Weithman win lifts Redhawks
Shark attacks, monsters in the night and dual-deciding final matches in wrestling -- they can all make you feel the same way.
"I was terrified," Naperville Central's Nick Weithman said.
Weithman conquered his fear, wrestled with poise and gave his squad a 33-29 win over Downers Grove North on Thursday, winning a 6-5 decision at 215 pounds that decided the night.
Weithman only weighs 180.
"Nick doesn't have a lot of varsity experience, but he's working hard in the wrestling room," said Redhawks coach Rob Porter. "Every time he goes out there, he gets better and better."
Visiting Naperville Central (3-6) has forfeited two weights all year, leaving its 12 starting wrestlers chasing bonus points whenever possible. In earning an 8-4 edge in matches wrestled, the Redhawks got bonus points in five of those eight wins.
"Porter does a great job, that's a good team and they outhustled us tonight," said Trojans coach Chris McGrath.
Heavyweight CJ Barbato started things off well for the Trojans (4-1), winning a 3-2 decision in four overtimes. A Redhawks forfeit at 103 and a dominant performance in a technical fall by Jimmy Nehls at 112 put the home team up 14-0.
That's when the Redhawks reeled off five consecutive wins, starting with major decisions by Nick Santos at 119 and Chase Muscato at 125 pounds. A pair of returning sectional qualifiers next squared off at 130, with the Redhawks' Keenan Marr winning 11-6 over Dan Rongaus.
A major decision by Andy Kovalsky at 135 and an 8-3 overtime decision by Matt Gorbach at 140 put the Redhawks up 18-14.
"They're getting better and better every week," Porter said. "With two forfeits we're just going match by match and hoping for the best. We've got to fight for every point we can get."
The Trojans' Joe Foreman stopped the bleeding with a pin at 145 pounds, but the Redhawks' Jon Coluzzi at 152 and Chris Graeber at 171 earned pins on either side of a Redhawks forfeit at 160 pounds.
With his squad trailing 30-26, the Trojans' Leo Ellis needed a win at 189 to keep hope alive. He got one, via a 7-6 decision over Matt Burns.
"Leo did a nice job, and Jimmy Nehl is something special," McGrath said. "I also thought David (Boston) did a nice job out there, and so did CJ Barbato."
Weithman led 4-1 after one period of the night's final match, Boston fought back with a second-period takedown, but Weithman rode and worked to turn him throughout the third.
Along the way the terror subsided.
"Once I got that first takedown, I got really confident," Weithman said. "And usually I'm not that good at holding people down, but I've been practicing that tilt, which is what I was working for."