Hoffman, Wheeling in MSL split decision
The Mid-Suburban League wrestling tournament provided enough intrigue and drama that even the great movie maker Alfred Hitchcock would have enjoyed had he written a screenplay about wrestling.
In the end, and after several layers of high anxiety and bracket watching, it was defending league champ Wheeling that captured a second straight championship after Hoffman Estates put a scare into the Wildcats with a sensational effort in the semifinals that helped them earn the tournament championship.
"Obviously we would have like to have won not only the tournament along with the overall MSL championship just as we did last year, but I am proud of our guys who came back to wrestle strong to overcome a terrific effort by Hoffman Estates, especially in the semifinals this morning," said Wheeling coach Neal Weiner, who predicted all week long that the Hawks would be a dangerous club to contend with.
"We're a great tournament team," said Hoffman Estates coach Bill Scully, "but we put ourselves in a position (during the regular season) where it would take a lot of luck to jump past Wheeling and Barrington in order to win the (MSL) championship.
Scully's team went through a terrible run of injuries when sent it to a fourth-place finish in the West, making them a statistical casualty leading up to the league tournament.
Math aside, the Hawks were indeed brilliant in the semifinals, going 7-0 during the session, including a perfect 4-0 in head-to-head matches with Wheeling, which watched its lead prior to the semifinal round evaporate just like that.
Brian Kempf (130) and teammate Rocco Silvestri (140) stunned higher seeds Mike Smith and David Aranda respectively to help the Hawks go from being down 12 (78-66) to the Wildcats to a stunning 37-point lead at 164-127.
"Our effort as a team in the semifinal round was impressive, and it shows that when we have everyone back in our lineup that we can be a force next week at the Dundee-Crown regional," said Hawks junior Patrick Scully (31-6), who was just as impressive as his club en route to a title at 119.
Teammates Tommy Wadas (145) and Jose Flores (215) earned individual titles, with Wadas (23-2) shining as brightly as the sun beaming through the Barrington fieldhouse after recording a major decision (14-5) victory over top seed Demetrios Mitchell (41-4) of Hersey.
Wadas, rated No. 7 in the state behind No. 5 Mitchell, scored early and often to build a big lead which Mitchell was unable to overcome.
"I was anxious to have another chance against (Mitchell) to get a little revenge for an earlier loss to him (8-6 in OT) but my main focus was to get a win for the team and to help us get a championship," said Wadas, who missed the early part of the season following shoulder surgery.
The Wadas-Mitchell rematch was one of the two most anticipated during the evening session, with the 189-pound final between top seed and No. 7 in the state Dan Vargas (Wheeling, 32-2) taking on Rolling Meadows senior Thomas Davidson (33-4), who dropped a tough 2-0 decision during a dual way back in November.
Davidson used a takedown 90 seconds into the match, and some strong riding and tactical insight to hold on to the lead all throughout to win it all 2-0.
"I knew how important it would be to get that early takedown and to wrestle smart with the lead and not let Danny be strong on top and look to tilt," said an exhausted yet delightedDavidson, who believed coach Dave Froehlich prepared him perfectly to anticipate every move Vargas would attempt.
Prospect senior and the state's No. 1 140-pounder, Matt Boggess (33-0), demolished the competition en route to his fourth consecutive MSL title, and tying him with Dan Weber (Conant) as the only four-time MSL champion.
Wheeling sophomore Luke Smith (26-2) who might be on course to join this elite, yet small club, grabbed his second straight crown by defeating Kory Jauch of Rolling Meadows with a technical fall at 4:18.
In his 6 matches in MSL tournament action in 2 seasons, Smith has collected 3 technical falls and 2 pins.
"Winning the title was a good thing, but I am happy that we came back to wrestle strong after that disappointing semifinal round that we had," said Smith.
The Wildcats, needing to pick themselves up and put some distance between them and Barrington in order to solidify a second-place finish and eventual MSL title, received the help from, among others, big men and first-year varsity starters Chris Johnson (215) and heavyweight Francisco Sanchez, who overcame semifinal defeats to win their next bouts to earn bonus points for the Wildcats and a spot in the third-place match.
Buffalo Grove, fourth overall in the tournament with 136 points, celebrated a pair of champions in Jason Sandoval (112) and Kyle Czarnecki (31-1) who won his second straight here at 160 pounds.
Third-place Barrington (148), which finished 11th a year ago at the tournament, collected 3 championship belts when Dakota Wapatish (135), Luke Miller (152) and Dan Santoro (171) all came through.
"I've been wrestling since I was 4, so it's nice to finally win something important for myself and the team" said Wapatish.
Evan Hafner (119, 21-2) and Tom Laskowske (Palatine, 103) earned their first MSL title and lone championship for their respective clubs, as did Fremd heavyweight Jimmy Norris (32-1), who was part of a thrilling final along with Hoffman Estates senior Mike Eisele (18-8).
Back-and-forth the giant duo went, with each nearly pinning the other, until Norris, in his first year with the big club, threw down Eisele for the fifth time, and last, before recording the fall at 5:33.
"I was caught off guard a couple of times and found myself on my back, but you can bet I'll train for that (roll) and be ready for it next time," said Norris, who gave the Vikings their second straight title at 285 in 2 years.