Wheaton N. places 11th in national meet

Wheaton North joined Glenbard North and Montini on Jan. 4-5 for its first trip to The Clash, Minnesota's 32-team national dual team tournament. The Falcons placed 11th overall, going 3-3 in Rochester and gaining more than just a long road trip in the process.

"It was a really good tournament and a whole lot of fun," said Falcons senior Nate Fitzenreider. "It showed us a lot about our team and where we are."

Wheaton North wrestled perennially tough teams from Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, wrestling three duals Friday and three more Saturday.

"Anytime you have to wrestle that many hard matches in a row, it gets you prepared for that high level of competition, which is what you'll see when you get downstate.

"And it's almost indescribable how much you get to bond as a team going there."

Fitzenreider went 6-0 at 119 at The Clash, while Dominick Schmit was 5-0 at 160. Ryan Earley was 5-1 while wrestling at both 135 and 140, Eric Terrazas went 4-1 at 140 and 145, and the Falcons had a trio of wrestlers go 4-2 in the two-day tournament in Jake Denhof at 125, Bobby Munro at 130 and Mark Hane at 189.

Defending tournament champion Montini finished second at The Clash to Waverly-Shellrock of Iowa, and Glenbard North placed fourth behind Apple Valley of Minnesota.

Redmond in the rearview mirror:ŒHeading into Thursday's dual against Batavia, Fitzenreider needed one more win to set a new program record for career wins in a Wheaton North singlet. The four-year varsity starter earned win No. 132 Saturday, tying him with 2005 Wheaton North graduate Matt Redmond.

"He's the most complete wrestler I've had in 18 years of coaching," said Falcons coach Steve Holland. "Attitude, wrestling ability, strength, his knowledge of the sport -- he's the whole package."

Fitzenreider entered Wheaton North as a freshman already steeped in wrestling experience. He not only comes from a wrestling family, but he also traveled far and wide as a young wrestler.

"I wrestled everywhere as a kid," Fitzenreider said. "From West Chicago, to Fox Valley, to the Harvey Twisters -- I spent time at a lot of kids' clubs, and I learned a little bit from each."

"It's really nice," Fitzenreider said of the pending record. "It'll be a fun night when it happens."

Lisle on a roll:ŒLisle ran away with its own tournament Saturday, posting 232 points to second-place Riverside-Brookfield's 131.5 points in the nine-team field of the Steve Melichar Invitational. Walther Lutheran placed third, Joliet Catholic was fourth and West Chicago finished fifth.

The Lions -- ranked fourth in Class A by Illinois Matmen and seventh by Illinois Best Weekly -- had five title winners in Brandon Wolak (103), Matt Rafacz (119), Jake Kretman (140), Adam Carlson (152) and Eric Barker (171).

Another five Lions placed second on the day: Justin Andrzejewski (112), Adam Gleason (125), Josh Andrzejewski (130), David Pawlowicz (145) and Gio Esposito (285). Mike Nigro (160), Kevin Murray (189) and Ryan Burris (215) also won place medals for Lisle, which wrestled without Illinois' seventh-ranked 112-pounder in Brian Reese, due to injury.

"Everybody chipped in, and we had 13 place-winners," said Lisle coach John Davis.

Lisle is also 14-0 in dual meets through Wednesday's action.

Pawlowicz leads the team with a 20-1 record, Josh Andrzejewski is 18-3, and three other Lions have won 15 or more matches this year. Lisle's entire lineup has been solid, and Davis is especially happy with the development of his heavyweight.

Esposito has taken a leap forward in his abilities on the mat and now boasts a 14-5 record this season.

"He's made a vast improvement from last year. Gio's tough," Davis said. "He's working hard, he enjoys it, and he's a big kid."

Keeping a high team ranking in perspective can sometimes be tough for high school wrestlers, but a recent close call against Reed-Custer likely helped to keep the Lions' feet planted firmly on the ground.

Lisle tied with Reed-Custer in a dual but got the win on criteria.

"That was kind of a wakeup call," Davis said. "I told the kids, you've got to bring your 'A' game every time you step on the mat.

"When you show up in the rankings, it's a target on your backs, and everyone you wrestle is going to be gunning for you."