Yorkville ends Kaneland's 11-match win streak

Yorkville enjoyed a distinct advantage with the draw of its dual meet against Kaneland beginning at 160 pounds.

The Knights were right there through the first 10 matches, but the Foxes' state-hardened quartet between 135 and 152 pounds showed no mercy to Kaneland.

The Foxes' Sean Anderson, Jed Lightfoot and AJ Messenger scored decisive victories, and the Knights' Kyle Davidson had his rally fall short in the penultimate match. With 20 unanswered points to close out the wrestling dual meet on Thursday night in Maple Park, Yorkville ended the Knights' season-opening 11-match winning streak with a 43-19 victory.

"That's where we're strong at," Yorkville coach Shane Darnell said of his reigning Class 2A state runner-up squad. "We don't pay attention to the rankings until the end of the year."

After JT Webb lost in the opening match at 160 pounds for Kaneland, Nick Michels had a lone focus in his bout with Brian Mogle.

"I never beat that kid before," Michels said. "We met twice my freshman year, and I got pinned both times."

But it was a role reversal this night as Michels' second-period fall gave Kaneland (11-1, 2-1) what proved to be its only lead at 6-4.

Brandon Mahaney, one of eight returning starters for Yorkville, had a first-period fall to secure the Foxes' lead for good at 189 pounds.

Yorkville (8-3, 3-1) would win four of the its next five matches by simple decisions, but Kaneland remained competitive via bonus points.

The Knights' Jimmy Boyle, fifth-ranked at heavyweight, continued is flawless start to the season; the junior dominated the second period after a chess-match-like standoff in a scoreless opener. Boyle improved to 10-0 with his second-period fall and reduced the Foxes' lead to 13-12.

"I knew the team needed me to get all the points I could," said Boyle. "I did what I could to get the team 6 points."

"We still need to do a better job of not giving up bonus points," said Darnell.

Unfortunately for the Knights, though, Esai Ponce, Dan Goress and Tyler Espesito all dropped decisions between 103 and 119 pounds, respectively, to give Yorkville a 23-12 lead.

But Kaneland rebounded to win its third and fourth matches of the night at 125 and 130 pounds: senior Deven Scholl remained unbeaten in the former for the Knights, and fellow senior honoree Dennis Brettman triumphed 6-1.

"I don't like the (individual Internet) rankings," said School, who is inexplicably not listed at his weight. "I lost to (Chris) Watts (his opponent) by 2 points last year. I was going after him."

With the match tightened significantly, Yorkville broke free with its pair of falls and a technical fall to frame its victory.

"They're just so solid up and down the lineup," Kaneland coach Monty Jahns said.

Sycamore 39, Batavia 27: Batavia dropped a 39-27 decision to visiting Sycamore on Thursday night in another Western Sun Conference dual match with league supremacy ramifications.

The Spartans captured the opening five matches to build a 21-0 lead, only to survive a furious Batavia comeback effort.

Batavia fell to 6-7 overall, 2-2 in the league.

Mickey Watson (160 pounds), Luis Campos (189), Pat Martin (heavyweight), Joey Shump (103), Evan Christiansen (112) and Logan Arlis (119) triumphed to pace the Bulldogs.

"We had an opportunity to win it," said Batavia coach Tom Arlis. "We're kind of in a . . . little funk right now."

Logan Arlis' 16th consecutive win to start the season brought the Bulldogs back from the brink and to within 33-27 with one match remaining.

But the Spartans ended all suspense with a pin at 125 pounds to continue their unblemished run in the conference.

- Kevin McGavin