Walker wins it
It was a case of not counting those chickens too quickly for Elgin senior Terrell Walker.
The Maroons' 160-pounder was admittedly not at his best on Friday night in opening-round action of the Class AA Naperville North individual wrestling sectional.
"Compared to last year (at Glenbard North), the sectional (this year) was pretty easy," Walker said. "I had already beaten about half the field (during the regular season). I got a little too cocky (on Friday)."
Saturday was an entirely different story, and Walker secured his second straight trip to the state finals in Champaign next weekend with a third-period fall in the semifinals.
Pitted against Batavia junior Danny Watson in the championship match, the rematch of the South Elgin regional had the same result: Walker won by decision for top honors.
"(Watson) didn't see too much of what I could do (in the regional championship)," Walker said.
After a scoreless opening period, Walker used a pair of takedowns and a reversal to capture the crown with a 7-3 decision.
"I came out (in the second period) and hit my single (leg takedowns)," Walker said.
"(Walker) knew he had to take shots," Elgin coach Anthony Genovisi said. "He wrestled a lot better today than (Friday night)."
With his second consecutive tournament championship win over Watson, Walker (37-1) extended his winning streak to 28.
The Maroons' other sectional qualifier -- 215-pounder Robert Hayes -- was also on the cusp of a downstate appearance.
But the senior had his season end with a 3-2 loss against Wheaton Warrenville South junior Mike Epp in the third-place match.
Epp proved to be the success story of the tournament; the Tigers' mainstay was fourth at the West Aurora regional, only to make the sectional field when one of the competitors dropped out.
"Robert has come a long way," Genovisi said. "He has only been wrestling since his sophomore year."
Dundee-Crown had high hopes after sending 10 athletes to the sectional after capturing the team title at South Elgin last Saturday.
But the Chargers' attrition rate was 80 percent in the stacked field as only Ryan Horcher and Mike Lukowski made the state cut at 152 and 189 pounds, respectively.
Horcher stopped ultimate state-qualifier Ryan Leibforth (Lemont) in the quarterfinals Friday night, and Naperville Central regional champion Jon Coluzzi fell in the semis.
Matched against state-ranked Jimmy Duffy of Neuqua Valley in the finals, Horcher failed to score in succumbing to a technical fall.
"A lot of people came in thinking I didn't have a chance (to qualify)," Horcher said. "I was kind of an unknown with all the state-ranked guys in the field. I'll give (Duffy) credit -- he's at a different level than I am."
The runner-up result marked the third time -- at three different weights -- Horcher has qualified for state.
For Lukowski, a trip to state was simple: avenge a South Elgin finals loss to St. Charles East senior Adam Schaefer, or go home.
The Chargers' 189-pounder did just that, using a takedown in the final 25 seconds to eke out a 3-1 victory in the third-place bout.
"Last week I wrestled his match," Lukowski said. "It was a real nail-biter at the end."