Clovis a beast at Berman
California wrestling power Clovis flexed its collective muscle Friday afternoon.
The Cougars broke open a close race for the top spot with eventual runner-up Leyden, running away from the Eagles and the rest of the field to capture the 53rd annual Berman Holiday Classic at Palatine on Saturday.
Just 12 points behind Clovis when the day began, Leyden finished 81½ points behind the champion Cougars (287½-206).
Lincoln-Way Central (185) was third, Hinsdale South (161) fourth and Hinsdale Central (151) fifth.
"There's no shame to finish second behind a nationally ranked team like Clovis, or at a tournament (like) this one which has an Illinois power like Lincoln-Way (Central) and so many other teams here," said Leyden coach Jason Potter.
"On the day, we obviously would have liked better results from some of the guys, but we have a lot to build (from), especially from what Isaiah Recinos accomplished."
At 119 pounds, Recinos (20-2) first stunned 2007 state medal winner and top-seed Justin Farmer (Lincoln-Way Central) with a fall at 1:14 in the semifinals. Then with the same stealth-like speed, Recinos pinned Warren junior Connor Drew at 1:03 of the final.
"When you're as close to Isaiah as we are everyday, you really believe that he is capable of beating anyone," Potter said.
"Having (this) type of tournament gives me a huge boost of confidence for the rest of the season," said Recinos, who recorded 4 pins in the two-day tournament.
Leyden's Bhavik Patel (17-6) fell short in his final against Madison Gambrell (10-1) of Clovis, as the junior ranked No. 3 in Central California ended Patel's hopes via a pin at 3:28.
"It's been a lot of fun since we arrived in Chicago on (Christmas Eve) and I really don't know if winning (here) or actually watching a real snowstorm for the first time is the highlight for me so far," Gambrell said.
Gambrell was one of seven Cougars in the finals -- five of whom claimed titles.
Glenbard East senior Pat Walker (19-0) collected his second-straight Berman title and later a second consecutive MVP award after defeating Clovis senior Brett Sanchez (11-2) by a fall at 3:10.
Palatine senior Ross Grande took the 152-pound title with a 5-3 win over Jason Callahan of Glenbard East.
Grande (21-2), who exploded for a 12-2 major decision in the semifinals to advance over Leyden's Matt Soch, fell back into a more conservative mode to edge Callahan (14-4).
"It's all about working harder than your opponent and just going back to basics," said Grande, who finished second here last season.
"Ross didn't go out and be as aggressive as he has during this tournament, and probably wrestled not to lose in his final," said Palatine coach Dan Collins. "But he put in a solid effort all throughout the weekend to earn his title."
Palatine's Dale Jarosz (18-2) was unable to secure a second-straight title. Jarosz (130 pounds) drop a 2-0 overtime decision at 130 pounds to Clovis senior Stephen Weimer (14-1), ranked No. 3 in California.