Saints stomp Oswego
Oswego was in a charitable mood, but the St. Charles East wrestling team did not succumb to the temptation.
The Saints were aware the Panthers were operating from a disadvantage before the nonconference dual meet even started.
Forced to cede 18 points from the get-go from three forfeits, the Panthers' fate was even worse early in the match Wednesday night in St. Charles.
The Saints had four consecutive pins between 215 and 112 pounds, opening a commanding early lead and never let up in a convincing 60-13 victory.
St. Charles East improved to 13-4; Oswego is 2-15.
"We always talk about not taking your opponents lightly," St. Charles East coach Steve Smerz said.
"You hope the guys don't come out lackadaisically, knowing they have an 18-point lead right off the bat. It was nice to see us being aggressive."
Billy Diamond was awarded a forfeit at 171 pounds, and Adam Schaefer emerged victorious in a hard-fought match against Oswego 189-pounder Dan Howell.
The Schaefer 7-3 verdict and 9-0 St. Charles East lead swelled in a hurry.
Over the course of the next four matches, Steve Schenck, Blake Griffiths, Alex Maynard and Brandon Rubino had short nights: Maynard was the only wrestler who needed more than a period to end his match with a fall.
Suddenly, only six matches into the meet, St. Charles East had an insurmountable 33-0 lead.
"I just went into my match and tried my hardest," Rubino, the Saints' 112-pounder, said. "We have been practicing hard as a team."
"We knew going in that we probably had the team point score wrapped up (with the three forfeits)," Schenck said. "So you go out there and try to get better individually, preparing for the regional and conference."
Griffiths took the Smerz message literally.
"I didn't underestimate (my opponent)," the Saints' heavyweight said. "I just wrestled how I do in every match."
Danny Mercadante added another second-period fall for St. Charles East at 130 pounds, offsetting the Saints' first blemish of the night at 119 pounds.
The Mercadante victory was sandwiched by the final two Oswego forfeits, extending the Saints' lead to 51-4.
Harry Vyhnanek and Nick Scimeca had the last of the Saints' dominating wins, a technical fall and major decision, respectively, to aid the cause.
The Panthers' third win was their primary measure of solace: a match-ending fall by Jon DiBuono in the third period at 160 pounds.
"We knew what kind of matches we were going to have," Oswego coach Greg Scott said. "We've got a lot of young guys in the lineup. It's a learning experience."