Stevenson depth shows
Visiting Stevenson got off to a fast start at Vernon Hills and never looked back Friday night in North Suburban Conference wrestling action.
The Patriots jumped ahead to a 21-3 start over the short-handed Cougars after five matches and they never looked back as they posted an impressive 55-19 NSC crossover victory.
Vernon Hills (5-7) lost 24 points in the dual meet due to four forfeits as a forfeit victory by freshman Alec Berger at 103 gave the Patriots a quick 6-0 lead.
Stevenson (6-1) went up 9-0 when 112-pound sophomore Jake Weiss posted an 8-3 decision over Oscar Ramirez. But the Cougars would cut the gap to 9-3 on a 6-0 decision by 119-pound sophomore Gideon Yim at 119.
Forfeit wins by David Lamberti (125) and Max O'Hara (130) boosted the Patriots' lead to 21-3 before Stevenson's Jordan Sherman pinned 135-pounder Nick Capozzoli (10-3) in 1:01 for a comfortable 27-3 lead.
"I went out there and I just tried to be tough the whole time and I caught him with an inside trip," said Sherman, who is 5-2 this season. "I've been working hard all spring, summer, and fall just trying to do everything I can to get better."
Vernon Hills 140-pounder Joe Brignon recorded an 11-0 major decision to cut the gap to 27-7. But a 14-4 major decision by Stevenson 145-pounder Nathan Millman (6-1), a pin by 152-pounder Christian Meyer, and a pin by 160-pounder Brandon Weber gave the Patriots a commanding 43-7 lead.
"The kids came out and wrestled hard, and Jordan Sherman stepped up big and got a huge win against a kid who has been around for awhile," said Stevenson coach Shane Cook.
Vernon Hills senior Jihad Abdallah (171) pinned his opponent in 3:28 before Stevenson's Tommy McGovern (189) recorded a pin in 52 seconds to make the score 49-13.
Vernon Hills 215-pounder Rory Klema added a pin in 1:40 before Stevenson's Turron Washington (285) closed out the meet with a forfeit victory.
"I wasn't that worried about the points going into the meet, but I just wanted to win matches," said Vernon Hills coach Jerry Miceli. "I thought Joe Brignon did a really nice job at 140 and it was nice to see Jihad (Abdallah) after two years of not wrestling get the rust off."