St. Viator seniors spark sweep
A senior night audience was treated to a pair of resounding victories on the wrestling mats Wednesday evening when St. Viator rolled over visiting East Aurora and Ridgewood at the Lions' triple dual in Arlington Heights.
Led by the senior trio of T.J. Hohenadel, Eric Abrahamian and Will Rittmeyer, the Lions went on a pin frenzy in their final match - recording 6 falls and 1 technical fall en route to a 41-33 triumph over Ridgewood.
"This is a good way to go into the final weekend of the season and leading up to the ESCC tournament next week," said coach Jeff Kramarczyk, whose Lions travel to Notre Dame on Friday to meet the Dons and Marian Catholic in their regular-season conference finale.
Led by second-year coach and former Leyden star and 2001 state qualifier Jared McCabe, Ridgewood fell in its opener 48-27 to East Aurora.
Against the Tomcats, the Lions quickly fell behind 12-0 before trading the lead until Joe Lamantia's 10-2 major decision at 145 pounds gave St. Viator the lead for good at 22-21.
After an Abrahamian forfeit for 6 more points, Hohenadel (28-6) needed just 2:47 to record his pin of Justin Rivera that opened a 34-21 advantage.
Two bouts later, Rittmeyer (20-12) outlasted Osbaldo Moreno 7-2 with a late third-period burst and near-fall at the buzzer. Moreno was coming off a tournament championship last weekend at Batavia.
It was apparent that both the Lions and Ridgewood were anxious to end a long day as quickly as possible. The Rebels earned 3 falls to the Lions' half-dozen.
After Donato DiGiulio, one of six Rebels with double figures in victories, earned a fall at 140 to put the visitors on top 21-12 for one final time, the Lions won five of the next six bouts - including a pin by Hohenadel and a tech-fall victory by Rittmeyer at 189.
The Lions, featuring victories by Lamantia and Joe McMannus (215), needed just under 10 minutes to destroy the hopes of any Ridgewood comeback.
"During the off-season it was all about working hard at Overtime, and with Lee Kemp, and getting myself physically and mentally ready, and improving every part of my game on and off the mats," said Hohenadel, who with Abrahamian (25-9) give the Lions their best chance of bringing home championship belts at the ESCC tourney at Joliet Catholic.