Wildcats win in middle weights
Jimmy Duffy and Chris Spangler are a pair of highly ranked returning state place-winners and justifiably get much of the attention whenever discussion turns to Neuqua Valley's wrestling team.
But the Wildcats are more than a two-horse team.
From 125 pounds to 171, host Neuqua Valley's wrestlers went 21-3 as the Wildcats won three duals on Saturday, in an eight-team mega-dual tournament in Naperville. The Wildcats won 50-18 over Bolingbrook, 52-9 over Brother Rice and capped their day with a 42-22 win over Lockport.
The Wildcats (17-4) earned an 8-6 edge in matches won over Lockport (16-5), but decisively won the battle for bonus points by posting five pins, a technical fall and a major decision.
"Our kids like to go out and be physical, and that's what we have to do," said Wildcats coach Mick Ruettiger.
"We're always pushing it to the limit," said the Wildcats' Matt Walters, who posted a pair of pins on the day. "If it came down to (Lockport) winning eight to our six, the difference in bonus points could still have us winning the dual."
Whenever two top-20 teams engage, not giving up bonus points to an opponent's big guns is just as important as earning them. Not only did Mike Zozulia not give up bonus points to a ranked wrestler in Lockport's Mark Stenberg, but Stenberg needed a late takedown to win a 4-2 decision at 160 pounds.
"Coach always wants us to be extremely tough out there and to never give up anything," the Wildcats' Brian Epp said. "If we can take bonus points away from them, it makes a big difference in the dual."
A pair of ranked wrestlers in Neuqua's Andy Spangler and Lockport's Jameson Oster locked horns for the second time this year to start their dual, with Spangler the aggressor losing 5-0 to a solid counter-wrestler in Oster.
Lockport won by decision at 119 before the Wildcats' middleweight tear began. Varsity newcomer Nick Saiz won by pin at 125 to tie the team score, and Adam Stine followed with a 16-6 major decision at 130.
Pins from Walters (135 pounds), Epp (135) and Nick Proctor (140) preceded a technical fall from Duffy at 152, before Mike Zozulia's battle with Stenberg at 160.
"Brian's been solid all year for us, Nick Saiz did another very good job today, and the Zozulia brothers have been very solid," Ruettiger said. Mike and Alex Zozulia (189) each went 2-1 on the day.
Chris Spangler stayed perfect on the season with his third pin of the day at 171, over Nick Dominguez, and Alex Zozulia's decision win at 189 put Neuqua Valley up 42-9. Lockport wins at 215, 285 and 103 provided the final margin.
St. Charles North's under-manned squad went 1-2 on the day, beating Oak Lawn but losing to Lockport and Plainfield Central. The North Stars had four wrestlers go 3-0 on the day at Neuqua Valley, in Dave Trizzino (140), Eric Justice (145), Lin Stacey (152) and Dan McSweeney (215).
"Those are guys that have been consistent for us," said North Stars coach Scott Trizzino, who only had seven wrestlers present in Naperville. "We'll keep working with our other guys, until they turn that corner."
Returning state place-winner Justice topped a solid wrestler in Plainfield Central's Josh Toton, winning a 9-4 decision in his best test of the day.
"I'm confident in where I am right now," Justice said. "I'm not really familiar with all the guys at my weight, but -- and I'm not trying to be cocky -- I don't think there's anyone in the state I can't beat if I'm wrestling at my best."