Willis' comeback strikes right note for Montini
It's no big surprise that wrestling power Montini qualified 13 wrestlers for next weekend's state finals, but one of Saturday's Class 2A Fenton sectional finishes sure was a surprise.
Trailing 7-2 with the seconds winding down in his third-place bout with Freeport's Ben Glynn, it was starting to look like Broncos sophomore Dimitri Willis' bid for a state berth was about to evaporate. But in a miraculous turn of events, Willis managed to score 5 points in the final seconds to send the 152-pound match to overtime.
His pin in the extra session was almost anti-climatic after Willis' stunning comeback at the end of regulation, but it certainly sends the Broncos wrestler off to state in style. With just 10 seconds remaining, Glynn was penalized a point for stalling and that was the slight opening Willis needed.
He attacked instantly and closed the gap to 7-5 with a takedown, and then just before the final horn was awarded two more points for a nearfall. After being in control for all but 10 seconds of the match, Freeport's Glynn was headed to overtime.
"He's a tough kid, and I knew he was strong," Willis said of Glynn (30-6). "I caught a second wind and he gave in. It's the first time I've ever been behind by that much and come back."
Willis said the crowd helped inspire him late in the match, and so did the stalling penalty.
"I was going to keep attacking, and I knew he was gassed," he said.
The Broncos left Fenton with seven individual champions and a trio of runners-up. Kevon Powell (31-10) started things off well with a pin to claim the 103 title, while Eric Powell beat Fenton's Ryan Joy 10-2 for the crown at 119. Montini also garnered championships from Stephen Robertson (125), Colton Rasche (130), Isaiah Gonzalez (160), Carl Foreside (189) and Grant Goebel (215).
Goebel, a senior, edged Crystal Lake Central's Gage Harrah 3-2 with a reversal midway through the final period to erase a 2-1 deficit and improve to 45-4 on the year.
"It was very tough. He's a very tough kid and only a freshman," Goebel said of Harrah. "I knew when it was the right time to turn it on. My coaches prepared me very well."
Glenbard South heavyweight Austin Teitsma kept his perfect mark intact while moving on to state. He recorded a pin and a 7-3 win to reach finals, then was awarded a sectional crown after Montini's Ross Ferraro injury defaulted.
"I would love to have wrestled him again, but it's great to be a sectional champion and now it's time to get ready for next week," the 35-0 Raider said. "My dream was to get this far. I'm pumped. It's a big deal."
Fenton's Josh Castellano improved to 31-1 on the year following his 7-0 defeat of Montini's Elliot Hudson in the title bout at 145. The Bison senior is so strong on his feet that opponents find it difficult to score points against him. He recorded a pin and a 2-1 win prior to blanking his foe in the finals.
"I just want to work my hardest on everything," Castellano said. "I have a coach that I scramble with a lot."
The sectional title has not changed his state plans a bit.
"My goal's always the same," he said, "and that's to win state."