Kaneland wins own tourney again
Kyle Davidson was the undisputed top performer for Kaneland at its 12-team wrestling invitational on Saturday in Maple Park.
The defending Class 2A state qualifier opened his day at 152 pounds with back-to-back falls to reach the finals of the Margaret Flott Memorial Tournament.
Pitted against Marengo junior Sam Klenske in the finals, the match was deadlocked 3-3 at its midpoint.
But the final three minutes were all Davidson.
The senior scored 11 consecutive points with a takedown and three 3-point near falls to win going away, 14-3.
The Knights had eight finalists, but even with heavyweight Jimmy Boyle claiming the top prize, the team still strolled to the team title for the third straight year with a 50-point-plus plurality over Marengo.
Prairie Central was third, and Burlington Central had the other top finish with its fourth-place result.
“I knew I needed to score points, tire (Klenske) out and do what I needed to do,” said Davidson.
The Knights' senior leader was the 145-pound champion last year and later advanced to the state tournament.
“(Being a returning state qualifier) puts a big bull's-eye on your back,” said Davidson. “Everybody is gunning for you.”
Boyle also defended his championship at heavyweight when his colossal opponent, St. Joseph junior Jaleel Johnson--a Wisconsin football recruit who had two first-period pins to reach the championship--was cited for stalling in the 2-1 verdict.
“He came out very aggressive,” Boyle said. “He was just a solid kid.”
Kaneland coach Monty Jahns used much of the same language.
“(Boyle) was the more aggressive wrestler during the match,” said Jahns.
Stephen Gust (103 pounds), Dan Goress (130), Nick Michels (171), Keegan Mattes (189) and Ben Kovalick (215) all reached the finals for Kaneland.
The quintet all tasted defeat, but their victorious run in the championship bracket to reach the finals meant invaluable team points.
Goress had the toughest loss; the sophomore allowed St. Joseph senior Bryant Roby an intentional escape early in the second.
Goress appeared on the cusp of a takedown late in the second period, only to be foiled; Roby eventually rode him out for a 1-0 win.
“I wound up on the hip instead of staying to the knee,” Goress said of her near-takedown. “He just out-muscled me.”
Esai Ponce, one of the Knights' best state hopefuls at 119 pounds, was upset in his first-round match; the sophomore recorded two falls to reach the fifth-place match.
With his consolation title, Ponce improved to 20-4 on the year.
“The waiting and the mental game is a big part of (tournament success),” Ponce said.