Hampshire, Hinsdale South have mixed results

For both Hampshire and Hinsdale South - what a difference a year makes.

The 2016 wrestling campaign offered memorable seasons - for South, a regional championship, and later a Josh King individual state title, while Hampshire stayed in the top 20 in state polls, with Wylie Allen earning the first state medal in program history in 30 years.

But things have been a little tougher this season. Youth, inexperience, holes in the lineup - all of which had put both sides well under the .500 mark heading into the second half of the season.

The Whip-Purs would host South, along with NIC-10 rivals Belvidere and Rockford East Wednesday night and when it was over, Rockford East would end a perfect 2-0, with Hinsdale South edging the hosts in the final bout to go 2-1.

"That loss to Hinsdale is kind of the way our season has gone thus far," said a disappointed Brian Iossi, whose Whips fall to 2-11-0 after going 13-7-0 one year ago.

"We wrestled well in that last dual, and had our chances to win it (until) that pin ended our hopes to do so," said Iossi.

This seesaw contest had each side holding the lead at one time or another, with the Whips taking a 18-16 advantage after 2016 state qualifier Casey Allen pinned his 152-pound opponent in 38 seconds.

A third Nathan Price win of the night increased the Whips' lead to 21-16, which soon became 26-16 on the technical-fall effort by Max McGowan at 170.

However, with the home side a bit thin in the upper weights, a double-forfeit at 182 followed by another at 195 pulled the Hornets within 26-22, until Steve Farina lowered the boom with a fall at 220 to inch South just ahead at 28-26.

One last forfeit at heavyweight by 2016 sectional qualifier Pawel Barnas, who won 30 last year, set up a thrilling finish.

Christian Rivero carried a 2-0 lead into the middle of the second period until the Hornets' Derrick Singleton drew even with a reversal.

Despite conceding a takedown late in the third period, Rivero appeared to be holding Singleton to just a decision, which would have given the Whips a 32-31 victory, until the Hornets' hero of the night came through with a fall at 5:46.

"What a great way to end the night for us. We really needed something like this after a tough two days at the Berman Holiday tournament," admitted first-year Hornets coach, Bobby O'Brien.

"We've got a great core group of seniors who are tremendous leaders, both on and off the mat, but we're still a very young club and with the tournament schedule we've taken on, such as the Berman, and the Whitlach two weeks earlier, we're learning as we go," said O'Brien, who after watching his super-star King win his second consecutive state crown, left for Michigan State University, to join Class 3A state champion Matt Allen from crosstown rival Hinsdale Central.

While the Hornets were without four starters on this night including senior Zach Zarabin (182) and teammate, Easa Aristizabal (145) they still managed to overpower Belvidere, 42-22 in their opener for their sixth victory of the season.

"We have a great bunch of guys in our room so the future is very bright for us," said O'Brien.

The Whips would rebound from a 47-18 loss to a very good Rockford East club in their opener by rolling over Belvidere 48-24, using five pins to fuel the big win.

"It's been a little tough competing this year when we give up 18-24 points to forfeits, but with our upscale nonconference schedule, the hope is that all of our guys will be tested by a 3A heavy schedule which in turn should help prepare us for the 2A state tournament series," said Iossi.

One of those who appears ready for what lies ahead is the senior McGowan, who entered this week as the No. 7 rated 170-pounder by IllinoisMatmen.com and one of the favorites on this team to climb aboard the podium in Champaign next month.

"That's the primary goal," began McGowan, who already has committed to wrestle at Division II power St. Cloud State next season.

"I spent a lot of my offseason working on my upper body strength. That and going to Fargo to compete in freestyle and Greco really has made a difference in my season thus far."

McGowan, who was named an All-American in Greco, admits his falling just short of joining the Allen brothers in Champaign last year had a profound effect on him.

"It left a real chip on my shoulder, so my nonstop offseason was the way that I went after it," said McGowan.