Lake Park third at Krupke Classic
Yes, there was the placing third in a 15-team invitational, not always an easy task. And there was the major positive of taking part in that invite on their own home mats.
Lake Park coach Todd Raymond believed his wrestlers took away a valuable lesson from the school's annual Krupke Classic on Saturday and will be better for it the rest of the season.
The team learned to not assume anything.
The Lancers were third in the competition with 134.50 points. Having the other 13 teams in their rearview mirrors were team champion Lockport (198 points) and second-place Warren (192).
“We had two starters out and that would have added some points,” Raymond said. “We're not quite in the same position as Lockport and Warren, but going into this tournament we are 16-1 in dual meets.”
The problem Saturday for Lake Park was that the Lancers had some wrestlers lose to opponents they had already beaten this season.
“I think this tournament brought them (the team) back to life. It reset the tone and gave them a new outlook,” Raymond said. “We'll have a week of workouts and head to Palatine.”
The Lancers will compete at the Berman Classic, Dec. 28-29, at Palatine.
“We look for it to be a challenge. We'll see where we are at afterwards. But our team will grow from our tournament,” the Lancers coach said.
The hosts did earn one individual title. Sophomore Austin Schoen beat Romeoville's Caleb Ramos 2-0 at 125 pounds.
“I think I did pretty good. I would have liked to have been a little more of a point scorer (throughout the tournament),” Schoen said. “You know the competition is always tough here.”
Willowbrook was seventh with 112 points. Steve Congenie pinned Schaumburg's Pat Felde in 2:32 to win the championship at 171. Congenie advanced to the match with victories by fall in 1:41 and 1:55.
“I just came off an injury (left knee) a couple of weeks ago. My stamina is low and I'm trying to get my rhythm back. Everything is coming back slowly,” he said.
Schaumburg and Conant landed in the top five of the team standings. Schaumburg was fourth at 129.50, Conant was right behind at 129.
A Conant wrestler, Vince Gottardo, stood on top of the medal stand when he prevailed 9-7 in overtime in the 135 final over Warren's Brandon Tyler. A two-point near fall was the difference.
“I was going to hold him down and win the match,” Gottardo said. “I was not about to lose the match. I should have won it in regulation.”
Two Saxons, Joe LaManna (189) and Josh Marchok (215), went home with gold medals.
LaManna pinned Maine West's Nick Litman in 1:49.
“I didn't wrestle as well as I would have liked. There's always room for improvement,.” LaManna said.
Marchok went into his title bout, a win by fall over Lockport's Brad Johnson in 3:19, by winning his two earlier matches by fall in a total time of 2:08.
“I think I have wrestled well. My knee has been bugging me and I'm coming off of that,” Marchok said.