'Great day' for Nowry, Wheeling

Long before the concession stand reduced everything to half price, defending state champion Sandburg had already clinched its second straight Wheeling Memorial team title Saturday.

But the host Wildcats made sure that they got their money's worth before the sale ended by winning six individual championships -- four against the high-flying Eagles -- to end the 23rd annual wrestling tournament on a high note with an impressive second-place finish.

Sandburg recorded 251 points to outdistance Wheeling (193) and North Suburban Conference rivals Stevenson (128.50) and Lake Zurich (105.5) for the big trophy in the nine-team field.

Wheeling's Max Nowry (103) and Sandburg state champion Conrad Polz, both ranked No. 1 in the nation at their respective weight classes, shared MVP honors as each breezed through the competition to hoist first-place medals.

Luke (112) and Matt Smith (152) joined Nowry atop the victory stand, as did David Aranda (140), Joe Kent (145) and Danny Vargas (189) to help the Wildcats' cause.

"How can you not be proud of this group today," said Wheeling coach Neal Weiner. "David won a very difficult weight division (today), and watching Joe Kent compete against Sandburg's Jake Holler -- a kid whose dad was an All-American and great wrestler himself -- brought back a lot of memories and was a fun match to watch.

"All that coupled with a first-year varsity wrestler (for) us, Eric Toledano, who earned a second-place finish at 285 helped make for a great day."

Nowry (14-0) jump-started the Wildcats after he administered a pin on Sandburg's Nick Fishback at 1:37.

Then freshman Luke Smith held on to defeat Lake Zurich's Joey Carfagnini 6-5 for the 112-pound crown.

"I feel that my confidence is growing with each dual and tournament that I wrestle in," said Smith, who turned Carfagnini in the final 10 seconds of the second period to build a 6-2 lead.

Carfagnani's teammate Shaffer Cameran was no match for two-time state qualifier and No. 2-rated John Morrison of Sandberg, who pinned his opponent at 4:32 to earn his second-straight championship here. He beat Nowry last season at 103 pounds.

Kevin Fanta gave the Bears a boost and its lone title after a stirring performance against NSC rival David Lamberti in the 125-pound bout.

Fanta upset Dom Polito of Sandberg in the semifinals.

Lamberti, a 4-2 overtime victor in his semifinal match against Deerfield's Josh Katz, staged a superb battle that went into OT before Fanta prevailed on a takedown with 14 seconds remaining in the extra period.

"We were both gassed," admitted Fanta, "but maybe at that point I wanted it just a little bit more than David."

Lamberti (9-4) who had defeated Fanta in the off-season during a free-style event, said he wasn't as aggressive as he could have been -- which may have led to his downfall in the end.

"That just isn't my style to (not) be aggressive," Lamberti said. "But Kevin and I will see each other a few more times this season, and hopefully the outcome will be different."

Lamberti was one of two Patriots who earned second-place medals, joining Bobby Vagun (152).

Second-year Patriots coach Shane Cook was pleased.

"Last year, with basically the same group of kids, we came here and finished in eighth place overall, and probably just a few points away from ninth," Cook said. "The dedication and hard work that the guys have put in (thus) far, along with the same effort from a great group of assistant coaches is one of the reasons that we've progressed (forward) from last year and will continue to do so as the season rolls on."

Senior Ryan Lund gave Grayslake Central something to cheer about after his 5-3 decision over Tylar Lepretre of Sandburg in the 135-pound bout.

"It was great to finally beat a guy from Sandberg," Lund said. "I had never beaten anyone (here) from Sandberg, and I think the (win) will give my confidence a big boost from here on out."

Lund (13-2), a state qualifier last season at 135 pounds after a runner-up finish at the Barrington sectional, recorded a takedown at 90 seconds before holding on in the final moments of his championship match after Leprete got closer with just over a minute to go.

First-year Maine West coach Lance Weber watched Tyler Gratz (171) and heavyweight Oscar Herrera earn the Warriors' only 2 medals, as the Warriors tied with Lane Tech for fifth place with 53 points.

"Tyler has been very good the past 2 weeks, going 7-1 at that time, while the same can be said for Herrera, who today came back from a disappointing loss in his semifinal to earn a 3rd-place medal," Weber said.

Gratz battled in his title bout with Yurly Koverko (Lane Tech) right until the end after drawing even at 3-3 midway through the second period before falling 5-3.

Aranda and Kent gave the Wheeling faithful plenty to cheer about, as Aranda, a superb defender for the Wheeling soccer team, pounded Sanberg's Billy Crowley 13-5 to win at 140 pounds.

"I am finally getting into (wrestling) shape and today I was able to get some very good shots in and continued to (go) after (more) of them until I hit them," Aranda said.

Kent may have been involved in the most exciting match of the final round. The senior needed to go 3 extra periods before beating Holler 6-5.

In a match that featured countless scrambles from the very beginning, one last final scramble gave Kent the triumph.

"I think, for me, the difference was that I was hydrated properly and it gave me the speed and quickness that I needed at the end of my match," Kent said.