Prospect's Wroblewski warms up to center stage

CHAMPAIGN - By nature, Matt Wroblewski has never enjoyed being in the spotlight.

The Prospect senior is all about going about his business in workmanlike fashion, almost as if he's punching in to a 9-5 job.

But excelling in the Class 3A high school wrestling state tournament is a different kind of task - the stage is bigger, the lights are brighter, and if you continue to advance, escaping the attention becomes impossible.

But on Saturday night, all that attention ended up suiting Wroblewski just fine.

Followed by TV cameras, media, family and friends, Wroblewski soaked up the acclaim that goes with being the state's 220-pound state champion after defeating top-ranked Diata Drayton at State Farm Center.

"I'm not one to thump my chest or celebrate after every win, but tonight I had to show a little emotion when the final whistle blew," said Wroblewski.

He expressed himself in miminalist fashion - a fist pump, a glance and point into the stands at his family, then a big hug from coach Tom Whalen, who now has his first state champion, and the program's first since 2009.

"I'm just real proud of Matt right now," said Whalen, who was fighting to hold back the emotions following a hard-fought 8-4 decision.

The Wroblewski-Drayton final was a battle of undefeateds who have shown little mercy to their opponents all season long. The lone loss between them was on the Marist senior's record, when he make a single mistake that ended up costing him.

After an unexplained body lock near the edge by Drayton in the second period, Wroblewski took full advantage.

"I felt his legs and hips on that body lock, so I just put him down for the takedown, then went to work after that," said Wroblewski.

From there, Wroblewski was in nearly constant motion, mixed in with a little riding time. The combination began to slowly break down Drayton, who conceded two more takedowns, the last coming with 30 seconds remaining in regulation.

"It's been a long time coming for me after my quick exit here a year ago, as well as coach Whalen and our staff, and the program as well," said Wroblewski. "It's all kind of hard to believe, and it probably will take a little while to sink in."

The news wasn't as good for Barrington, which had to wait until the very last final of the night to watch standout Markus Hartman fall to Will Lewan of Montini Catholic 3-1.

It was the second match of the year between the top-ranked 145-pounders, with Hartman (44-2) looking to avenge a 4-3 loss in the Berman Holiday Classic.

It appeared heading into the matchup that all the pieces were in place for a Hartman title after he'd run through a trio of state opponents without conceding a single point.

"We didn't expect to keep Lewan off the scoreboard, but we also didn't think we could get in on his legs in a six-minute match - that was likely the difference in this one," said Broncos coach Dave Udchik.

The first period resembled a chess match with the two athletes carefully testing each other. But an escape after the whistle opened the second period, followed by a nifty ankle pick and takedown by Lewan three minutes, was all the Montini junior needed.

A third-period escape closed the gap, but was enough despite a valiant try with eight seconds to go by Hartman.

"I'm still very proud of Markus, he's had a sensational season, and now, all of us need to prepare for our dual-team sectional with Deerfield on Tuesday," said Udchik.

Fremd heavyweight Zach Nemec (41-3) came back from a tough semifinal defeat against Nick Ivansevic (Hinsdale Central) by reeling off three straight wins in wrestlebacks to claim a third-place medal at 285 pounds.

"It's been a dream ever since I began to wrestle when I was a little guy to get downstate and be a state medal winner, so today is a great day for me," said Nemec, who will wrestle next season at Michigan. "If I had that semifinal to do over again, I would not have stopped with my shots - when I did, Nick took advantage, and that was the end of that.

"But it still feels great to come away from here with that medal."

Kemp fell victim to a season that ended too soon, according to coach Dan Ruettiger who figures with the way his 145-pound senior came on in the final month the chances for a state medal would have improved substantially.

The Vikings senior season ended at 31-16, impressive after 14 victories a year ago.

Shinhoster rebounded from a quarterfinal loss to eventual state champion Jason Renteria to put together an impressive run through wrestlebacks and past two state ranked opponents to get himself a fifth-place medal in his first state tournament appearance.

"Getting this medal just proves what a lot of hard work and commitment can mean in the end," said the Broncos junior, who needed a win over No. 6 Gannon Hughes (Oswego) to guarantee his medal.

"Shin is so tough - he'll outwork guys, and when he's on top riding, forget about it," added Broncos assistant Ryan Horcher.

St. Viator senior James (Tony) Valentino, the all-time wins leader in program history, appeared to be on course of bringing home the first state medal for a Lions heavyweight. But the three-time state qualifier bowed out 1 win away from doing so.

Valentino (37-2) who set all sorts of program records over his career, lost in overtime to Myles Ruffin of Brother Rice in his wrestleback semifinal.

"I don't know if it is about these big mats down here in Champaign, but it hasn't been very kind to James these past three seasons," said St. Viator coach Jason Churak, who has coached his top man since middle school and has watched Valentino grow into a first-class heavyweight and leader in the room during his four varsity years.

Friday afternoon saw the terrific three-year career of Zach Yfantis of Wheeling come to a close following his loss in wrestlebacks. The Wildcats captain, along with his teammates, begins preparations for their upcoming dual-team sectional with Huntley at Rockford East on Tuesday.

Yfantis opened the season at 285 for coach Neal Weiner, then moved down a weight to win 40 matches. After the wrestling season, he'll move over to the baseball diamond where he'll play first base for the Wildcats.

Prospect senior Alex Koczwara (35-6) was eliminated 1 victory short of earning a state medal after he dropped his quarterfinal semifinal in overtime to Chase Raap of Dundee-Crown.

The workout partner of Wroblewski still managed terrific back-to-back 35-win seasons despite coming into the sport in eighth grade.

And a quick word on Fremd junior Cole Reimer, who put together a sensational year for Ruettiger, winning an MSL and regional title and qualifying for the state tournament at 138 pounds - only to succumb to a torn meniscus.

"Cole was sick the week of sectionals, got himself qualified, but just was not able to go this weekend with that injury," said Ruettiger.

Reimer won 40 times in 2017, giving him 90 in his career, which has included three trips to sectionals.