Dundee-Crown's Brunner undefeated state champ

CHAMPAIGN - Christian Brunner made history for the Dundee-Crown wrestling program Saturday night at the University of Illinois.

Nathan Traxler and A.J. Jaffe merely added another powerful narrative to the remarkable run of Marmion state titles in the last six years.

Brunner held a slim 2-1 lead over Metea Valley senior Dylan Ervin courtesy of the lone takedown to enter the second period.

But Ervin stood little chance against the Chargers' Purdue-bound star.

Brunner turned the Mustangs' senior midway through the second period and terminated the championship match of the 195-pound Class 3A state finals with a fall.

"When I saw (Ervin) flip over, I just started squeezing," Brunner said after completing an unblemished season for the third state championship in Charger history. "I just love the process (of getting a pin)."

One weight class earlier, Traxler became the fourth Marmion wrestler since 2011 to become a multiple state champion.

In claiming his second straight championship, Traxler dominated Sandburg junior Pat Brucki with all the offensive points of the match at 182 pounds.

Combining his unusual size with precision attacks, Traxler was never in danger of trailing against the solidly built but much shorter Sandburg standout.

The match had further implications as well as the schools will face off Tuesday at the Argo dual team sectional.

"Every match I wrestled (in the postseason), I gained more confidence," said Traxler, bound for Stanford. "I don't want to be someone who rubs it in (after winning)."

Traxler and Brunner have partnered together in the off-season more than once in recent years.

"(Brunner) and I are friends," Traxler said. "We train together at Overtime (in Naperville)."

"It's great to have (someone like Traxler) to push you," Brunner said.

The Jaffe championship could not have come under more disparate circumstances than the brilliant performances by Brunner and Traxler.

Locked in an internecine struggle with Jaime Hernandez of two-time defending team state champion Oak Park-River Forest, Jaffe almost had to literally hold on for dear life to secure the 4-2 victory.

"That's about exactly what it was," the Harvard-bound Jaffe said.

Hernandez had Jaffe in a compromised position for more than half-a-minute of the final period in a frenzied attempt to force another tie.

But Jaffe had a hold of Hernandez on his lower extremities to prevent the equalizer.

"I had two things in my mind: I'm not letting go of that leg and get as high as I could," Jaffe said. "I did a good job of attacking (earlier). (The title) is way beyond expectations). I went into a defensive mode, which I kind of regret."

Marmion senior Trace Carello had his bid for the Cadets' 15th state title since 2010 dashed by Rockton Hononegah 152-pounder Fernie Silva, who pinned the Air Force recruit in the second period.

The sole Fox Valley area Class 2A state finalist, Kaneland 106-pounder Austin Kedzie, met the same fate as Marian Catholic freshman Travis Ford-Melton ran his season record to 46-0 with his second-period fall.

"There are things I definitely need to work on," Kedzie said. "(The loss) just makes me want to work harder for next year."

Marmion's Nate Jimenez took third place at 160, and in Class 2A Burlington Central's Austin Macias (120) and Hampshire's Wylie Allen (152) brought home third-place medals.