22nd Batavia Tournament next Saturday

[Bulldog]

The 22nd Batavia Tournament will start at 9:30 Saturday January 15. Finals should begin about 4:00. The tournament has lost some luster with the departure of Naperville North and the transfer of Ambrosino and Pretto from Lincolway East, but it gives a chance for new contenders to emerge.

The highlight of the meet will be the battle at 171 with John Dergo #1, Rick Loera # 3, and Rory Compton # 6 sure to affirm or revise the rankings at that weight.

Last year’s tournament produced 27 state qualifiers with 9 place finishers. Eleven previous state qualifiers will be on the mats Saturday including Mark Lukaszewski of Bartlett who finished second last year. Other returning state qualifiers are James Simpson, Stuart Jelm, Jason Fitzenreider (Dvorak champ and ranked # 2 at 130), Clint Arlis, Matt Redmond (ranked # 2 at 145), Chris O’Connell and Brandon Valentine.

Teams competing are: Argo, Bartlett, Batavia, Buffalo Grove, Downers Grove North, Lemont, Lincolnway East, Maine South, McHenry, Morris, Naperville Central, Rockford Boyland, Romeoville, Sterling, Streamwood and Wheaton North with Wheaton North as the odds on favorite.

[Mainefan]

Thanks for the info, this will be the first time I will be attending. Wondering how they manage a 16 team tournament in one day. At 171 add Sizemore of Romeoville, Piscopo of NC if he is going 171 , Horn of WN, Nagel of Lemont.

[Bulldog]

I agree with your additions to 171. I am aware of many other emerging wrestlers at other weights who are going to shine at this meet that I did not mention. This meet has recently been another show case for the state tournament and will be in the future as we replace Naperville North. Our theory has been to replace the weakest teams with stronger teams to ratchet up the level of competition. Assuming our AD agrees, we hope to maintain that policy going forward.

We are able to run a 16 team tournament this efficiently because we have the same leadership for the past 22 years and wonderful local parent support. We have sat through many tournaments (including two this year) where the wrestling and giving of awards went on until mid to late evening. These kinds of tournaments drive people away from this great sport. Wrestling fans have lives away from the wrestling mat. We do not need long breaks to sell more hot dogs and tee shirts. During a wrestling tournament, there are plenty of opportunities to step out and buy what you want or eat. We take one 30 minute break at lunch time coordinated with the end of a wrestling round. The point is to have enough refs and mats to keep the action going. I hope you enjoy the tournament.

[mckbln]

I agree, Wheaton North should win it, and I think Argo has a good shot at 2nd place.