Berg, Mitrenga, and Roth battle in Champaign
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Ryan Berg and Tom Mitrenga advanced to the final 8 in their brackets at the IHSA State Wrestling Tournament at Champaign. Both fell one match short of placing in the top six. Luke Roth also competed in state for the second year.
Ryan Berg, 195, advanced to the quarterfinals when he pinned Jon Bilancia of Mt. Prospect. Berg was winning 2-1 in the second period when he headlocked his opponent and locked down the pin late in the second period. In the quarterfinals, Ryan lost to Blake Blair of Edwardsville by fall. Blair finished second in state. In the wrestle-backs, Berg defeated Noah Fleckenstein of York by a score of 4-2. Berg had defeated Fleckenstein earlier in the season. Ran scored takedowns in both the first and second periods of the match. The win advanced Berg to the quarterfinal wrestle-backs with a chance to place in state. There he lost to the bracket's second seed, Shekhiem Chapman of Gurnee 3-1 in overtime. Berg looked to be the aggressive wrestler, taking multiple shots throughout the match. Yet, both wrestlers traded escapes to send the match to the extra period. Chapman scored a takedown off of Berg's missed shot half way through overtime. Chapman finished third in the tournament.
Tom Mitrenga lost his opening match to Hunter Rollins of Arlington Heights Hersey by a score of 6-1. Rollins finished the tournament in 5th place. In the first round of the wrestle-backs, Mitrenga pinned Notay Jackson of Mt. Carmel in the second period. Tom scored a first period takedown and held on for a 2-0 lead out of the frame, then scored a reversal in the second period, putting Jackson on his back and eventually locking down the fall. The win also put Tom in the final 8 with a chance to place. In that match, Mitrenga faced Scott Hoff of Lake Zurich. Mitrenga jumped out to a 4-0 lead with a takedown and later a two-point nearfall tilt. In the second period, Hoff chose neutral and scored a takedown but Mitrenga was able to escape to make the score 5-2. In the final period, Tom got an escape to grab a 6-2 lead, but was taken down to his back for two and two. After an escape by Mitrenga made the score 7-6, Hoff scored a late takedown and held on to win 8-7. Hoff finished in 6th place.
Luke Roth opened the tournament against Jordan Ellingwood of Plainfield Central. After a scoreless first period, Roth was reversed in the second period which put him down 2-0. In the third period, Roth chose neutral, but was unable to score the tying takedown, losing 2-0. Ellingwood finished in 3rd place. In the first round wrestle-backs, Roth was taken down and pinned by Joshua Symbal of Huntley in the first period. Huntley finished in sixth place.
The effort now turns to the IHSA Sectional Dual. Naperville Central will face Maine West for a chance to qualify for the State Dual Tournament (final 8). The Sectional dual will be held at West Aurora High School on Tuesday, February 21 at 6:00. Glenbard North and South Elgin will square off at the same time and place. Winning teams will compete in Bloomington on Saturday, February 25.
GO REDHAWKS!