Scanlon, Johnson lead Wheeling to 3rd at invite
The battle for first place at the Wheeling Memorial wrestling tournament went back and forth Saturday between Sandburg and Marmion Academy.
But when all was said and done, the Eagles soared past Marmion by a 207.5-199.5 margin to capture the championship of the powerful nine-team tournament.
The host Wildcats easily locked up third place with 145.5 points, while North Suburban Conference squads Stevenson (92) and Lake Zurich (72) placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
Marmion Academy walked away with four individual champions, including George Fisher at 112, Ben Whitford (12-0) at 119, Angelo Silvestro at 130, and Nico Jimenez (11-1) at 171.
"We took second here as a team last year and we were hoping to come out on top as a team, but it didn't happen," said Jimenez. "I've been working on certain techniques and I think that the work I've been putting in paid off today."
Previously undefeated and Northwestern-bound Pat Greco of Marmion dropped a 5-2 decision to Lane Tech sophomore Max Schneider in the 145-pound finals. Schneider was a state runner-up last winter in Class 3A.
Lake Zurich's Cameron Shaffer posted a 12-2 major decision over Marmion's Eddie Breen at 135, while Lake Zurich's Anthony Pace posted an 8-2 decision over Marmion's Dan Rowland at 152 for the title.
"It went back and forth with (Sandburg), but we placed 12 of 14 and we got seven in the finals so we got what I thought we would get," said Marmion coach Dean Branstetter. "It was George (Fisher's) first time at 112, so for him to get down to 112 and win was nice to see."
Shaffer is on track to make a return trip to the state meet in Champaign in February.
"It was a pretty tough tournament and I went into it with the plan to attack," Shaffer said. "I'm definitely going to have to step it up, though, if I'm going to take the gold at state."
Wheeling featured trio of champions, led by 140-pound junior Luke Smith (14-0)- who edged St. Laurence's Joe Wood 1-0 in the finals.
"I've been sick a little bit and I was a little tired before the finals match," said Smith, who placed third at 125 last season. "It's not a big tournament, but it's a very tough tournament with some of the best teams in the state here."
Wheeling's Ed Scanlon pinned Sandburg's Jack Swan in 5:26 for the 160-pound crown, while teammate Chris Johnson pinned Grayslake Central's Kevin Hein in 4:45 for the 189-pound crown.
The Wildcats got second-place medals from Israel Gonzalez (125), Joel Rangel (171) and Tim Schalz (285). Mike Smith placed third for Wheeling at 145.
"I'm happy with third place considering the two teams ahead of us are such outstanding teams," said Wheeling coach Neal Weiner. "We had six guys in the finals, so I was happy with that and two of them were not expected to be in the finals at heavyweight and 125."
Stevenson got second-place finishes from junior Danny Sabatello at 119 Tommy McGovern at 215.
The Patriots also got third-place medals from Alec Berger at 112, Jordan Sherman at 135, and sophomore Jed Stone at 160. Stone defeated Lake Zurich's Will Hussey 11-4 in the third-place match after Hussey pinned Stone in the opening round.
Beside Hein's second, Grayslake Central got thirds from Bobby Raines (12-2) at 103 and Dylan Hay at 130.
"Last year we came here and placed two kids so to bring home three medals when we only brought seven kids is really good," said Grayslake Central coach Dan Catanzaro. "We are really young, but we have eight kids who are not afraid to wrestle against anybody and we're proud of the kids we brought."
Maine West's Peter Giannos placed second at 103 to lead the Warriors.