Leyden looks tough in Berman
Leyden's terrific effort during the quarterfinals by Leyden helped draw Jason Potter's club closer to nationally ranked Clovis High School of California at the 53rd Berman Holiday Wrestling Classic at Palatine Thursday afternoon.
The Eagles advanced seven wrestlers into today's semifinal matches, which are set to begin immediately following the 9:30 a.m. consolation quarterfinals.
Championship matches are scheduled for 5 p.m.
"You can sense the confidence beginning to build in and around this team, and it's the type of thing that can snowball and help everyone from here on out," said Potter, whose Eagles are second with 132 points, 15 behind Clovis and a dozen ahead of third-place Lincoln-Way Central.
Hinsdale Central (93) and Lyons (83½) round out the top five. Hinsdale South (79½), defending champion Minooka (79), Warren (75½), Downers Grove North (75.) and Glenbard East (72) complete the top 10 in the 25-team tournament -- the longest running in state history.
Leyden's Adam Schammert (18-3) took the old saying, "It's not how you start, but how you finish" to its limit when the junior fell behind 5-0 in his quarterfinal match against Broderick Forcier of Lyons.
Schammert roared back to record a fall at 3:32 and join mates Bhavek Patel (103), Isaiah Recinos (119), Mike Cocozza (130), Matt Soch (145), Nick Cassano (171) and John Burke (285) in today's championship round.
"I got caught a little early, but I knew that if I stayed composed that I could get back in (this) match because I wasn't tired and had plenty of energy left," said Schammert, who recently defeated Forcier (8-6) in overtime to win a tournament title at Lyons.
"I knew as soon as I caught (Forcier) in a Saturday Nite Wide, it would almost impossible for him to get out before pinning him."
Next for Schammert at 145 pounds is Lincoln-Way Central senior Jake Nelson (14-1).
Cocozza (16-4) cruised through a pair of opponents with a fall and major decision at 130 pounds. He will face 2007 state medal-winner and defending 112-pound champion Dale Jarosz (17-1) of Palatine.
Jarosz, a three-time state qualifier, defeated Antioch's Robby Lindstrom (17-3) to earn his semifinal berth.
"It's all about training and eating right and getting ready for the last half of the season, and I feel that I am really ready for what's ahead (for) me and another run into the state tournament," Jarosz said.
Palatine's 152-pounder Ross Grande (19-2) made easy work of a pair of matches, including a technical fall in the quarters over Alex Ortiz of St. Patrick. Grande meets Soch (17-3) in the semifinals.
"Ross is more aggressive and has open things up a bit more of late," said Palatine coach Dan Collins of his 152-pounder. "There's an air of more confidence in his step and that's something he will need the rest of the way."
Hersey senior Kyle Stonebecker (15-4) just missed upsetting top-seed Christopher Owens (15-1) of East Moline United in his 189-bout.
Even at 4-4 with Owens, a champion at the Lyons tourney two weeks ago, Stonebecker gave up a takedown near the edge in the waning seconds in a 6-4 defeat.
"Kyle is about another 2 weeks away from being able to go the full six minutes, then he should be in good shape," said Hersey coach Jim Wormsley. "You've got to remember he started wrestling as a sophomore where he went 0-17 on the year. He's come a long way and will only get better before the year is out."