Cary-Grove’s Cullen shines at Barrington
Mike Cullen returned to the top of the 106-pound field in the area Saturday night when he and Barrington star Adrian Gonzalez went at it again for the second consecutive week and third time this season.
The Cary-Grove freshman won his biggest piece of hardware in his young, and likely long and successful career, defeating the Barrington senior 4-2 to thrill the big crowd, which no doubt had been anticipating this rematch the moment Gonzalez (33-3) decisioned Cullen last weekend in the finals of the Stevenson regional.
Seniors Josh Symbal of Huntley and Tom Gerszewski of Crystal Lake South were equally superb on the big stage, winning Barrington sectional championships at 182 and 152 respectively.
“That was more of the real Mike Cullen out there today,” began the Cary-Grove rookie, who last week started slow, and paid for it when the veteran from Barrington wheeled and dealt his way to a hard-fought 4-3 decision.
“Today I was more aggressive from the very start, and got up on him and didn’t let up, until a little later when I maybe got a little too cautious — remembering that I was too careful last weekend at regionals leading to me getting tilted which was the match,” said Cullen, whose record moved to 40-2 on the season.
“It was great to see Mike go out in that final and wrestle the way he has all year — he was assertive, and in command, and that’s what he’ll need to do next weekend at the tournament,” said Cary-Grove coach, Ryan Ludwig.
Symbal caught a bit of good natured teasing from his family, friends and Huntley coaching staff when the affable senior needed all of 37 seconds to dispatch Scott Schwartz (34-8) of New Trier to send the Red Raiders into the state tournament for the second straight season.
“It feels great to advance, but it wasn’t easy because I’ve been under the weather for most of the week, and especially yesterday, when I really felt bad,” said Symbal, who now becomes the first 2-time state qualifier for the Raiders, and first-time sectional champ.
Symbal recorded a fall at 1:52 in his semifinal to earn his second stay in Champaign, giving him 27 on the year thus far.
Gerszewski (40-1) cruised to his first sectional title, and second state appearance, but just as he has all season, the laid-back Gators’ star took it all in stride.
“It’s great to advance and get this weekend behind me, but I never look ahead or past my next opponent, or challenge, and the same goes this weekend, when I’ll have my sights on the biggest prize and a state title.,” Gerszewski said.
Gerszewski’s teammates, Nick Gil (126, 40-6) and Mike Romanelli (220, 35-10) also booked their place in the state tournament, Gil after falling to No. 1 Zach Synon (42-0, Prairie Ridge) for the second straight time in a championship match. Romanelli lived on the edge in wrestle-backs, surviving a 2-1 OT match over Daniel Davidson of Barrington.
The news wasn’t as good for the Jacobs faithful which watched senior Gabe Difecchio’s career end suddenly when he found himself on the short end of a 7-3 decision in his state qualifying match with Jon Bilancia (Prospect, 30-15).
The Golden Eagles’ captain finished a superb final year under coach Chris Taylor at 27-13.
Austin Ryan (33-5), a state qualifier last year as a freshman, had his season ended in dramatic fashion after he suffered what appeared to be a serious injury when Cullen threw his FVC rival at the end of the first period of their semifinal.
After a long wait to stabilize Ryan, paramedics carted the Jacobs star away but hours later, after cleared to wrestle again by hospital doctors, Ryan was back in uniform, and requesting to be allowed to compete after taking an injury default, which dropped him down into the consolation bracket.
A long discussion took place with tournament and IHSA officials (via phone) and it was decided that Ryan would not be allowed to continue.
“I respect the decision by all those involved,” said Taylor. “The staff here, including medical, all did a great job of communicating their concerns, and what was best for Aaron, and you cannot argue with that, because I know they were looking out for his best interests.”