Crystal Lake Central FVC champ
It was no sweat for Crystal Lake Central at the Fox Valley Conference wrestling tournament at Grayslake Central on Saturday.
Crystal Lake Central finished second at the Class 2A team dual meet last year, and the Tigers are looking for more this year.
And it showed on Saturday as the Tigers won 8 of their 9 championship matches, including four with falls.
Due to FVC bylaws their was not a championship trophy awarded, but according to points, Crystal Lake Central took first with 297 points in what would have been the Tigers’ fourth consecutive FVC title.
Grayslake North took second with 212.5 points followed by McHenry (188.5 points), Crystal Lake South (158.5 points), and Dundee-Crown (150 points).
Cary-Grove (139.5) took sixth, with Grayslake Central (127.5), Huntley (119.5), and Jacobs (82 points) taking 8th-9th- and 10th place.
Seniors Trevor Jauch and Joey Kielbasa both won their fourth consecutive FVC championship for CL Central.
Jauch made quick work of Crystal Lake South senior Tom Gerszewski in the 140-pound weight class with a fall at 42 seconds into the first period, while Kielbasa (35-1) was awarded the championship at 152 when Jacobs senior Joe Ladwick had to withdraw from the championship match with an injury.
“Anytime you win something four years in a row you’re doing some good things,” said Crystal Lake Central coach Justen Lehr of the two seniors who have combined for four state individual titles. “There is always some senior looking to win that individual weight class. They did a good job.”
Jauch (35-4) set the tone for the Central by winning at 140, the Tigers finished the day by winning 7 out of the last 9 matches in a dominating performance.
“We’re really competitive and we really push each other,” said the Missouri-bound Jauch of the Tigers’ performance. “Our goal was to break 300 points today and we just missed it.”
Freshman Kyle Fugiel started for Central with a 15-2 major decision over Jacobs freshman Austin Ryan at 103, Junior Clayton Lutzow added a 5-1 decision over McHenry sophomore Wade Lardy at 130.
Then Crystal Lake Central got rolling with junior Jason Fugiel following Jauch’s victory with a pin at 1:20 over Dundee-Crown senior Alonso Fuller at 145.
Junior Gage Harrah (33-0) pinned Grayslake Central junior Joey Valdivia at 3:24 at 189 and senior Austin Marsden completed the Tigers’ dominance by pining Dundee-Crown senior Cody Churkey at 58 seconds at 215 pounds.
“We’ve been wrestling big matches all season and that really prepared for this tournament,” said the Central Michigan-bound Kielbasa, who has a career 160 wins. “We’re looking at pulling it all together now and going for the state title.”
Last year Grayslake North finished 7th in the FVC, but this year the Knights made quite a leap in taking second.
Junior Kasen Christiansen won the Knights’ first individual FVC title by pinning McHenry sophomore Angel Hernandez 40 seconds into their 285-pound match.
Senior Rich Downes took second place at 135 and junior Angel Cabrera added a second place at 119.
“On Friday we were on our heals a lot,” said Grayslake North coach Tom Frye. “But the boys responded the second day. We’re improving every year as a team and we just want to continue that.”
Christiansen used a bulldog to secure the pin in quick fashion for the Knights.
“I just wanted to get it over fast,” said Christiansen of his winning move. “This year I’ve won more matches and my confidence keeps rising.”
Crystal Lake South junior Nick Fontanetta showed patience in winning a 1-0 decision over Crystal Lake Central freshman Michael Zelasco at 112.
Fontanetta used an escape early in the third period and was able to control the final minutes in securing his second consecutive FVC championship in leading the Gators.
“It wasn’t my best day, but a win is a win,” said Fontanetta of his performance. “He was just trying to hold position, I couldn’t really do anything on him. I still have a lot of work to do.”
Fuller (145) and Churkey (215), both seniors, secured second-place finishes for Dundee-Crown.
“I shot in and he just over muscled me,” said Churkey of his fall to Central’s Marsden. “He’s quicker, strong and overall he’s a good wrestler.”
Senior Colin Hansen came up big for Cary-Grove winning the 171-pound class with a 6-4 decision over Huntley junior Josh Symbal.
Hansen used a pair of takedowns and then weathered a strong uprising by Symbal in the final seconds to secure the victory for the Trojans.
“I just needed to stay low and focused,” said Hansen of his victory. “It was tough, but I knew he was tired. I just had to hang on until the end.”
“I was definitely gassed at the end, but I tried giving it my all for that last shot,” said Symbal who lost a close 5-3 decision in a dual meet to Hansen earlier this season. “I was seeking a bit of vengeance, but I just came up a bit short.”
Sophomore Trent Atkins (125) aided the Trojans with a second-place finish losing a 3-1 decision to Prairie Ridge junior Zach Synon.
Huntley senior Lucas Rogers (30-2) used a takedown in the final period to narrowly defeat Grayslake North senior Rich Downes at 135 with a 3-2 decision.
The Red Raider used his strength in the final period to secure the victory.
“My coaches always tell me once I take them down the match is pretty much over because I can ride them out,” said Rogers of his victory. “That’s my game plan — one or two takedowns then I’m in control.”