Leyden back in spotlight

It seems you cannot mention Leyden wrestling without making reference to the Eagles coaching staff … and especially head coach and former two-time state champion Jason Potter.

The St. Charles High School alum has taken what was a down-and-out program just three seasons ago and turned it into an up-and-coming group capable of bigger and better things not only this season, but in the years ahead.

The Eagles throttled the competition Saturday on their own mats at the 32nd annual Leyden Invitational to capture their first team title since 1993.

They captured four individual titles while outdistancing runner-up New Trier 191-139.5. Stevenson was third with 120 points.

"We have an amazing coaching staff, of course headed by (coach) Potter who when he arrived here told (this) current group of seniors that if we worked hard and dedicated ourselves to becoming better could accomplish some really good things before we graduated," said senior Mike Feldman, who with his fall at 160 pounds joined teammates Bhavik Patel (103), Isaiah Recinos (119) and Adam Schammert (152) to accept championship medals.

"There's still a long way to go and I really feel that there are some matches that we should be winning and not losing.. but with that said ... the positive results that we've had of late (third at the Berman) and today is definitely giving the guys the type of confidence that breeds success," Potter said.

The Eagles locked up their championship long before the final round.

The Eagles' senior duo of Patel (19-6) and Recinos won their title matches on adjacent mats at 103 and 119. Recinos (23-3) took home a second straight crown after his 5-0 decision over Ryan Burton of Oak Forest.

"It's been rare of late for me to go six minutes to get a win, but it's great to win an individual championship and team title on our home mats," Recinos said.

Just after Richards senior Paul Kiolltyka, last year's MVP, defeated Stevenson junior David Lamberti (14-6) 11-4 in the 125-pound final, New Trier senior Sam Campbell (15-0) staked his claim to the 2008 MVP honors with an impressive win over Lakes junior Matt Holmes at 130.

Holmes (19-3) nearly unbeatable this season, fell victim to the two-time state qualifier who is nearly all the way back after missing a portion of the first half of the season with a variety of skin irritants.

"Of my losses this season (to Izzy Montemayer, Grant) and Grayslake Central's (Ryan Lund), I am always losing it at the ankles either by a pick or trip," Holmes said. "Sam did the same thing to me today, and I just didn't react well or wrestle to my potential in that match."

Teammates Aaron Cashmore (135) and Damian Brown (160) earned fourth-place medals.

Stevenson received championships from Bobby Vagun (152) and Stefan Melynk (215).

"We received strong efforts from both Bobby and Stefan, which showed in their end results.. but we fell badly in the wrestle-back portion of the tournament and that came back to hurt our chances of taking home a second-place team trophy," said Patriots coach Shane Cook.

Melnyk (19-6) pinned Leyden sophomore Dan Keibler at 5:15. Vagun (15-2) defeated Leyden's Matt Soch 8-6 in overtime.

"I am still not as sharp and in the best of shape after coming back from a recent concussion," said Vagun, who recorded a takedown 33 seconds in the extra period to secure his win.

Taras Martyniouk (17-5) fell short in his bid against Schammert at 145 pounds.

Bob Kelly (29-4) was the lone bright spot for Vernon Hills as the senior went through a pair of opponents, including Jim Bardusk of Oak Forest to garner the big prize at 189.

Kelly's major decision (20-7) in the semifinals set up the final against Bardusk. Their match opened with a first period which mirrored more of a chess match than a wrestling bout, until Kelly opened things up in the second period en route to a 12-1 major decision win.

"I was really able to go to work on (Bardusk) in that second period after starting out on top," said Kelly, who outscored the senior with a trio of near-falls, including one last one just before the buzzer.

"Technically I feel like I am wrestling better this season compared to (this) same time last year, and I feel ready to make a big push forward in the final weeks ahead."

Conant was within striking distance early, but a tough second round in both sides of the brackets did in the Cougars, who were unable to match last season's team title and settled for fifth place with 107.5 points.

"This is a team which has just two seniors in the line-up, which bodes well for the future, but sometimes comes up with a round like we had early on in the tournament," said Conant coach John Kane.

Senior Adam Wright (16-3) was runner-up at 140 to Rob Frias of Richards, while junior Kyle Reid (16-7, 135) earned a second-place medal.

Wright was in a tight match for all six minutes against Frias, who prevailed in the third period.

"He didn't show a great desire to wrestle the entire match, but I just couldn't get myself free from him to do much of anything," Wright said.