Naperville Central takes 4th place at Regionals
Saturday, February 5th, 2011
Naperville Central advanced five wrestlers to the IHSA Sectional Tournament. Josh Tardy won the 135 pound weight class and Luke Roth battled to a 189 pound championship. John Graeber advanced to the finals and took home silver at 145 pounds. Ryan Porter and Jon Williamson both took third by winning their consolation matches at 103 and 125 respectively and became qualifiers as well.
Naperville Central hosted the successful 11 team IHSA Regional Wrestling Tournament in which the top 3 individuals in each weight class qualify for Sectionals. Also, the team champion qualifies for the 16 team dual state series. West Aurora won the tournament.
Senior Josh Tardy defeated Hill of Downers Grove South by fall and followed up with a semifinal win against Ruiz of East Aurora by a 7-3 decision. That win set up another show down with McKeown of Naperville North. The two wrestlers split two matches in the regular season. McKeown scored the first takedown and Josh Tardy immediately scored an escape to make the first period score 1-2. McKeown escaped to start the 2nd period and Tardy scored on a duck-under takedown. McKeown’s escape made the 2nd period score 3-4. Tardy escaped to knot the score at 4. Both wrestlers traded attacks and counter-attacks but the period ended tied. Overtime was more of the same, great scoring attacks but no scoring. In the second overtime, in which both wrestlers get 30 seconds in the bottom position, Tardy scored a reversal in flurry of action in the first 30-sec set. McKeown was able to escape in the second 30-sec set, but it wasn’t enough. Josh Tardy was crowned Regional champ.
Luke Roth came entered as the tournament’s second seed but had to battle getting to the finals. Roth defeated Walker of Naperville North by a score of 5-3, and then Roth won in the semifinals in come-from-behind fashion with a 10-8 defeat of Fredrikson of DGS. In that match, Roth scored 5 takedowns. In the finals against the first seed Lommatzsch of DGN, Roth scored the first takedown but was reversed near the edge of the mat. Roth’s escape made the first period score 3-2. Roth fell behind when Lommatzsch scored an escape followed by a takedown. Roth was awarded a penalty point when Lommatzsch used an illegal hold on top making the score 4-5 out of the second period. Roth picked neutral to start the second period and scored a double leg takedown to take a 6-5 lead. Late in the match, after Lommatzsch scored an escape, Roth fired another double leg takedown to take the championship 8-6.
John Graeber defeated Garey of Hinsdale South by fall to advance to the semifinals. Graeber wrestled Anaya of DGS for the chance to go the sectionals. Graeber scored the first takedown in the 1st period and stayed on top to lead 2-0. Anaya chose neutral and once again Graeber was able to score a takedown to lead out of the second period 4-0. Graber picked bottom and iced the match with an escape and a 5-0 win. Graeber lost to Ward of Hinsdale Central to take second place.
Senior Jon Willliamson lost to Maslow of Hinsdale South in the first round but fought back and won four matches in a row to take 3rd place. Williamson pinned Myma of Wabaunsee Valley, pinned Williams of DGS, and defeated Freyn of Hinsdale Central. Those wins pitted Williamson against Maslow again for a trip to Sectionals. Williamson scored an escape in the second period but was taken down. In a flurry of action, Williamson reversed to go ahead 3-2 and rode out the period. Williamson was able to ride out the entire third period for the victory.
Ryan Porter was the surprise wrestler of the tournament for the Redhawks. The sophomore was defeated by Hesslau of DGN in the first round. Porter came back to pin Sesseman of Hinsdale Central and followed that win with an 8-1 decision of Decarlo of West Aurora. That win put Porter in the third place match and a chance to go to sectionals. To advance, however, Porter had to defeat Hesslau, the wrestler he lost to in the first round. Porter got out of the gate early with a takedown and cradle in the first period and nearly pinned Hesslau. Porter picked neutral in the second period. Both wrestlers had chances for scores, but there was no scoring in the period. Hasslau chose neutral in the third period and scored a takedown and nearly had a cradle before Porter was able fight out. Porter scored an escape and a takedown to move ahead 8-2. Porter cut Hesslau for the escape in the final seconds to win 8-3 and advance to sectionals.
Several seniors had their seasons end at the Regional tournament. Heavyweight James Mitchell lost in his bid to make sectionals and finished 4th in the tournament. James went 2-2 in the competition. Colin Guttosch scored an 8-1 decision and fall in the tournament and finished 2-2 for fourth. Senior Will Damron won two matches in the 215 pound weight class. Will scored a 5-2 win in the preliminary round and a fall in the wrestle backs. Seniors Kyle Miller and John Mixen both ended 1-2 in the tournament. Miller’s win came against Onon of DGS 9-1 and Mixen was able to pin Stapleton of Metea Valley.
Kirk Cherep ended 1-2 at 130 pounds and one of the most loaded weight classes. Tom Mitrenga won two matches at 160 pounds, one by a major decision and another by technical fall. Mitch Lee and Steven Splan competed at 112 and 119.
The IHSA Sectional Tournament starts next Friday, February 11, 2011 and continues to Saturday. The tournament begins at 6:00 pm at Downers Grove North High School.
GO REDHAWKS!