Prospect routs 16-team field
Prospect continued to flex its collective tournament wrestling muscle with a dominating performance at the 62nd Mudge-McMorrow Invitational Saturday afternoon inside Jean Walker Fieldhouse in Mt. Prospect.
The Knights crushed an impressive 16-team field when it scored 253 overall points with five individual titles and nine top three medals to outscore runner-up Joliet Catholic Academy (186.5) and third place Libertyville with 158.5 points.
"We have just about everyone back, and healthy, so there's no reason why we cannot compete with anyone in the state," said Knights senior Will Baysingar, who smashed his rivals at 132.
Elijah Garza gave the Knights the perfect start with his 106-pound championship, followed by Lennon Steinkuhler (138), Damien Puma (152) and Connor Munn (160).
Libertyville's Austin Gomez won at 182 while his teammate Owen McGrory claimed his title at 220.
"I'm lucky to have great teammates in the room, which helped me win my first tournament of my career," said the affable McCrory, who outlasted Casey Bending of Fremd, 7-5.
Sophomore Evan Gosz, No. 3 in the state at 126 pounds, showed why he enjoys his lofty status after his marvelous three-match effort to win his second major of the season.
Anthony Alanis (113) and Aaron Cramer (195), the dynamic duo from Grayslake Central, who both were 2A state runners-up last season, gave the Rams their two titles on Saturday.
Alanis would decision Jason Hampton from Joliet Catholic Academy, 5-2, while Cramer, who recently committed to wrestle next season at SIU-Edwardsville, won a tough contest with Prospect freshman Jaxson Penovich, 4-3.
"In the end, it was my fitness that was the difference, despite the fact that I am getting over a respiratory infection," said Cramer, who went 47-2 a year ago.
At Hoffman Estates:
Over at the Mickey Marchese Memorial Tournament at host Hoffman Estates, it was Mundelein who would lift the championship trophy by a wide margin over runner-up Lane Tech.
The duo of Bryce Durlacher (120) and Benji Albavera (126) would lead the Mustangs with their individual titles to help their club collect 190 points, 51 more than Lane Tech (149), Machesny Park Harlem (135) and fourth place South Elgin (129.5).
Durlacher (40-4), who was fifth a year ago at the state tournament, beat James Zavala (Lane) 7-4 to run his record to 14-1, while his teammate Albavera registered an early pin to win his title.
"The experience of placing at the state tournament a year ago has given me the confidence (knowing) I can compete with the best in my weight class this season," said Durlacher, who hopes to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Dane, who wrestled at Illinois, and is currently a Mundelein assistant.
South Elgin senior Nico Clinite (145, 13-2) won his second straight championship here with a fall at 3:39, while his teammate, freshman Demetrios Carerra (14-1), won at 106.
Senior Josh Ellery (11-3) would treat the home crowd to a win at 195 with a pin, with No. 4 seed Skip Rozanski winning at 170.
Wheeling junior Patrick Tinsley (12-5), a 2A state qualifier a year ago, was the 132-pound champ.
Buffalo Grove invite:
Schaumburg led from start-to-finish at the Rex Lewis Invitational to roll over and through the 16-team field at Buffalo Grove Saturday afternoon.
The Saxons collected 12 top four medals, and an impressive six individual titles to outscore runner-up St. Patrick (265.5-154.0) who edged Geneva (150.0) and Elk Grove with 148.0 points.
"We have a lot of talent, and if we stay healthy, we could have a really good year," said Saxons sophomore Brady Phelps, sixth a year ago at state.
"I feel like I am more confident in myself than last year, and that if I continue to work hard, and I get onto the top of podium at state," continued Phelps, whose teammates Callen (120) and Caden Kirchner (152) cruised to victory, as did AJ Quevedo (132) and Jacob Acevedo (182) who pinned their way to their titles.
Junior Gavin Hinkle won in sudden victory (3-2) over Tyler Semlar (Morris) to give the Saxons their sixth title.
Elk Grove junior Grant Madl (126) delivered the Grens' lone title with a hard-fought 3-1 decision over Olin Walker of St. Patrick.
"I was one win away from going downstate last year, so that was enough to motivate me to work harder than ever to get to state and win a medal," said Madl.
Vernon Hills heavyweight Max Accettura, who like Madl fell one victory short of advancing to state, would pin his way to his individual crown.
"That loss in overtime at sectionals stayed with me all during the offseason, so I worked on my fitness, cardio, and footwork to give me the best chance to get downstate this year," said Accettura, who will play football next fall at UW-Platteville.