State championship for D-C's Lukowski

CHAMPAIGN -- Wrestling fans get great theater when watching Mike Lukowski and Saturday night the Dundee-Crown senior was the star on center stage.

Lukowski, always one to incur the rath of opposing fans while clearly a favorite of D-C fans all over, found himself on mat No. 1 Saturday night inside Assembly Hall and later high atop the podium accepting the biggest hardware one could want.

Lukowski dominated Collinsville junior Ryan Robinson en route to a 10œ3 victory and the 189-pound Class AA state championship to give the Chargers its first state title since Larry Kaifesh won at 167 in 1985.

Lukowski is the first Fox Valley area state champ since Mike Bondi of St. Edward won a Class A title in 1996. Lukowski is the area's first Class AA champ since Elgin's Jeff Mirabella and Larkin's Brian Rose each won titles in 1990.

"It just proves that hard work and a schedule that put me against some of the best in the state can make the difference," said Lukowski (42-5), who took advantage of a weight class that went upside-down all weekend long with plenty of surprises and upsets along the way.

"You know when you wrestle for a person like coach (Al) Zinke it's possible to come away with one of these," added Lukowski as he pointed to his life-sized souvenir championship bracket given to all state champions.

"I didn't do a thing this weekend, it was all Mike," offered Zinke, who was so confident that his big-man would advance into the final that he brought along his suit-coat in preparation for the annual March of Champions.

"I was thinking before and during the March how cool it was to be down on the floor and part of all of (it) and also wondering how in the world coach Zinke was going to make it two times around the big floor because of his bad back," Lukowski would say with a laugh.

Lukowski set-up his claim to fame way back in the Fox Valley Conference tournament, which he would win, and later, even in defeat, when he fell to St. Charles East star Adam Schaefer in the regional final.

"It was disappointing to lose to Schaefer (then), but I knew what happened there would have nothing to do with where I would be a few weeks later because of all the hard work and conditioning that I had put in after finishing fifth (here) at the state tournament last year," Lukowski said.

Evidence of this statement would come when he came-back to defeat and end Schaefer's season for good in a 3-1 victory in the state qualifying bout at the Naperville North sectional.

Earlier at Naperville, Lukowski would eke out another close one in another 3-1 decision over Rolling Meadows senior Thomas Davidson, who happened to be the one who had delivered the lone loss on Schaeffer prior to the post-season

"Everyone thinks that I should be hit with warnings and stall points with the way that I've wrestled all year, and especially in the post-season, that's why they all boo me at those tournaments," said an amused Lukowski.

"But in reality, I was just pushing the pace and taking control of matches."

Last year, Lukowski would hit the trifecta with championship trophies from the FVC, regionals and at the Barrington sectional.

Tight matches prevailed throughout all 5 in Champaign, including a masterful win over No. 3 Mario Gonzalez (West Aurora) in his semifinal bout early Saturday, which went his way 5-4 in OT tie-breaker.

"That's the way I like to wrestle," began Lukowski. "Of course I'd like to open (up) and get a major (decision) or fall, but in the post-season, it's all about wrestling smart and not giving up anything.

"Mario was so quick and such a great athlete. I didn't want to get into (that) kind of a match where I wasn't able to control and do what I do best."

Lukowski kept Gonzalez, who had pitched 3 straight shutouts prior to their match, unable to solve the Chargers' big man and after stacking a pair of escapes in the second OT period to go up 5-3 held on later on to get into the big match of the night.

The final was all Lukowski, who swarmed Robinson at 3½ minutes to go up 6-2 and briefly stun the junior when his knee hit the bridge of his nose.

"After that, I was all over him right until the end," Lukowski said. "My dream has always been to be down on these big mats and to win a state title. Tonight, I was able to realize that dream."

Lukowski's teammate, Ryan Horcher (38-6), was unable to get past No. 2 Jimmy Duffy (Neuqua Valley), but the 4-year star and 3-time state qualifier found himself near the top of the table at 152 pounds with a fourth-place finish to cap a wonderful state tournament and career for the Chargers.

"Obviously I am a little disappointed to end my season and career with a loss, but when I look at all of the terrific guys that I've had to get through in the post-season and who are not here, I know that I can walk back in here (one) day and really hold my head up high," said Horcher, who will go on a baseball recruiting visit to Eastern Illinois later today.

Elgin senior Terrel Walker (40-2) set the school record for victories when he defeated Mark Stenberg (Lockport) in his final prep match to garner a fifth-place medal at 160.

Walker's 16-5 major decision over Lance Fister of Edwardsville in the second of three wrestle-back bouts of the day, showed the 4-year star still had some thunder left in his game after his heartbreaking 8-7 loss to Taylor Osborn (St. Rita) in Friday's quarterfinals.

"Getting a medal (here) was all that I wanted to do, and all that I thought about even after that loss to Osborn," said Walker, who may consider wrestling in the Air Force after graduation.

Earlier in the day, Walker would eliminate Prairie Ridge senior Sam Campbell to end the Wolves' co-captain and FVC champions season at 33-6.

Cary-Grove senior Paul Rands (41-5) had a rough ride in his final high school bout losing to Mikal Johnson of Rolling Meadows 10-4 in the third-place match at 215.

Rands worked his way back into medal contention after falling to the nation's top-rated 215-pounder, and eventual state champion Ben Apland (Downers Grove South) by going past a trio of opponents during the afternoon.

And finally, the volcanic atmosphere associated mostly with the typically revved-up Saturday afternoon semifinal audience was not let down in what was the most anticipated match of this year when No. 1 Chris Spangler (Neuqua Valley) met No. 2 Jordan Blanton at 171 pounds.

The big Assembly Hall throng could hardly wait to unleash its saved-up vocal roar and did so when the two combatants approached the mat but the pro-Blanton crowd was unable to contain itself when its hero went ahead 8-7 with a second period takedown and for good (10-8) with 50 seconds to go.

Blanton would later win his third state title.