Lisle splits in triangular meet

It was truly a mixed bag for the Lisle wrestling team at home for its triangular meet Tuesday night.

The Lions took it on the chin against Seneca.

Northridge Prep had all of five athletes competing in the 14 weight classes.

Lisle is 14-10 on the season after enduring a 54-18 defeat against Seneca, only to rebound to beat short-handed Northridge Prep by the maximum number of points in the sport in a dual meet at 78-6.

"I thought we came out a little flat," Lisle coach Brandon Wolak said. "Seneca has a real good team."

The Lions only captured 6-point victories by Gio Pascente and Mike Walker against Seneca at 145 pounds and heavyweight, respectively, with falls.

"I don't think we gave all we could (against Seneca)," Pascente said.

The Lions' Sean Zurek was awarded the third Lisle victory against Seneca with a forfeit at 195.

Pascente made quick work of his Northridge Prep foe for his second fall of the night.

"I caught him in a half-(nelson),' Pascente said of his first-period fall against his opponent from Northridge Prep. "I was trying to get those 6 points for my team."

Isaiah Liebernez, Jack Kelly and Joe Raineri also won their matches with pins against Northridge Prep for Lisle at 145, 152 and 182 pounds.

Kelly was chomping at the bit to get back into action after literally falling in his match against his Seneca opponent.

"It's a focus thing," Kelly said. "There's just certain things that you have to take. I was a little bit focused with (my Northridge opponent).

The Lions' Walker is among elite company as Lisle prepares for its upcoming Class 1A regional.

The Lisle senior heavyweight extended his season-opening winning streak to 25 matches.

"I don't check the rankings," Walker said of the social media onslaught surrounding the sport. "I feel very confident. We came in it for fun, with the state series. We definitely could have wrestled better (against Seneca)."

There are 84 possible points available in a dual match.

Lisle suffered only one defeat, by fall, in its match against Northridge Prep.

The Lions secured their other 78 points in the 13 weight classes by either pins or forfeits.

Wolak has taken over the program from John Ruettiger, whose surname is iconic in wrestling circles in the state.

"It means everything to me," Wolak said of following one of the famed brothers from Joliet. "It's the tradition, the history, the ideology."