Munster leads the march
CHAMPAIGN - Lee Munster proved his credentials and the right to wear the famed Grant championship singlet after a dazzling state championship-winning display Saturday evening under the Assembly Hall dome.
Munster's predecessors read like a who's who of Grant greats, with Jimmy Kennedy, Daniel Dennis and John Deneen among them. But following Munster's dominant two-day effort, which culminated in his second state title in three years, the Bulldogs junior appears ready to stand with those that have gone before him.
Fittingly, in a season he dominated from start to finish, Munster proved to be in a class by himself after crushing Mark Stenberg (Lockport) to claim the big trophy at 171 pounds and erase the disappointment suffered here last season.
His North Suburban Conference compatriots Scott Carlson (Wauconda) and senior Matt Hlems (Lakes) joined Munster high atop the podium as they carried away championship belts in Class 2A action to share in the glory before a packed house.
And Lake Zurich senior Kevin Fanta confirmed his arrival on the big stage with a Class 3A championship at 135 pounds.
"Right or wrong, there was a lot of undo pressure placed on Lee when he came into our program three years ago after a brilliant career in club (wrestling), and he did so well despite the pressure ... even winning a state title his freshman year," said Grant coach Ryan Geist. "After he was unable to win a medal last year, all he said to me after being eliminated was that he was going work harder than ever. That's all I needed to hear from him on that subject, and look how he has responded."
In a one-sided bracket which featured most of his top-rated rivals, Munster (45-0) showed several flashes of brilliance with a combination of finesse, speed, power and technique - and at the core, a match-day philospohy that none in this group could match.
"In the back of my mind I wanted to finally put to rest last season, and tonight I did," said Munster, who frustrated Stenberg so badly that the senior suffered a meltdown on two separate occasions and subsequent penalty points added to an already growing lead.
"This year I am in a much better place, and I realize that I am wrestling for myself and nobody else," said Munster, who commited early to attend Northwestern. "(It) has helped me so much more focused this year, to allow me to be physically and mentally ready for the final weeks of the season."
En route to his title, Munster defeated the Nos. 2-, 3- and 5-ranked competitors in the state, including Sterling Hecox (Machnesney Park) in the semifinal 11-6.
Overshadowed by Munster, and the emergence of freshman Max Schneider (Lane Tech) all weekend long - as all others were in the 135-pound division - Fanta (42-2) ultimately overcame Schneider (41-4). Fanta prevailed 12-9 in the title bout to become the first LZ state champ since current Barrington coach Al Strobl won his second straight in 1992.
"It was my goal to get into the state final, and after Schneider pinned the No. 1 guy (Ellis Coleman) on Friday, it opened a window of opportunity for all us still in the championship bracket," said Fanta, who earned several one-sided victories throughout the tournament, including a 14-5 pounding of Spartak Chino in the semifinals.
Fanta and Schneider played to a huge viewing audience, eager to see if the rookie sensation could pin his way to a state title. But Fanta never allowed the big-time thrower and scrambler find his way inside. When the the final whistle was sounded, the half of the Assembly Hall crowd nearest to their match rose to give the duo a standing ovation.
"That was overwhelming," said LZ coach Dan Strickler, "to see the crowd react the way they did. We are so proud of Kevin, who is such a great kid, and a great teammate.
"The coaching staff wanted to go over some strategy with (Kevin) for his final, but he chose to stay and watch Wade (Self) win his sixth-place medal (at 215) instead. Guess he didn't need our help all that much."
Wauconda senior Scott Carlson (41-3) joined his peers in celebration after overwhelming Ryan Spencer (Springfield), who had no answer to the speed and physical prowess of Carlson in the 152-pound championship at Class 2A.
"It's kind of hard to explain how good it feels to win a state title, not only for myself, but also for the Wauconda program," said Carlson, rated No. 1 all season-long.
Carlson, who becomes the first Wauconda wrestler to win a medal since assistant coach Todd Costa did so with a third-place effort in 1995.
Lakes senior Matt Holmes (43-4) gave the Eagles their first-ever state wrestling medal, and what a glorious one it was.
Holmes, who came into the competition as the man to beat, made his breakthrough against Kyle Logsdon (Rockford East) with a 2-0 shutout.
"I wanted to prove to (Logsdon) that my first win over him wasn't a fluke," said Holmes.
"When you get down (here) and everyone in your bracket is pretty even in talent, it's all about level of skill and mental toughness," said Holmes, who admits a pair of defeats at both the Berman Holiday Classic and another just after the new year was exactly what the doctor ordered.
"Those (losses) really pinned Matt's ears back a little.. but he needed it to bring him back to earth and help him refocus on the final last two months of the season," said Lakes coach Curt Onstad. "We really all thought that (Matt) might have felt after wrestling all last season with the big boys, then dropping down this year to 2A that would be a walk in the park and an easy run to a state title.
"He found out it wasn't, but to his credit, he's been working harder than ever and really desired this championship."
Antioch senior Tom Gertsner (37-8) saw his magical ride in the tournament end with a heartbreaking 5-4 OT loss to Andrew Brewer (Mahomet-Seymour) in the final.
Gerstner had stunned No. 1 T.J. Wuellner (Civic Memorial, 41-3) in the semifinals 3-1 to earn his spot in the final and give the Sequoits their first medal since 2000.
Libertyville junior Matt Bystol (42-6), who came thisclose to upending No. 1 Edwin Cooper (Providence) in his semifinal bout, came back to capture a third-place medal when he defeated St. Viator sophomore Danny Sabatello 7-5.
"When I go back and watch that match with (Cooper), then it might be a little harder to forget I was just 22 seconds away from advancing into the final," said Bystol. "Maybe it was an ill-advised shot near the end that cost me, but I know that I couldn't have wrestled any better against the top-rated guy in the state."
Connor Drew (Warren) fell short in the consolation bracket and finished a terrific year at 37-7, while Jason Montemayor (Grant) ran into Ellis Coleman (Oak Park) two matches after being upset on Friday night and was pinned at 1:47 in the same quarterfinal bout of the consolation bracket.
Montemayor (32-10), who upset state ranked Joe Brewster (Maine South) on Friday, and took 135-pound state medalist Adam Stine (Neuqua Valley) to the brink in the quarterfinals, returns next season along with Munster to give the Bulldogs a terrific 1-2 punch.