There's no keeping Montini from state finals
The first match of the night went into overtime and Chicago Uplift won the final match. But make no mistake about it, Montini easily stamped itself another trip to this weekend's Class 2A dual team state finals.
With Tuesday night's Oak Park-River Forest sectional opening at 215 pounds, the Broncos' Zech Tredenick battled the Titans' Marcus Sanders to a 1-1 standstill in regulation before winning by fall to give Montini a 6-0 lead. What followed were 12 consecutive wins - including four forfeits by the short-handed Titans - before Uplift claimed the final match of the night in a 73-3 victory by the two-time defending state champs.
Fresh off an individual state title last weekend, Montini sophomore Brandon McBride helped his team get one step closer to a three-peat by winning his match with Uplift 152-pounder Jamal Carter (29-4) by technical fall. McBride had two quick takedowns on his way to a 7-1 lead after one period and kept up the pressure while building a 16-3 lead after two periods and ending the match with a reversal midway through the third.
"We didn't have our strongest lineup, but we did OK," said McBride, who as a freshman in Idaho won a state title but didn't experience much team success. "It's really fun to be with this team. Last year I was 41-0 but my team wasn't very good. When I came to Montini I learned I have to work real hard and really step it up around all these great wrestlers."
All four of the Broncos individual state champs won, but 103-pound champ KeVon Powell had to settle for a forfeit win against Uplift, which was missing four regulars in its lineup due to illness. State-titlists Colton Rasche (130 pounds) and Steve Robertson (140) each recorded pins in the dual sectional meet.
"We were a little bit flat today," Broncos coach Mike Bukovsky said despite the one-sided triumph. "We just wanted to take care of business and hopefully prepare ourselves for this weekend."
Next up for Montini will be a matchup with Marmion, which defeated Yorkville 39-19 Tuesday at the Lemont sectional. Montini senior Christ Divito, who pulled out a tight 2-0 win at 125 pounds, thinks his team is prepared to battle for yet another team trophy this weekend in Bloomington.
"All of the guys on our team are doing a real good job of putting things away when they need to," Divito said. "We need a good tough mental week of practice to prepare for Saturday morning. We know we can win, we've just got to prove it every time."
Uplift coach Rick Alboyd's squad went 15-4 in its fourth year of wrestling, but he's hoping his program can take steps to become more like Montini.
"I'm proud of my kids," said Alboyd, whose squad avoided a shutout when Shelton Walllace won 7-3 at 189 pounds. "We've just got to work hard in the summer and get to where we can compete against teams that have been here forever."