Surprising Lancers place 2nd

Lake Park wrestling coach Todd Raymond doesn't need to be a miracle worker, but the job he consistently does in keeping his program competing at a high level deserves recognition.

After placing second at this year's Fenton tournament, the host Lancers placed second at Saturday's 16-team Ralph Krupke Classic, in what largely amounts to a rebuilding season for invitational host Lake Park.

"I'm proud of them," Raymond said. "A few of our guys went up against state-ranked kids today, and they all did a nice job."

Plainfield Central ran away with the team title, and the Lancers edged third-place Schaumburg by a single team point. Naperville North was fourth, and Conant placed fifth.

Lake Park got titles from two-time Krupke champion Mike DeSario (119 pounds) and Robert Babej (125), a pair of seconds from Fernando Morales (130) and Coder Pinney (160), and a third from Joe Rovituso (103). DeSario is unbeaten this year.

Babej needed late back points to win a 6-5 title decision over Addison Trail's James Sokolnik, and he got them.

"I took him down and I tilted him," Babej said. "That was the end of it."

Schaumburg's Danny Malik won the title at 160 pounds by pin to lead his squad, which also got a pair of seconds from Joe Lamanna (152) and Craig Cruz (215). Malik posted three pins on the day, the last one over the Lancers' Coder Pinney for the title.

"I got eliminated here last year," Malik said. "I worked hard in the off-season, and we've got a better team this year, so I've got better drill partners."

Fourth-seeded Lamanna beat top-seeded Brendan Griffin in the semifinals before falling in his title match, and Cruz went 3-1 on the day in placing second in his second tournament this year.

Naperville North sophomore Frank McKeown won the title at 103 pounds, setting up his 7-4 title decision over Plainfield Central's Nathan Davis with a pin and a major decision.

"My shots," McKeown answered when asked what his strength was. "I was getting in on a lot of legs. (Davis) was tough. I was a little more ready, and I got two early takedowns."

Huskies heavyweight Mike Albanese also won the heavyweight title, and Adam Hankin placed third at 135 pounds.

Conant got third-place finishes from Vince Gattardo (112), Sean Smith (160), Jake Prestia (215) and Nate Johnson (285), and Wheaton Warrenville South got a title from Mike Olp (189), and a second-place finish from Jim Franke (171) in placing sixth.

Olp earned four takedowns in his 9-3 title decision win over Plainfield Central's Grant Bushby.

"It's a matter of conditioning, so that's mostly what I've been trying to work on," Olp said. "And my technique has improved on takedowns."

Addison Trail placed eighth, getting a second from Sokolnik (125), a third from Arber Bebo (189), and a fourth from Alex Romero (130) on the day.