Rands sectional champ
Paul Rands took up his now familiar place in the sectional championship match Saturday evening and for the second straight season the Cary-Grove senior showed why he is not ony ranked No. 4 in the state but also a serious medal contender when the Class AA state tournament opens this Friday in Champaign.
Rands (37-3) squashed the competition over 2 days of wrestling at the Barrington sectional, including an impressive bout in the final against a spirited, but outmanned Morgan Sanden of Deerfield that ended when Rands put the hammer down with a fall at 5:20.
Rands will join FVC compatriot Sam Campbell (32-4) of Prairie Ridge in Champaign on Friday.
"I went out today the way I wanted to," said Rands, who last season at 189 pounds advanced within one match of the medal round en route to a dazzling 42-7 record.
"It was important to push hard and to finish things off with a pin in my final. I know for me, getting (4) matches in downstate last year will go a long way towards being ready for what's ahead when things start up on Friday."
Rands opened tournament action on Friday with a 7-0 decision over Libertyville senior Jake Hogan to set up Saturday's morning semifinal with Fremd senior Bryan Opitz, who last week captured a regional title at Palatine.
A 10-1 pasting of Opitz booked Rands into the final, where he quickly went up 4-1 after 1 period, and 8-1 with a pair of takedowns after 4 minutes.
"The effort and work ethic of Paul is what helps lead our program in and out of the room, and it is the same thing that will give (him) that extra something that he'll need to raise his the level of his wrestling in order to compete with the elite in Champaign," offered C-G coach Dan Cysewski.
PR coach Joe Terhaar was thrilled for Campbell's (32-4) first-ever trip downstate despite a 8-1 defeat in the final at 160 pounds to Kyle Czarnecki of Buffalo Grove.
"That kid from Buffalo Grove was a strong one and he offered Sam a few challenges along the way that was good for him to see before heading downstate," he said. "We told him the loss was just that, and to move on and prepare for the tournament. I know that I cannot wait to get down there with him."
Wrestling
At Rock Island: Get to sectionals, get a steak.
The celebratory sectional steak dinner is becoming a tradition for the Jacobs wrestling program, and two of those steaks tasted extra sweet Saturday night for a pair of state-qualifying Golden Eagles.
In the final day of the Class AA Rock Island sectional, both Aaron Ryan (103 pounds) and Dan Olsen (152) stepped onto the sectional podium -- Olsen placing second and Ryan third. They'll wrestle in the individual state tournament this weekend in Champaign.
"I don't even think it's hit me yet,'' Ryan said. "It's like a normal day, but you know you have one more week of wrestling left. That means so much.''
Ryan's state tournament trip was put in jeopardy Friday after he lost to Rockton Hononegah's Austin Waliullah. However, since Waliullah made it to the finals, Ryan was awarded a chance at wrestling back. The Jacobs sophomore defeated East Moline United's Billy Christensen (11-3 major decision) and DeKalb's Tyler Larson (6-3 decision) to take third place and improve to 34-8 on the season.
The trip to state will be Ryan's first.
"I went to state in kids club wrestling, but this will be nothing compared to that,'' Ryan said. "You just have to go out there with nothing to lose -- don't be intimidated at all.''
Olsen is also making his first trip to state. He fought for a sectional-title chance on Saturday, but came up on the short end of a 4-0 decision by Nick Finkenbinder of Belvidere.
Despite ending the tourney on a loss, Olsen (29-11) said his best wrestling is still to come.
"It's hard to peak at the right time, but that's exactly what I'm doing," he said. "I feel like I'm putting everything together right on time. Hopefully we can stay on top of that podium at state. It's a long shot, but I believe anything can happen.''
-- Matt Veto
Girls basketball
Dundee-Crown 58, Woodstock 45: Senior Robyn Staudenmaier scored a career-high 27 points, inclouding three 3-pointers, as the Chargers (11-15, 4-6) closed out the regular season with a Fox Valley Conference Valley Division win.
"Staudenmaier was incredible today," said D-C coach Joe Komaromy, who earned his 450th career win. "She really played well today."
Kathleen Collingbourne also hit three 3-pointers and scored 13 points for the Chargers.
Jacobs 56, McHenry 19: Behind a balanced attack which allowed three players to score in double digits, Jacobs (15-11, 6-4) earned this FVC Valley Division win over McHenry. With 17 points, Markie Rahn led all scorers. Maria Tamburrino scored 12 points and Sam Vojtsek added 10 points for Jacobs.
Cary-Grove 45, Crystal Lake South 27: Cary-Grove (24-3, 10-0) wrapped up an undefeated Fox Valley Conference Valley Division season with this win. Claire Jakubicek led the Trojan offense with 9 points. Jill Cole added 8 points, and Danielle Smith contributed with 7 points. Caitlin Mize led South (20-8, 7-3) with 7 points.
Huntley 40, Crystal Lake Central 18:ŒThe Red Raiders improved to 18-9 overall and sealed a second-place finish in the Fox Division of the Fox Valley Conference with a victory in the regular-season finale. Daisy Jara scored 12 points and grabbed 6 rebounds and Allyson Stellmach scored 8 points to go with 6 boards for Huntley.
Burlington Central 31, Richmond-Burton 25:ŒThe Rockets closed out the regular season on a victorious note with a victory in the Big Northern-East. Taylor Colby scored 12 points and Jordan Maisto added 10 for the Central (18-10, 7-3).
Men's basketball
Purdue-Calumet 94, Judson 90: For the second game in a row, Judson University (14-6, 7-2) fell in CCAC action, this time in overtime. Senior Joe Gonnam put his name into the Judson record book as he scored his 1,000th career point. Chris Oates led the Eagles with 26 points Dewayne Robinson had 18, Justen Boyd garnered 17 and Gonnam finished with 14. Ilija Bojanic added 13.
Oakton 89, ECC 80: Despite a big game from Corey Rau who nabbed a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds, Elgin Commuity College (8-16, 3-7) dropped this ISCC match-up against Oakton. Ryan Harris led the Spartan scoring with 21 points. Trent Thompson added 13 points, and Steve Bilisko contributed with 12 points.
Women's basketball
Judson 74, Purdue-Calumet 61: Alicia Rovertoni's sixth double-double of the year helped Judson (9-14, 4-3) to a CCAC win. Rovertoni, who leads the CCAC in rebounding, had 10 rebounds and led all scorers with 18 points. Theresa Larson also had 18 points and Kirstin Johns netted 11 for the Eagles.