Defensive tackles Alex Pasquale and Tyler Fortis haven’t faced each other on the football field, but the Lemont and Maine South heavyweights have found each other on the wrestling mats.
They met again on Saturday night in the finals of Batavia’s Clint Arlis Invitational with Pasquale pulling out a 2-1 decision for the title.
“That was a tough match and Tyler is always a great competitor,” Pasquale said. “I’ve been to football camp with him. We play the same position and I’ve wrestled him the two past years so we know each other quite well. It’s always a good time wrestling him. He’s a tough competitor.”
Former Batavia wrestling coach Tom Arlis speaks to the crowd about his late son Clint Arlis to whom the invitational is named after and the history of Batavia Wrestling during The Clint Arlis Invitational Wrestling meet at Batavia High School in Batavia on Saturday, Jan 13, 2024.
Lemont 150-pounder Noah O’Connor (33-3) joined Pasquale (21-3) on the award stand, earning a 6-2 win over Rockton Hononegah’s Max Haskins.
“I felt pretty dominant throughout the match,” O’Connor said,. “He had a takedown first period but it was like a takedown on the edge of the mat so it was debatable and nothing besides that. And first period at the end I was able to get a reversal, which was pretty critical because if it would’ve been close. That tied it at the end of the first period. I was able to escape and ride him out second period and ride out for all the third period so I felt pretty dominant that match.”
At last year’s inaugural Clint Arlis Invitational, Batavia senior Ben Brown was upset as the top seed in the first round, but fought back to take fifth place. This year he’s a champion and still undefeated after earning a 9-2 decision over Naperville North’s Matt Murphy.
“There was a sour taste last year,” Brown said. “I didn’t come out right and this year I made sure I did.”
Rockton Hononegah won the invitational thanks to qualifying seven wrestlers into the finals and winning six of those matches.
The Indians scored 189.5 points, Washington was the runner-up with 172.5 and Marmion was third with 168.5.
The Cadets had three champions - all sophomores - including Nicholas Garcia at 120, Ashton Hobson at 144 and Joseph Favia at 215.
Garcia edged Maine South senior Teddy Flores, 2-1, giving the senior his first loss after 33 consecutive wins.
“I really just wanted a shot at him for a personal reason,” Garcia said. “I wanted to prove to myself that I can beat anyone at 120. I want to beat everyone at 113. It hasn’t happened yet, but hopefully one day I can.”
Main South’s Brett Harman (left) circles the mat against Downers Grove North’s Tyler Tiancgo in a 113-pound third place match during The Clint Arlis Invitational Wrestling meet at Batavia High School in Batavia on Saturday, Jan 13, 2024.
Lemont’s Alex Pasquale (top) competes Maine South’s Tyler Fortiswith In a 285-pound championship match during The Clint Arlis Invitational Wrestling meet at Batavia High School in Batavia on Saturday, Jan 13, 2024.
Batavia’s Ben Brown competes against Naperville North’s Matt Murphy In a 190-pound championship match during The Clint Arlis Invitational Wrestling meet at Batavia High School in Batavia on Saturday, Jan 13, 2024.
Bolingbrook’s Tommy McDermott grabs the leg of Washington’s Cruise Brolley In a 157-pound third place match during The Clint Arlis Invitational Wrestling meet at Batavia High School in Batavia on Saturday, Jan 13, 2024.
Jacobs’ Kristian DeClercq (right) fights for position against Hononegah’s Rocco Cassioppi In a 106-pound championship match during The Clint Arlis Invitational Wrestling meet at Batavia High School in Batavia on Saturday, Jan 13, 2024.
Marmion’s Vincenzo Testa lifts Washington’s Zane Hulet off the mat In a 175- pound third place match during The Clint Arlis Invitational Wrestling meet at Batavia High School in Batavia on Saturday, Jan 13, 2024.
Naperville North’s Matas Budreika (right) circles the Matt against Jacobs’ Daniel Mendez In a 165-pound third place match during The Clint Arlis Invitational Wrestling meet at Batavia High School in Batavia on Saturday, Jan 13, 2024.
Lemont’s Noah O`Connor shoots the leg of Hononegah’s Max Haskins In a 150-pound championship match during The Clint Arlis Invitational Wrestling meet at Batavia High School in Batavia on Saturday, Jan 13, 2024.
Naperville North’s Kyle Gatlin circles the mat against Hononegah’s Kurt Smith In a 175-pound championship match during The Clint Arlis Invitational Wrestling meet at Batavia High School in Batavia on Saturday, Jan 13, 2024.
Marmion’s Joseph Favia fights for position over Washington’s Josh Hoffer In a 215-pound championship match during The Clint Arlis Invitational Wrestling meet at Batavia High School in Batavia on Saturday, Jan 13, 2024.