Geneva beats short-handed Batavia
When the draw for the Batavia-Geneva wrestling showdown came at 160 pounds, the potential drama was inescapable.
Seniors Augie Watson and Nick Bradberry are not only arguably the best wrestlers for the two programs, but their much-anticipated match at 152 pounds would have been the final match of the Upstate Eight Conference River Division dual meet.
Watson, one of the Bulldogs’ two returning state qualifiers, dominated the match with a 9-1 major decision.
But all the frenzy of the rivalry had been muted when Batavia was forced to forfeit nine weight classes, enabling Geneva to complete a flawless division run with the 57-13 victory.
“It would have been much more exciting if they didn’t have to forfeit all those weights,” said Bradberry.
“We have a lot of internal issues with injuries and illness,” said Batavia coach Ben Morris. “We should have them all back next week (for the Class 3A Naperville Central regional). We decided before practice that we were going to sit those seven (starters).”
When pressed further on the issue, Morris refused to elaborate.
“I’d rather not say,” Morris said.
“It was a little bit anticlimactic, for sure,” Geneva coach Tom Chernich said.
The one solace Batavia can take from its one-sided defeat is its four wins in the five contested matches.
Geneva senior Derek Larsen had a takedown with nine seconds remaining to turn back Dylan Findley at 160 pounds.
At 189 pounds, Cullin Rokos had the first of the Bulldogs’ quartet of wins by scoring two points in each of the three periods for a 6-0 victory.
But Batavia, which earlier had forfeited the 171-pound division to Eric Timko, proceeded to forfeit eight consecutive weight classes.
Henry Zupke (215 pounds), heavyweight Jake Mills, Wes Ruby (103), Brad Martens (112), Kyle Roberts (119), Mark Henriksen (125), Christolf Larsen (130) and Mike Henrikson (135) were paraded on the mat with their right arm raised in the air by the referee.
Jon Wagner had a late takedown over the Vikings’ Brian Favis to win the 140-pound match 5-4, and Matt Goodin was impressive in a 7-1 win at 145 for Batavia.
The expected dogfight between Watson and Bradberry failed to materialize; Watson had two takedowns, a reversal and 3-point near fall to make amends for his loss in the championship at the individual league tournament last Saturday.
“I don’t know what happened at conference,” Watson said. “It didn’t feel like me. (This win) adds some fuel for my fire.”
“The score would have been much closer if I had more confidence,” Bradberry said. “He shouldn’t have been turning me like that. That’s the first time I’ve been turned like that all year.”
“Maybe we had the wind let out of our sails (due to the forfeits),” Chernich said. “Dual meets are more for the coaches and the fans.”
With its win Friday night in Geneva, the Vikings celebrated their first wrestling championship in several years.
“It’s been at least two decades,” said Geneva athletic director Jim Kafer.