Perfect finish to Hersey's weekend

A clean sweep.

That's what fans of Hersey wrestling witnessed this weekend.

Friday evening, the Huskies edged MSL East rival Buffalo Grove in dual meet action, and Saturday afternoon coach Jim Wormsley's club took down all three opponents at the Maine West quad, including the host Warriors in the finale of this annual event.

The Huskies (8-9) opened the day with a 36-23 victory over perennial Catholic Conference League leader Fenwick, using three straight falls to help the cause before recording a quartet of pins to help defeat Loyola 42-24 to set up its rout of Maine West.

"Three wins today and a big one over Buffalo Grove (35-32) sure makes for a good weekend for all of us," said Wormsley. "With so many young guys in our lineup, results like (Friday) and (Saturday) can be the type of inspiration we need to help carry us into the conference tournament in two weeks."

Seniors Kyle Stortenbecker (189) and Brad Carmody (171) are already at the 20-plus win mark and well past last season's victory total. They led the way Saturday with three victories each, but the veterans were helped out nicely by a pair of varsity rookies who made an impression on the days events as well.

Freshman Josh Simmons unloaded on all three of his opponents, needing just 3:19 to finish each off via fall, while another freshman, Jeff Koepke, went 2-1, including a techical-fall thrashing against Maine West to end his day on a high note.

"Josh was just a terror out there today," said Wormsley, "and Jeff Koepke, who coming in as a freshmen at 145 is really holding his own and closing in on 20 wins."

Sophomores Kevin Snodgrass (103) and Sean Bonner at 135 also recorded 3 wins, but it is the continued improvement from the aforementioned Stortenbecker and Carmody which bodes well for the Huskies at the upcoming MSL tournament.

"I would have liked to pin all three of my opponents today, but I also know that getting a couple of tough six-minute matches in will go a long way toward getting me ready for the conference tournament," said Stortenbecker, who last season was a 12-match winner.

The senior opened with a 10-8 decision against Fenwick's Tim Reichel, which wasn't as close as the final score suggest as Stortenbecker methodically build a 6-0 lead.

After a 6-1 win against Loyola, Stortenbecker lowered the boom on the Warriors' John Cirrone with a pin in just 59 seconds to help the Huskies to a 50-22 win.

Carmody, who missed about matches last season with a knee injury, suffered a scare in his bout with Tyler Gratz (Maine West) as at the tail-end of a scramble near the edge, the affable Carmody tweaked his left knee.

"I might have hyper-extended (it) after I got up and out, but after a few minutes on the mat and the trainer taking a look, I was able to get back into the match," said Carmody, who went on to win 11-5 to reach 20 wins. "I've had a lot of 1- and 2-point losses this season so far, so I am looking to have better results against those same opponents next week at the conference tournament."

Hersey seniors Nick Herling (125) and Steve Long (285) went 2-1.

Herling, along with two other foes, proved to be no match for Fenwick superstar Chris Dardanes, the state's No. 2-rated wrestler at 125 who. Fenwick 2007 state medalist Bobby Barnhisel (140) also went 3-0 to help their club go 2-1 overall.

The Friars were without Nick Dardanes at 119, who joined his brother and Barnhisel downstate last February.

Barnhisel put a hurt on Maine West sophomore Chris Pack, who in just his second bout of the year since returning from a knee injury he sustained during the Warriors' football season, was pitted against the fifth-place finisher at 130 last year.

"I know that Chris was expecting a better match (against) Barnhisel, but that is a very tough guy to go against in just your second match of the season," saidWarriors coach Lance Weber.

"(Chris) just needs to get some of the rust off of his game and before long he'll return to the level in which he gave us 29 wins as a freshman last year."

The Warriors (8-8) started well enough against Fenwick (10-3) and built a 28-12 lead, fueled by pins from Peter Giannos (103) and Eisen Punnoose (112), and a strong effort at 130 from Jeff Vernola, who recorded a 16-5 major decision.

Fenwick won the next seven matches to close out the match and a 43-28 decision.

In the Warriors' opener, 5 pins helped them garner its lone win on the day 42-32as Josh Gustafson booked the first of 3 pins at 215 for his side.

"Counting Friday's pin against Highland Park, that's 4 pins in a row for me, which is a real boost for my confidence," said Gustafson, now 11-8 overall.

