Minooka ends Grant's season at Class 3A state meet
BLOOMINGTON - The high point of the latest Grant appearance at the team dual wrestling finals was the opening match.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, it was one of the few bright spots against a powerful Minooka team.
Tyler Becker won a measure of prestige, but the second-ranked Indians had too much firepower for Grant.
In the first quarterfinal round of the Class 3A tournament, Minooka ended the Bulldogs' season with a 41-21 victory.
The Bulldogs were making their fourth visit to state since 2004, and their season ended at 22-3.
But it started promisingly enough for Grant when Becker, who was unceremoniously knocked out of the individual sectional, shut out the Indians' Ryan Warcynski to begin the meet at 160 pounds.
The two wrestled at 152 in the individual state series, where Warcynski placed sixth in Champaign.
"I was hoping to get a chance to prove myself," Becker said after winning 3-0. "I would have liked to place (at state). I thought I controlled the match. I'm happy to get a chance to redeem myself. That's the best way I could go out."
"I thought it was an advantage for us (to start the meet at 160 pounds)," Grant coach Ryan Geist said.
The Bulldogs' two-time state champion Lee Munster did not get an opportunity to wrestle for a final time this season.
Minooka forfeited the 189-pound weight class; Munster capped his standout junior campaign with a flawless 47-0 record after running the table en route to the 171-pound title last week.
"Six points for the team you can't complain about," said Munster, who has committed to Northwestern. "We knew going into the meet they were the stronger team, but upsets happen."
When senior Jake Brown followed the Munster forfeit with a 3-2 nail-biter at 215 pounds, Grant led 12-4.
But Minooka won the next six matches in succession for a 28-point unanswered run that completely changed the Bulldogs' fortunes.
Cody Jones, Leo Ruettiger, Blake Montella and Joeie Ruettiger recorded a pair of falls, a technical fall and a major decision between heavyweight and 119 pounds to turn the tide once and all in favor of Minooka.
"I thought we wrestled pretty well," Geist said. "We won a couple of close matches. We're just not as strong as they are."
Brian Bokoski, the Indians' other state medal-winner, stopped Roque Bustos at 130 pounds.
But Jason Montgomery finally terminated the Indians' run with a reversal at the buzzer in securing a 6-5 victory at 135 pounds.
Tyler Dempsey had the final win of the year for Grant when Minooka forfeited the match-ending 152-pound class.