Cortez steals the show

CHAMPAIGN — There were three matches the 8,001 fans in attendance for the individual wrestling state tournament at Assembly Hall were collectively, not to mention eagerly, awaiting.

“People are already talking about it being the match of the century in high school wrestling,” Jered Cortez said of Glenbard North teammate Brian Murphy tangling with Lane Tech legend Max Schneider.

In the Class 3A penultimate championship match of the three-day tournament, Mike Swider, the Wheaton North senior 220-pounder, was seeking to turn back Schaumburg star Josh Marchok for the second time in a week to conclude a perfect season.

But when all was said and done at the University of Illinois on Saturday night, it was Cortez who took all the local glory.

One year after winning a Class 2A title for Marmion, the Panthers’ star authored a dominant first-period performance to whitewash fellow defending state champion and transfer Sebastian Pique of Sandburg. Cortez completed a perfect 47-0 season with a takedown and three 3-point near falls — all in the first period — to deny the former Hinsdale South standout.

“I thought the last time I had him pinned,” Cortez said. “I just tried to keep scoring points. That wasn’t my goal to go undefeated.”

The collision at 152 pounds had many coaches who no longer had athletes in the tournament purposely delaying their travel plans. Murphy scored the first point with a second-period escape, but Schneider, who became the first two-time Public League state champion in nearly six decades, had an escape and takedown in the final minute to win his second title in as many years.

The Glenbard North coaching staff protested the takedown, but to no avail.

“I knew it was legit,” Schneider said of the only offensive points in his 3-1 victory. “I was just waiting for he ref to call it.”

In the battle of undefeated athletes, Murphy (30-1) was unable to escape Schneider (40-0) in the final minute.

“He had both of my legs,” Murphy said. “It was probably a takedown. He got me. I can’t make any excuses.”

In their rematch from the Glenbard North sectional last week, Swider and Marchok forged the exact same score — but with a different winner. Marchok, who had his 79-match win streak snapped last week, solved Swider with a second-period reversal and third-period takedown. Swider could muster only 3 escapes to fall for the first time in 45 attempts with the 4-3 defeat.

“He was moving better on his feet (than at the sectional),” Swider said of the Stanford-bound Marchok. “He was more aggressive. He committed to his shots, and I wasn’t able to do the same.”

Lake Park senior Farai Sewera and Downers North Cullen Cummings dropped championship verdicts at 160 and 132 pounds, respectively.

“(Lockport senior Shaunqae McMurtry) was quick,” Sewera said of his 10-4 defeat. “I tried to tie him up and get my shots in. It didn’t work too well.”

In the Class 2A tournament, Montini had three finalists, but Tommy Pawleski was the lone Bronco to secure a state title. The junior 103-pounder had a takedown in the final five seconds to defeat Rich Central Nkosi Moody.

Pawleski handed Moody his only two defeats of the season.

Montini teammates KeVon Powell (120 pounds) and Chris Garcia (132) both dropped title matches.

“I thought we wrestled hard,” Montini coach Israel Martinez said.