Three close calls for Mid-Suburban League wrestlers
CHAMPAIGN - The Mid-Suburban League came within a whisker of delivering a trio of individual state championships in Champaign on Saturday night.
But despite producing two sensational matches that would grace any Broadway stage - the league failed to deliver the silverware associated with the crown.
Wheeling's Luke Smith (42-2) would waltz through the competition to set up a class meeting between the top two in the land at 135-pounds - but would be unable to solve Oak Park's Chris Dardanes (45-2) in a 4-3 heart-breaker.
"We should not have gotten in a position where the referee might be the difference (maker) in a match, it's just that simple," said Wheeling assistant coach J.P. Akouri just moments after the final buzzer.
"I didn't realize (Luke) was so good as a defender, it's no wonder he had the record that he had coming into this tournament," said Dardanes, who cheered on his brother Nick, who won it all at 140-pounds.
Later on, in perhaps the most dramatic and anticipated final of the night at 145 pounds, fan favorite Max Schneider of Lane Tech would watch the brilliant career of Hersey senior Demetrios Mitchell end in disaster.
A scramble late in the third overtime would see Mitchell suffer a fractured ankle - ending his title hopes and giving Schneider his first title as he ended his sophomore season a perfect 40-0.
"Demetrios has been such an integral part of our program at Hersey, an ultimate leader, with an unbelievable work ethic and someone who will be impossible to replace next season," said Huskies coach Jim Wormsley, in advance of the Mitchell-Schneider final.
Mitchell, a 2009 state medalist, rose to the occasion under the bright Assembly Hall lights. He would constantly thwart the famed thrower with one terrific defensive move after another and surprised the judo star with the first takedown and a 3-1 lead after four minutes.
Schneider would eventually draw even at 5-5 with 60 seconds left in regulation, to ignite the crowd which would roar with each of his attempts to throw Mitchell, who would in turn earn cheers of his own with his nifty moves and defensive prowess.
With 29 seconds left in the third overtime, Schneider would land on Mitchell near the edge - and seconds later the Huskies captain cried out in obvious pain, ending his dreams and hopes of a championship ring.
"It was very unfortunate that (Demetrios) was injured, and I feel really bad for him, but sometimes these things happen and tonight, I was able to walk away with a title," said Schneider, who was battling a injured shoulder which Mitchell would attack, and force a pair of injury timeouts, which required medical attention.
Barrington senior Luke Miller (37-9), who would surprise No. 2 Malik Taylor (Brother Rice) in the semifinals to earn his place opposite Steve Congenie (Willowbrook, 48-0) in the 152-pound final, was unable to continue to his magical run any longer as the No. 1 sophomore defeated the Broncos captain 4-2.
The Smith-Dardanes final was a rematch of last year's third-place bout, and nearly one year later, the pair battled and brawled for six minutes to bring the fans of out their seats on a number of occasions to cheer every shot, questionable official's call, and the final 30-plus seconds of regulation, which saw Dardanes grab a deuce at the edge to take the lead - and Smith nearly earning an escape as time ran out.
Miller's teammate and Princeton-bound Dan Santoro (171, 42-7) was fourth, while sophomore Adrian Gonzalez (41-5) grabbed a fourth place finish at 103.
Schaumburg sophomore Josh Marchok (41-3) overcame a disappointing 7-6 loss to eventual state champion Matt Dwyer (Hononegah, 38-2) in his semifinal early Saturday and bounced back to take home a third-place medal at 215.
Hersey junior Jeff Koepke (50-8) navigated his way through treacherous waters at 160 on his way to sixth, in a weight class which produced a monumental shocker.
No. 1 Nick Proctor (Neuqua Valley) was upset in the semifinals by Joe Strocchia (Hinsdale Central).
Sean Bonner (Hersey) and Rolling Meadows sophomore Joey Caprio finshed just out of the medal hunt at 152, and so did Conant senior Nate Benedetti (285). Buffalo Grove senior Jamie Zabrin completed his improbable comeback following early-season surgery to gain a sixth-place medal at 171, as did Chris Johnson of Wheeling at 189 pounds.
The marvelous two-year run from Leyden senior Dan Kiebler (36-2) came to an abrupt and sudden end when the top-ranked 215-pounder lost to Dwyer 6-5 in the finals.
"The most amazing thing about Dan is he started wrestling as a freshman - and reached the finals three years later," said Leyden coach Jason Potter.
"I am not surprised to be honest, he's such an incredible athlete, maybe the most athletic I've ever been around, but his growth as a person, and how he now understands the rewards one can achieve in sports and in life, makes his success that much more terrific.