Wrestling: DeKalb blanks Metea Valley
In a night full of pins for DeKalb in an 82-0 win against Metea Valley on Tuesday in the DuPage Valley Conference opener, Danny Curran seemed poised for the fastest.
The senior 138-pounder needed only 21 seconds to take out Tommy Shaw. But at 145 pounds, Curran's twin brother Tommy took down Patt Mullen in only 15 seconds.
"I didn't think I was going to pin him right away, superfast," Tommy Curran said. "I saw my brother's pin, and it pushed me to get a faster one."
Danny Curran said he wasn't even gunning for a pin on a night in which the Barbs recorded eight pins and got bonus points in every match.
"I was expecting [my brother] to get the pin," Danny Curran said. "I was going to try and get the tech. But he slapped me. So I pinned him."
The Barbs (4-0, 1-0 DVC) didn't give up a takedown or a reverse all night in opening the conference with a convincing win.
"We went out last week and a had a big win over Glenbard North, and we just want to keep it going," coach Sam Hiatt said. "Making a statement every match. We've got a lot of seniors on this team, and they want to have fun and put on a show, put everyone on notice."
Luke Schmerbach (170), Bradley Gillum (182), Bryson Buhk (195), Nate Sauer (heavyweight), Kaden Klapprodt (106), Danny Aranda (126) and Damien Lopez picked up pins for the Barbs.
Hiatt said he was impressed with Sauer, who was wrestling on that mat at heavyweight for the first time this year despite giving up some pounds. He pinned Jake Pauline in 1:04.
Hiatt also said Klapprodt, a freshman, did a good job in his first home match. Wrestling under the lights in a high-pressure situation at home can get the best of some wrestlers, and Hiatt said Klapprodt did well to get his pin in 1:13.
"It was awesome," Hiatt said "Our guys were excited for the first home meet of the year. First time with a real crowd after COVID and stuff. They were excited about it and went out and performed well. They were real aggressive and looking to score points. It was fun to watch."
Both Currans committed last week to continue their wrestling careers next year at North Carolina State.
"That's been my No. 1 school since freshman year," Danny Curran said. "I've always been watching them, and I love their team chemistry. It reminds me of DeKalb over here. I can see myself being there for four to six years, making the NCAA tournament and hopefully winning the NCAA tournament."
Tommy Curran said ending up at the same school wasn't necessarily the plan.
"We didn't really have a plan, we were just going to see how it went," Tommy Curran said. "It happened to be we went to the same college, and that fit us both."
Planned or not, Hiatt said he's not surprised the twins ended up at the same program.
"They're kind of inseparable," Hiatt said. "It doesn't surprise me. North Carolina State got two great ones there. It's exciting."