Ruffino seals St. Charles East's win over Batavia
The annual end-of-the regular-season wrestling showdown between St. Charles East and host Batavia had plenty of drama and subplots.
But when all was said and done, the Saints' Nick Ruffino rendered the final match meaningless when he posted a 9-1 major decision to ensure the nonconference victory for St. Charles East.
In one of many marquee showdowns, Tyler Patton, one of several Batavia seniors honored before the match, subdued equally vaunted Alex Maynard at 135 pounds. But it only proved to narrow the Saints' final spread in their 34-27 win Thursday night in Batavia.
"This is what you work for all year," said St. Charles East coach Steve Smerz, whose club improved to 14-6 in dual meets and closes out its regular schedule against Larkin tonight. "Next week (Saturday at the Saints' Class 3A regional) really counts."
Logan Arlis and Brandon Rubino have been stalwarts on the local scene since their freshman campaigns as undersized 103-pounders. The two seniors were in top form once again, though they did not meet for the first time in four years in the teams' dual.
Arlis concluded his second consecutive flawless regular season when he turned back a defiant Joe Dede at 125 pounds. The reigning state runner-up at 112 pounds has not lost in the regular season since Christmas of 2007, dropping a mere three matches in an equal number of years.
Arlis' inability to score bonus points had a major impact as Rubino, wrestling one match earlier at 119 pounds, needed only 28 seconds to record a fall and 3 extra points.
"I was actually hoping (to face Arlis)," said Rubino, who seeks another downstate appearance at 112 pounds. "That's why I bumped up to 119. Coach just told me to go out there and pin (my opponent) quick."
The Rubino fall restored the Saints' lead back to 30-21, and Ruffino trumped Arlis' 8-2 decision to restore their lead back to double digits, 34-24, reducing the Patton-Maynard match to mere exhibition status.
The Saints' Aureliano Tochimani opened the night with a second-period fall at 140 pounds to give St. Charles East a quick 6-0 lead. But the Bulldogs' Watson brothers, junior Augie and freshman Mikey, promptly tied the match with consecutive decisions.
St. Charles East struck back with an 18-4 run that featured a Jerry Fialka fall at 171 pounds and Rafael Flores' 13-7 no-quarter win over the Bulldogs' Pat Martin in a heavyweight battle featuring 20-plus-win combatants.
Batavia (10-10) was also forced to swallow 6 points when no one answered the bell at 215 pounds.
"That hurt us with that forfeit, but I knew that going in," said Batavia coach Tom Arlis. "I really thought we were the more aggressive team."
"Bottom line," agreed Smerz. "Of the matches wrestled we got out-wrestled."
Batavia freshman Charlie Smorczewski had a first-period fall to aid the Bulldogs' comeback.
"I just kept pressing in on him," Smorczewski said of his third career varsity match at 112 pounds. "I was able to catch an arm."