Knights lose at Sycamore
It was nothing less than would be expected of yet another grudge match between Kaneland and Sycamore.
There were four lead changes in the team score in as many matches contested; yet when it mattered, the host Spartans found the necessary reserve.
The Spartans survived the Knights' wrestling squad on Thursday in Sycamore in Western Sun Conference action, using back-to-back pins in the final two matches to pull away late in a 42-25 victory.
But the final score does not begin to describe how close the teams were for most of the night.
"I think it was a good, old-fashioned Kaneland-Sycamore dual meet," Kaneland coach Gary Baum said. "(Sycamore is) our school's oldest rivalry."
The 14 matches surveyed the wrestling landscape, with surprising comebacks, expected victories and nail-biting cliffhangers.
The Spartans' Billy Bryd did not allow a point in securing a technical fall in the opening match at 189 pounds, but Kaneland freshman Jimmy Boyle struck back with an unlikely third-period fall to give the Knights an early 6-5 lead.
Then came the feature match of the night.
Kaneland senior Ben Fabrizius and Sycamore reigning state-placer Jason Schepler went to overtime tied at 1-1 after the two heavyweights exchanged escapes.
Schepler, currently undefeated and ranked second in the state in Class AA, extended his unbeaten streak to 17 matches with a takedown in the final seven seconds of the extra session.
"I beat him last year," Fabrizius said. "I knew he wanted to get me back. I knew I could stay with him. I didn't wrestle as well as I could have."
"(Fabrizius) is one of the best-kept secrets in the state of Illinois," Sycamore coach Chauncey Carrick said.
Sycamore extended its lead to 14-8 with a first-period fall at 103 pounds, but the Knights' two reigning conference champions -- Sean Szatkowski and Jeff Stralka at 112 and 119, respectively -- returned the tide to Kaneland with a decision-fall sequence.
The Knights' 15-14 lead was soon a deficit after a loss at 125 pounds, only to see Christian Gayton win at 130 to swing the momentum back to Kaneland.
"Earlier this week we talked about honor, tradition and pride," Gayton said.
It would be the final Kaneland lead as Sean Akins' major decision put Sycamore up, and Kevin Woodstrup had a pin at 140 to extend the Spartans' lead to 27-19.
Jay Levita promptly reduced the Knights' deficit to 27-25 with another first-period fall at 145 pounds, once again invoking the uncertainty of team triumph or defeat.
"I knew I had to get the job done," Levita said. "I knew I had to get the team back on their feet."
The Knights' JT Webb dropped a heartbreaker at 152, however, and consecutive Sycamore pins distorted the teams' parity over the opening dozen matches.
"You're looking at two young teams with very bright futures," Carrick said.