Marmion runner-up to OPRF in Class 3A

BLOOMINGTON - When Marmion Academy and Sandburg were paired together in a dual-team sectional by the draw, most would say the Cadets were dealt a bit of bad luck.

Four days after dispatching the No. 3 rated team by the narrowest of margins, the Cadets once again found themselves on the tough side of the Class 3A state bracket - first against No. 4 Montini, the defending 2A state champ - then against the reigning 3A state champions from Oak Park-River Forest.

But this tough draw never changed the elite status of coach Donny Reynolds' Cadets, and although the path to the finals proved difficult, they still found a way and Saturday night at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum, it was No. 1 OPRF versus No. 2 Marmion Academy.

This eagerly anticipated match was a good one - fiercely contest as one might expect with several close results - but in the end, OPRF would lift the championship trophy for the third consecutive time after a 33-24 victory.

"It was kind of what we expected, tight and hard-fought with a few of those close matches going the wrong way and we just didn't have enough to overcome all of that," said Reynolds, who guided the Cadets (27-6-0) to their third state trophy in six visits here in his first year at the helm.

The second-place trophy is the second the program has celebrated, the first coming in 2014 under then head coach Ryan Cumbee.

"No doubt Oak Park has a lineup filled with a bunch of state-ranked guys, many of which came back from Champaign with a medal but we have a talented roster as well," said Reynolds. "But tonight, we bumped and moved some guys around in the hope of giving us the best chance to get a few wins here and there and the guys gave it everything they had, and that's all you can ask."

Earlier in the day, the Cadets went past Montini with ease (30-20) then a young and upcoming Providence Catholic 49-17 to set up the match Marmion had wanted since the beginning of the season.

"We wanted to face the best, and beat the best (and) we knew if we did it wouldn't be easy, but we battled and left it all out there against them and right now, while I am disappointed we lost, I can say I am so proud of each and everyone of my teammates," said senior, AJ Jaffe, who is off to Harvard next fall to wrestle, taking behind a brilliant four-year career, highlighted by his state title he won last weekend in Champaign.

"All of the wins, and tournament trophies for myself and the team is secondary when I look around to see a bunch of teammates who I've grown so close to and will miss tremendously, and hopefully, in 10 years when we get together, we'll talk about this season, and tonight and really appreciate all of what we had here."

Jaffe's 47th, and final victory of the season came after the Huskies' (28-3-0) all-star quartet of Roberto Campos, Jason Renteria, Anthony Madrigal and Richard Townsell would take the contest to the halfway point with four wins in as many bouts to give the Huskies a 17-3 advantage, before Jaffe recorded a 4-2 decision over Jaime Hernandez at 138 pounds.

The two sides traded wins with senior Michael Callahan ending his career on a high note with a well-played fall just 34 seconds into his match at 152.

However, the Huskies broke clear of the Cadets following the Callahan fall, led by the nation's top 160-pounder Isaiah White (31-0), whose impressive 19-8 major extended the OPRF lead to 24-12.

Kendale McCoy would close out the Cadets for good with a 5-2 victory at 195 to make it 33-12, before the two-time state champion Nathan Traxler (49-2) and teammate Wes Kramer (33-17) were awarded forfeits from the Huskies to close the final gap to 33-24.

"This is where we wanted to be in this tournament, so it's hard to see it all end right now," admitted Traxler, who took some extra time alone on the far end of the Cadets' bench before joining his teammates in accepting the state hardware as a group.

"I've been fortunate to be a part of a team and program like the one here at Marmion Academy. It's helped me grow up and mature as a person, and it's taught me a lot about sports and life, and coach has done a great job in his first year, and my hope is the next group that comes in can carry on what all of us started."

"There's about 15 seniors on this roster, and maybe half are going on to the next level to compete," Reynolds said. "That's something to be very proud of, but on another hand, that's a big hit were going to take next year.

"But we're still in a good spot going forward, with a terrific group coming in who hopefully can make their mark just as this incredible group has and then we'll have something to talk about when their time comes."

Around the arena, 2A state power Washington (25-6-0) would finally win its first state championship after overwhelming Marian Catholic 46-17, much to the delight of a huge Panthers following, while in Class 1A, Dakota (24-4-0) would make it four in a row after edging Coal City 31-30.