"I tried cutting weight to go (189), but our coach last year (Jim Harrier) and coach Weber told me to just look at how big my brother and father are, and to stop thinking about cutting weight and wrestling at 189.

"I feel really comfortable at 215 right now."

Senior Sean Grappe was 3-0 at 119, while teammates Giannos, Pack, Punnoose and Vernola each won 2 of 3.

Palatine mega-duals:ŒThe Palatine mega-dual proved to be a real marathon for area wrestlers Saturday.

The host Pirates struggled but were able to finish 3-0 overall. They were able to stay perfect for the day thanks to a 37-31 nonconference victory over Notre Dame to close out the day of competition.

Palatine (12-8) opened the day with an impressive 55-18 victory over Plainfield North before the Pirates toppled Cary-Grove 46-30 in their second dual meet.

Cary-Grove (9-5) went 2-1 on the day as the Trojans started the triple-dual meet with a 35-28 victory over Lake Zurich before closing with a 45-36 victory over Carmel in a quick meet that featured 10 pins overall.

Carmel (11-7) went 1-2. The Corsairs lost to Notre Dame 42-22 before beating Plainfield North 49-31 in the second round.

With injuries still forcing Lake Zurich to forfeit five matches, the Bears went 0-3 with losses to Notre Dame (48-22), and Plainfield North (41-27) to close out the day.

Starting at 140 pounds, Palatine trailed Notre Dame 9-0 after two bouts, but 152-pound senior Ross Grande started Palatine's comeback with an 18-6 major decision. Grande added 3 wins Saturday to improve his record to 30-2.

"I think we've been doing a good job competing and that is why we are winning," Grande said. "I've just got to keep working hard, and the same thing that applies in the practice room applies in the matches."

After Grande's win, 160-pounder Dan Sutton and 171-pounder Ryan Cortez recorded pins for the Pirates, but Notre Dame responded with pins at 189 and 215 before a major decision at 285 gave the Dons a 25-16 advantage.

Palatine continued its comeback with a pin by 103-pounder Tom Laskowske before decisions by teammates Eddie Lopez (112), Leshon Mejias (119), and Chris Dimeo (125) gave the Pirates a 31-25 lead.

Palatine 130-pound senior Dale Jarosz (27-2) clinched the victory with a pin in 2:21 before a Notre Dame forfeit win at 135 accounted for the final score.

Jarosz, Grande, Lopez, and Dimeo all went 3-0 for the day while Cortez went 2-0.

"They were well-contested matches today, but we got all of the bonus points and that was the difference for us winning all three meets," said former long-time Palatine coach Jerry O'Brien, who filled in for coach Dan Collins Saturday. "We really competed well as a team today and Notre Dame is always well coached, so any time we can beat them we feel we've competed well."

Cary-Grove 285-pounder Paul Rands (25-3) went 3-0. He seems to be on track to make a return trip to the state meet this winter. Alec Hargrove (119) and Josh Nelson (135) also went 3-0 for the Trojans while teammate Cody Heche (189) went 2-0.

"I thought we got better as the day went on, but we have to get a lot more physical with our opponents and I think that is what our guys learned today," said Cary-Grove coach Dan Cysewski. "The matches that Palatine won they were much more physical. We seemed to be a step behind them with their technique, and that is a sign of good coaching."

Carmel 125-pounder Shane Siefert (16-5), 152-pounder Ryan Unrein (15-3), and 171-pounder Ryan Williams (16-2) all won three matches Saturday for the Corsairs.

"We had a ton of people out of our lineup today and it really hurt the team," said Carmel coach Joe Scordino. "We had five freshmen wrestling today and they're doing fantastic, but we're putting a lot of pressure on young kids."

The Bears are waiting for the return of 2007 state placewinner Sam Wrobel to their lineup from a knee injury, but they have been unable to compete effectively in meets this season with so many holes in their lineup.

Anthony Pace (29-5 at 140) went 2-0 for Lake Zurich while 119-pound teammate Cameron Shaffer (28-5) was 2-1 on the day.

"We're forfeiting five matches so we're going into every meet down by 30 points, but we've been focusing on how our individuals are doing," said Lake Zurich coach Dan Strickler. "Wrobel has the experience that will hopefully carry him through to state, and I just want him to rest until the conference meet."

-- John Bumbales