Sequel starts for Comets
Newman begins 1A state title defense in Princeton
Comments (...)|
|
| Newman’s Bryce Ivey rolls Amboy’s Trevor Ullrich over during the 126-pound championship match on Saturday at the 1A Princeton Regional. Ivey won by pin in 1 minute, 33 seconds. (Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com) |
| Buy Sauk Valley Media Photos » |
A rash of injuries up and down the lineup have left the Newman wrestling team appearing vulnerable at times this season.
The Comets didn’t look to have too many weaknesses on Saturday at the Class 1A Princeton Regional, where they ran away with their second consecutive regional title. Newman finished with 204 points, well ahead of runner-up Morrison, which had 153.
Rounding out the top five in the nine-team field were Rock Falls (125), Morrison (112) and Amboy (106.5).
Newman advances 10 wrestlers to the Byron Individual Sectional, which will be held Friday and Saturday.
The Comets also took the first step toward defending their Class 1A state team title. Next up is the Oregon Team Sectional, slated for Tuesday, Feb. 21. Brackets will determined on Monday, according to the IHSA.
“We definitely stepped it up,” Newman 132-pounder Maxx Hubbard said. “Our practices have been real intense. Everybody has that fire. We’re coming around at the end of the year like we always do.”
“We always preach toward the end of the season,” Newman coach Steve Davis said. “We always want to be at our best at the end, and today, I thought they looked pretty good.”
Nine Comets reached the championship bout and seven of them came away with titles.
Pinning their opponents were Bryce Ivey (126 pounds), Brian Bahrs (152) and Jake Walls (285).
Hubbard won by technical fall, Garrett Webb (120) and Stephen Adamecz (138) won decisions and R.J. Troye (182) won by injury default.
Adamecz won the most exciting match of the finals, 5-3 in overtime against AFC’s Jake Kaecker.
Kaecker was clinging to a 3-2 lead before getting hit with a stalling call with eight seconds left in the bout. It tied the score and forced overtime. Both wrestlers thought the call was justified.
“I had a lot of shots,” Adamecz said, “and he didn’t really shoot on me at all. He had more of a defensive game.”
“The refs know what they’re doing more than me,” Kaecker said.
After a scoreless minute in overtime, the wrestlers each had 30 seconds in the down position for double overtime. Adamecz was down first and scored a reversal to go up 5-3. He then rode out Kaecker for the win.
“The key was our coaches and our wrestling room,” Adamecz said. “I’m in shape, and we’re in a lot better shape than other teams because of our coaches and our work ethic. It was a match that didn’t go as well as I wanted to, but I guess conditioning in the end wins you those matches sometimes.”
The other compelling situation for Newman involved Walls. He suffered a back injury in Thursday’s practice scrimmaging against Troye, then had two sessions with a chiropractor on Friday in an attempt to be healthy enough to compete.
He was. After a first-round bye, he scored first-period pins over Princeton’s Ben Staton in the semifinals and Rock Falls’ Josiah Torres in the finals. Though his back was sore and he considered forfeiting the championship bout, the lure of a first-round bye at sectional was too great to ignore.
“I thought about forfeiting, but then I started thinking if I forfeit, I get second and I don’t get my bye for sectionals,” Walls said. “It was just an easier option for me to go out and wrestle, get the bye and have one less match to get to state.”
Taking second for Newman were Brent Gross (145) and Jason Desmarais (160). Andrew Kobbeman was third at 113.
Oregon had a pair of champions in 160-pounder Brandon Sklavanitis and 220-pounder Jake Fassler.
Sklavanitis needed just 1 minute, 13 seconds to pin Newman’s Desmarais. Fassler had to go the distance to edge Rock Falls’ Derek Dingman 4-3.
Dingman led 3-1 entering the final period, but Fassler countered with an escape, then a takedown with eight seconds remaining in the third period to pull out the win.
It capped a big day for Fassler, who beat Amboy’s Darious Decker 8-6 in the semifinals. Decker is ranked 10th by Illinois Matmen and Dingman is ranked fifth.
“You can never give up,” Fassler said. “I’ve always been taught that and was raised that way. It’s how I won today. I knocked off two ranked kids. I’m not ranked, and that shows something today. I think I had a great performance, as well as the team.”
Taking second for the Hawks were Josh Merrill (152) and Joey Diehl (170). Finishing third and also moving on to sectional were Jake Kenney (126), Bailey Hoover (132), John Brink (182)and Cody Merrill (195).
The lone champion for Rock Falls was 113-pounder Carlos Gutierrez, who pinned Amboy’s Collin Doege in 2:44.
Four more Rockets lost in the finals. They were Tiburcio Cervantes (132), Shawn Skinner (195), Dingman (220) and Torres (285).Taking third were Gage Butler (106) and Lucas Newburgh (160).
Morrison will be sending five wrestlers to sectional, including three champions. They are Mark McDonnell (145), Calvin Harridge (170) and Matt McDonnell (195).
Taking second for the Mustangs were Tylr Dolan (120) and Logan Kuehl (182).
Amboy had a pair of second-place finishers in Doege (113) and Trevor Ullrich (126). Taking third for the Clippers were Christopher Jones (120), Jason Bontz (138) and Decker (220).
Leading the way for AFC was Anthony Hahn, a champion at 106 pounds. Jake Kaecker was second at 138, while Desmond Milligan was third at 170.
Top 3 teams
1. Newman 204
2. Oregon 153
3. Rock Falls 125
Comments
Total Comments 0 View/Add Comments |
There have been no comments made about this story. |
More Local News
- Girls track and field: Bureau Valley freshmen take state by Storm
- Girls track and field: Duncan, Rus, Erie-P'town 3,200 relay take fourth at state
- Girls track and field: Mahoneys' sisterly love helps Hawks
- BASEBALL: Regional host Rock Falls wins title with second straight run-rule rout
- Baseball: Olson outduels Giedd in Fulton Regional final
- Softball: Milledgeville beats Eastland for 5th regional title in 7 years
- Baseball: Morrison outslugs Forreston for regional title
- Softball: Lone run crosses on passed ball in Forreston-Polo's season-ending loss
- Prep roundup: Clippers cruise to regional title
- Saturday local roundup: Both Rock Falls teams win regional titles
