Unbeatens Walker, Apland to meet Saturday

His teammates keep coming at Glenbard East's Pat Walker in practice this time of year, one by one from 171 to 285 pounds, with a coach sprinkled in here and there for good measure.

"They beat on me," Walker said. "Then they go off and grab a bottle of water, while I have to stay out there against the next guy."

"We keep fresh bodies going at him. If he wants to be a state champion, I know I'm doing everything in my power to help him," said teammate Eric Vincent, Walker's main practice partner. "I give him everything I've got."

Like Vincent, Downers Grove South's Matt Lunt has also been afforded the luxury and the nightmare of practicing daily against an unbeaten 215-pounder, in teammate Ben Apland.

"It's so difficult to get off a good shot on him, and sometimes I'll get frustrated," Lunt said. "But I have to remember that it's Ben and that the same stuff will work on most other guys."

There's a tornado gaining steam, and it's headed right for a hurricane. Ben Apland and Pat Walker are fixing to square off in the circle for the first time.

"I can't see anyone else in the state beating either one of them," said Downers Grove North coach Chris McGrath. "I really think those two are as big a lock as there is in the state tournament to get to the finals."

Local wrestling fans are in for a treat if they drive over to Willowbrook's Class AA regional on Saturday, where Apland and Walker are on opposite sides of the brackets as the only two unbeaten, nationally ranked wrestlers competing in the same weight class anywhere in Illinois.

"They're both in shape, they're both strong, and they're both fast," said West Aurora coach Mike DiNovo. "They both have skills in neutral, and they both have it on the mat. It'll be exciting, that's for sure."

The numbers

Their schools are less than 9 miles apart and they've been at 215 pounds for years, but the lone time Apland and Walker wrestled was in eighth grade. Neither of them recalls who won.

"I don't remember it at all. All I know is we had to be about 160 pounds or so," Walker said.

"I know we wrestled, but I don't remember that match," Apland said.

At 34-0 Apland beat Iowa's second-ranked Byron Tate via 7-3 decision this year, while the 36-0 Walker pinned California's fourth-ranked Brett Sanchez.

Apland won decisions over a pair of Illinois' best 189-pounders in Lemont's Gordy Kickels and West Aurora's Mario Gonzalez. Walker majored Illinois' third-ranked 215-pounder and this year's Dvorak tournament champ, downstate Morton's Preston Poyner.

Illinois Best Weekly has Apland ranked first, and Walker second. Apland is ranked second in the nation at 215 and Walker fourth by Wrestling International News Magazine.

Both have 20-plus pins, Apland has a three-year varsity record of 109-10, and Walker's program-best record for wins over four years is 145-16.

Add it all up and fans could witness one dead-even match come Saturday between two Division I-bound wrestlers of the first rank.

"I really couldn't tell you who will win that match," McGrath said. "They could wrestle that one a hundred times, and it could go 50-50."

Differences

While Apland and Walker share the usual traits common to top wrestlers, it's their differences that define them.

Apland's demeanor on and off the mat is even-keeled to the hilt. He's unassuming to a fault and almost impossible to rattle.

"I've never seen him lose his cool," Lunt said. "He's very deliberate in what he's doing, he knows what he wants before he gets out there, and he works to get it."

"You can't let too many things get to you or you get in a position to make a mistake," Apland said. "If you're losing, you keep your head in it. If you're down, you just have to get more aggressive to get some points."

Walker is as good-natured as the day is long, and as aggressive on his feet as any wrestler around.

"I think a lot of (Walker's) personality comes out on the wrestling mat," said Wheaton North coach Steve Holland. "He's a high achiever because he works extremely hard, and you can tell he's got a lot of personal pride."

"I've always been aggressive out there. I don't hold back," Walker said. "I always try to get after it."

Style vs. Style

Opinions are fairly split on a likely outcome between Apland and Walker, but there's wide agreement on their respective strengths.

Former Fenton wrestling coach Mike Chappell has seen plenty of both wrestlers in their careers. "Apland's biggest strength is probably his technical ability, and Walker may be a little more adventurous," he said.

"I'd agree with that," said Hinsdale Central coach Jim Zajicek. "It could play out to be a very good conservative wrestler in Apland against a very good athlete in Walker."

Hinsdale South coach Mike Matozzi has also seen both this year. "I think Walker has a little more of a quickness and speed factor, and Apland might have a little more power," he said.

Willowbrook coach Brian Murphy sees a potentially classic battle in the making.

"I think it could be Walker trying to find a way to pierce the armor," he said. "I don't know if you can pierce Apland's armor, but if somebody can pierce it, it's going to be Walker."

Best 2 out of 3?

Barring upsets, Apland and Walker could meet in a regional and a sectional match, with a third meeting potentially happening in Champaign's Assembly Hall with a state title on the line.

"Three weeks in a row - that's what I want," Walker said. "The big matches like that is what we train for every year. It'll be exciting if it happens."

"I'm looking forward to (Saturday), but there are other guys I'll have to beat first," Apland said. "I'll be more excited when the time comes."

"The nice thing is that there will be no fluke involved," said Mustangs coach Rick LeBlanc. "Hopefully, they'll have a chance to wrestle each other three times, so there won't be any doubt."

"I can't wait, and Pat couldn't be more prepared," said Rams coach Kevin Carlson. "If they meet three times, we'll have a true state champion at 215 this year."