Warren takes sixth at Berman
With perennial powers Minooka and Lockport out of the picture this year, some new teams made a name for themselves Wednesday at the 56th Annual Berman Holiday Wrestling Classic in Palatine.
Lyons Township proved to be the class of the powerful 26-team tournament with a first-place total of 208 points while Hinsdale Central captured second place with 166 points.
Lincoln-Way East held off Downers Grove North 155 to 148.5 for third place while Richmond-Burton placed fifth with 140 points.
Warren may have been the biggest suprise of the tourney as the Blue Devils proved what a good tournament team they can be at full strength by edging Hersey 125.5 to 124 for sixth place.
At 285 pounds, Josh Dust (18-2) was the leader for Warren as Dust placed second to 2010 state runner-up Jack Allen (22-0) of Hinsdale Central.
But the Blue Devils had numerous contributors across the board with eight wrestlers finishing in the top eight places.
Dust fell behind Allen 5-0 late in the first period and he could never recover as Allen posted a 10-2 major decision for the title.
“He (Dust) was facing one of the top heavyweights in the state and (Allen) didn't take second in the state last year for no reason,” said first-year Warren coach Jim Ouimette. “We only have two sectional qualifiers on our team so to do as well as we did was alright. But I think we could have had three guys reach the finals.”
Aaron Brewton placed fifth for the Blue Devils at 152 while teammates Brandon Tyler (135), Pat Oswald (145), Shakiem Chapman (189), and Jovan Dubose (215) all placed sixth. Warren's T.J. Park placed seventh at 160 while teammate Danny Hicks (171) placed eighth.
Mundelein's hopes of shining in the two-day tourney were compromised by the absence of four starters being out of the lineup including 130-pounder Matt Ornoff, who was sick, and 171-pounder Pablo Mata, who was out of the country.
The Mustangs did receive a fifth-place finish from senior Payton Cruz (21-3) at 135 while teammates Sam Riportella (103) and Nick Dudzinski (20-4 at 112) both placed seventh.
“Cruz lost a tough match on a stalling call in the semifinals and in the wrestleback's he lost to a really tough kid from Lake Park,” said Mundelein coach Tom Buenik. “It was nice that everybody who went there got a win or two and it's a good tournament to get ready for the second half of the season.”
Lakes senior Kyle Gibson (18-4) placed fifth with a technical fall for the Eagles at 140 while 152-pound teammate Terence Shapcott placed eighth.
“Gibson placed pretty well, but he lost a couple of close matches,” said Lakes coach Curt Onstad. “As long as he opens up his style he will do alright. He's plenty aggressive, but he has a hard time taking chances unless it's a sure thing.”
Antioch 2010 state qualifier Zach Epker did not make weight in time for the tourney to get down to 171 pounds. But fellow state qualifier and junior teammate George Gonzalez (23-3) did place third for the Sequoits with a 16-6 major decision at 145. Mike Gussarson placed eighth for Antioch at 125.
“I think we would have done a lot better if we had all of our guys here, but I told our kids it's not about today, it's about down the road,” said Antioch coach Wilbur Borrero. “George (Gonzalez) is just a good kid all the way around and the guy he lost to in the semifinals took first.”
Gonzalez has high hopes for the remainder of the season.
“I think I should have made it to the finals, but I'm glad I didn't let the loss affect me,” said Gonzalez. “I feel like I'm doing good, but I've got to work harder and I want to place at the state meet.”