Horcer, Lukowski advance to semis
CHAMPAIGN -- The news is very good from Champaign.
Dundee-Crown's Ryan Horcher and Mike Lukowski each advanced into today's Class AA state wrestling tournament semifinals with sterling performances to guarantee to not only a top 6 finish but also the chance of bigger and better things.
Horcher (37-5) finally hit pay-dirt at the tourney after two previous visits here ended far too quickly for the affable Charger.
The senior went 3-0 on the day, including a terrific 10-5 decision over Stevenson senior Bobby Vagun in his quarterfinal to advance one step further into the championship round and against Nick Finkenbinder (37-5) of Belvidere.
"One of my goals since freshman year was to get a state medal. Tonight I accomplished that. But I want to go even further now," said Horcher, who in all 3 matches opened up early leads and never relinquished the advantage.
"Nobody has talked to me this late in the night the past two years because I was eliminated so quick. This year I've worked 10 times harder than anyone and have the mental part of my game at a real comfort level."
Never one for lacking in physical conditioning as well as confidence, D-C senior Lukowski (40-5) showed few flaws in his game on Friday to advance at 189 pounds against Mario Gonzalez (24-2) of West Aurora.
"My kind of matches today," said Lukowski, who would grind out a 3-1 win over Austin Kull of Normal before a successful 5-2 win over St. Rita senior Mike Nolan in the quarters.
"It's my conditioning that's made the difference in all of (those) matches that I've had during the past couple of weeks."
Lukowski was a fifth-place medal winner in 2007.
"I am really happy for the FVC and our three semi-finalists," added Lukowski, referring to Grayslake Central's Ryan Lund, who also advanced to today's seemifinal round.
"It shows the conference is really coming together.
Cary-Grove senior Paul Rands' run towards a potential medal was slowed late on Friday when top-rated Ben Apland (Downers Grove South) thrashed Rands in the quarters at 215.
Rands, who had a solid run in wrestlebacks last season is poised to do so today when it all starts at 9 a.m.
The same goes for Elgin senior Terrel Walker (38-2) who saw his 29-match winning streak come to an end in the quarters when Taylor Osburn of St. Rita grabbed a controversial 8-7 win at 160 pounds.
Jacobs' two qualifiers failed to advance. Sophomore Aaron Ryan was pinned in 3:39 by Glenbard North's Joe Gosinski at 103 and senior Dan Olsen fell to Glenbard East's Jason Callahan 6-4 at 152.
Prairie Ridge's Sam Campbell went 1-1 on the day at 160, beating Max Hayden of Normal 5-3 in the first round before being eliminated by Taylor Osborn of St. Rita by a fall in 5:38.