Graeber, Lynch take 2nd at Hawk Invite
Wrestlers are nothing if not relentlessly devoted to working out, and Hoffman Estates sophomore Patrick Scully is sure something.
"I worked out at Overtime (School of Wrestling in Naperville) during the summer, played soccer in the fall, and in between soccer and wrestling I ran to stay in shape," Scully said.
Look no further than that for what keyed Scully's title win at 112 pounds at this year's 12-team, 30th annual Hawk Invitational, hosted by Hoffman Estates. Scully beat Lincoln-Way Central's Andrew Ruettiger for the tourney title at 103 last year and beat him again via 9-6 decision on Saturday.
"I knew what he was going to hit," Scully said. "Before the match, I watched a tape of last year when I wrestled him. I did a little scouting."
Top-seeded Scully and top-seeded teammate Tommy Wadas at 140 pounds each won titles for a Hawks team that placed fifth on the day while only entering 10 wrestlers in competition. Justin Bucsa earned a second-place finish at 130 pounds for the Hawks.
Lincoln-Way Central won the tournament for the third consecutive year, Crystal Lake Central was second, and Machesney Park Harlem took third.
Naperville Central got a pair of second-place finishes from Chris Graeber at 171 and heavyweight Christian Lynch in placing fourth as a team, plus thirds from Keenan Marr at 130 and Jon Coluzzi at 152 pounds.
Coach Rob Porter's crew came into Saturday's competition after winning a pair of grueling duals Thursday and Friday that came down the final matches, and he was happy with the energy the Redhawks mustered.
"They never took a step back, never complained and did whatever they could to be successful today," Porter said.
The unseeded Lynch won three matches before being stopped in his title match, and third-seeded Graeber beat second-seeded Pete Damiani of Lincoln-Way Central in a semifinal before losing 3-1 to top-seeded Trevor Parlberg of Crystal Lake Central.
"I'm usually pretty good on my feet, but that kid was just blocking all my shots," Graeber said. "I've got to work harder."
"Christian has really come on and improved this year," Porter said of Lynch. "And Chris is now wrestling at a very high level and just needs to learn how to figure out those top opponents."
Ninth-place Willowbrook saw second-seeded Grant Millette win a four-overtime semifinal match over Hoffman Estates' Rocco Silvestri at 145 pounds before placing second to top-seeded Jake Nelson of Lincoln-Way Central.
"It's all mental. My body sure wanted to quit," Millette said of his overtime win. "But I wanted it really bad."
"Grant beat (Silvestri) back to the circle every time, and that's part of attitude," said Willowbrook coach Brian Murphy, who also got a third from Shahmir Jiwani at 103 and a fourth from Dan Marin at 135 pounds.