Chargers claim Harvard crown
Al Zinke and Tim Haak aren't just leaders - they're 500 star generals.
Zinke, the Dundee-Crown wrestling coach, and Haak, Havard's coach, are just 2 of 5 coaches in IHSA history to reach 500 dual meet wins.
That said, there was no lack of intensity when the two squared off at Saturday's 42nd Annual John Sciacca-Richard Holtfreter Wrestling Invitational in Harvard.
Both generals won and lost some battles inside the circle, but Zinke and the Chargers took the war edging out Harvard 201-164 to take the team championship.
"He coaches the right way," Zinke said of Haak's squad. "What you get is good old fashioned wrestling."
Zinke s squad displayed some good old fashioned wrestling as Jack Lewis (152) and Miko Villanueva (103) both took Most Outstanding Wrestler honors after claiming championships in their respective classes.
Villanueva (18-1) scored a 19-4 technical fall over Burlington Central's Johnny Major and Lewis pinned Johnsburg's Justin Peete in 4:35. The championship marked the second straight for Lewis, who also finished third as a sophomore.
"He's a tough wrestler," said Lewis, who defeated Peete 5-4 earlier in the week. "I put it all out there. I want to lead by example. It shows that if you stay tough, good things will happen."
Frank Abitua (112) scored the other championship for the Chargers with his 10-5 decision over Johnsburg's Ryan Vendegna. Jeremy Lee (119) and Jermaine Lee (125) each fell to a Harvard wrestler in the finals. Cody Muscat (145) and Cody Churkey (160) each notched third-place victories, with Alex Laverd (135) Tim Brennan (140) winning their fifth-place matches.
Crystal Lake South (141.5), Fremd (125) and a short-handed Burlington Central (110) rounded out the top 5 teams.
South scored a couple of major pins in championship matches from Gerald Golston (135) and Joe Fontanetta (160). Fontanetta (12-4) pinned Harvard's Dan Stott (13-3) in 5:15, while Golston (7-1) pinned Fremd's Rich Stanton (8-7) in 2:44.
"In the second period, I hit my cradle," Golston said. "Once I get that cradle locked, it's finished."
Fremd scored victories in the upper weight classes with Jimmy Norris (285) and Mike Dallas (215) closing the tournament out with victories. Dallas 13-5) notched a 5-4 decision over Harvard's Miguel Flores and Norris (18-1) was very impressive on the day, capping off his efforts with a 4-2 decision over previously unbeaten Jake Pribble from Harvard.
"I lost in the semifinals last week at Prospect," Norris said. "I worked all week on technique and conditioning. It really paid off in that last match."
Driscoll brothers Tom (171) and Jake (189) Randich both made impressive debuts at Harvard. Tom Randich (8-2) finished second falling to Rochelle's CJ Navarro 10-3 and Jake Randich (9-1) claimed a championship with a 6-2 decision over Antioch's Tom Gerstner (10-1).
"I got most of my shots down," Jake Randich said. "I start out kind of calm. Then he shot at me and I hit it hard. He didn't know what was coming."