Title no big deal to Ochoa
If Fenton's Francisco Ochoa was any more even-keeled, he might doze off.
The Bison heavyweight calmly upset state-ranked Juan Perez of West Aurora in overtime of his semifinal match and then coolly topped Lockport's Mike Tetlow via 5-4 decision to win an individual title at this year's formidable, 24-team Rex Whitlatch tournament at Hinsdale Central.
"Francisco doesn't show any emotion with anything," laughed Fenton coach Brian Hastings. "But he wrestled well today, and this will only give him more confidence."
Sandburg placed first by 7 team points over West Aurora, with Lockport third and Minooka placing fourth.
DuPage County saw five wrestlers win individual titles, starting with Fenton's Josh Castellano, who repeated as Whitlatch champion with a 14-7 decision over Sandburg's Tyler LePretre.
Castellano battled through decisions of 5-0 and 7-2 to reach the title mat.
"I'm happy, but I need to work more on my set-ups," he said. "I don't want to win by three or four points. I want to get bigger leads."
Hinsdale South's Joe McGuire paced a fifth-place team finish for the Hornets by winning the title at 140, while teammate Jon Goldsher was second at 145.
McGuire won 1-point decisions in his semifinal and final match, winning a title on what he considered less than his best day.
"My focus wasn't there today," McGuire said. "I need to work it. I wanted to come to this tournament and be at my best."
Hornets coach Mike Mattozi was a little less critical of his title-winner's performance.
"I thought he wrestled well," Matozzi said. "He struggled on Friday, but he battled through two tough matches today."
Chris Graeber took home the title at 171 pounds for ninth-place Naperville Central after he placed second at the Whitlatch the last two years. Graeber majored the Blackhawks' Tim Soloff, to go with another major decision and two pins in the two-day tournament.
"It's good to finally win this tournament," Graeber said. "Last week (at Hoffman Estates) I didn't get a lot of takedowns, but I was a lot better today."
Jon Coluzzi placed third at 152 for the Redhawks.
Downers Grove South's Ben Apland was physically dominant in beating Lemont's Gordy Kickels 4-0 for his title, as the state's top-ranked 215-pounder stayed unbeaten on the season.
"I knew (Kickels) was quick, so I just made sure I stayed in position and wrestled my match," Apland said.
Hinsdale Central finished sixth, with Terry Ward placing second at 103 and Rob Mains taking third at 285. West Chicago got a pair of fourth-place finishes from Andrew Cruz (119) and Jonny Padilla (130), while Glenbard West got sixths from Ethan Knowlton (130) and Paul Stano (140), sevenths from Sam Littlehale (112) and Dave Weaver (171), and an eighth from Mike Letmanski (125).
"This is a great tournament," Stano said. "Anyone who places in a tournament of 24 teams did a good job."