Wrestling: Huntley dominates at Lake Zurich
After placing fourth in the state in Class 3A last year, Huntley got its 2018-19 wrestling season off to a great start Tuesday night at the Lake Zurich triple-dual meet.
The Red Raiders (3-0) opened the competition with an impressive 51-24 nonconference victory over Grayslake Central before posting a convincing 51-22 win over the host Bears in the second round.
Huntley closed out the meet with a lopsided 49-13 triumph over Fremd (1-2) while Lake Zurich went 2-1 with a narrow 34-32 triumph over the Vikings to open the evening. Then the Bears added a 49-39 victory over the Rams (0-3) to end the night. Fremd broke open a 27-27 deadlock late in its meet against Grayslake Central to post a 42-27 win in that contest.
The Red Raiders got some outstanding early-season wrestling out of 2018 state qualifiers Sam Spencer (126), David Ferrante (160), and Gannon Kosowski (152), who all went undefeated. Huntley's Jeremy Jakowitsch was 3-0 at 138 while teammate Jake Jensen went 2-0 at 106.
"I'm sure they all want to be a state champ, it just depends where we are in February, but they have done well in the past," said Huntley coach B.J. Bertelsman, whose team is the two-time defending Fox Valley Conference champion. "We've got a lot of new guys so once we shore up some of these weights we'll be fine."
Trailing the Vikings 32-28, the Bears got a huge pin from 106-pound sophomore Mitch Wayne with just five seconds left in the third period to carry Lake Zurich to its exciting 2-point victory over Fremd. Ian McGee (113), and 120-pounder Logan Neurauter both went 3-0 for the Bears overall.
"It was a team effort against Fremd. We had some guys step up in weight, and Mitch Wayne got the pin in his first varsity match to win it," said Lake Zurich coach Jake Jobst, who wrestled at Fremd during his high school days. "Overall we should be pretty tough this season; we have nine or 10 returning varsity guys."
The Rams have a lot of firepower in their lineup with 2018 state champ Alex Cramer (45-1 last year) leading the way at 170 pounds. Adrien Cramer (182), and Ethan Torres (285) also went 3-0, but sophomore standout Joey Jens (fifth in Class 2A last year) did not make weight Tuesday at 160.
"I believe in my abilities that I'm able to repeat, but my focus is to get better every day and the results will come by themselves," said Alex Cramer, who will wrestle at Old Dominion next year. "There will be some tough matches and I'm looking forward to them, but I just want to push myself and push my teammates."
Two forfeit wins and a decision by 113-pounder Charlie Fifield sealed the win for Fremd over the Rams. Fremd 195-pounder Ben McMillan went 3-0 in the meet.
"We have a pretty inexperienced team, but a lot of guys are buying into what I'm trying to teach in my first year being here," said Fremd coach Jeff Keske. "I'm super proud of our guys. We have two guys out of the lineup, and I know we'll get better week to week."