) coaches got to get involved. It gets heated. It's great. And there's been a couple holes in the wall at home. It's nonstop."
George, who had five takedowns in his win, said wrestling against his brother has helped each of them to improve their craft.
"When we were little we didn't wrestle as much, I mean, actual wrestling," he said. "We would just mess around. Now that we're almost the same weight we actually practice in the room and I feel like we've both gotten better because we challenge each other. Sometimes he'll hit me hard and I don't like it and I'll hit him back and we'll just start fighting."
Three bouts into Friday's action, Glenbard North had a 17-0 lead with a pin, win by forfeit and a major decision by Abe Assaad at 182. Lake Park got on the scoreboard with DeMarco Lee's 8-3 win at 195, but the Lancers did not win again until Liebach improved to 32-2 with his victory in the night's final bout.
"We have two kids who are wrestling really, really well right now," Lake Park assistant coach Dave Pierce said. "DeMarco Lee at 195 has just three losses this year and he's beaten some ranked kids. And Vince is 32-2 with losses to two quality kids."