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12-16-2006, 09:46 PM
BY MACK BOLEN
Illinois Matmen Staff
This triangular meet had it all: three ranked teams, key matches in several weight classes, and the referee getting KO’d--no kidding.
Once again, the Montini Catholic Broncos showed why last year's move from A to AA was no big deal for them. The Broncos traveled south to Marist High School and thoroughly dominated two very good teams, defeating Marist 47-15 and Mt. Carmel 47-16, both are top-10 ranked teams by Illinois Matmen. The scariest part is that Montini forfeited 103 pounds and 135 pounds when their wrestlers failed to make weight.
The meet featured some key match-ups, none bigger (no pun intended) than the heavyweight match between Mt. Carmel’s Christian Brantley (ranked third at 215 pounds) and Montini’s Garrett Goebel (ranked number one at heavyweight). Brantley pulled out the win 3-1 with a takedown in the first overtime. How tough is wrestling in Illinois? To steal a quote from Coach Bukovsky, "The winner of the Walsh Ironman [Tournament] in Ohio comes back to Illinois and gets beat.”
Another great match took place at 130 pounds. In a complete “scramble fest”, ninth ranked 135-pounder, Zeke Rowan from Mt. Carmel beat fourth ranked 135-pounder Andrew Saunders of Montini, 14-10. Other matches of note were number one ranked John Schoen from Marist over fifth ranked Ethan Winel of Montini, winning 9-6 at 215 pounds and Carson Beebe from Montini, ranked sixth at 119 pounds, victorious over 125 pounds honorable mention Ben Salabura of Marist, 13-4 at 130 pounds.
In the final match of the day, potential IHSA Team Sectional opponents Marist and Mt. Carmel squared-off in what may serve as a preview for February 20, 2007. The meet began with the 171-pounders squaring off and Mt. Carmel was in command from the start, despite a win by Schoen at 215. Marist forfeited at 103 pounds, and in a “battle of Twisters”, number one ranked 103-pounder B.J. Futrell of Mt. Carmel wrestled up at 112 pounds, defeating 112 pounds honorable mention, Dionte Brown of Marist, 13-4.
The meet took a 45 minute break when legendary referee Greg Brooks, battling leg cramps and dehydration, took a shot to the head during the match between Futrell and Brown, opening a cut over his eye and giving him a possible concussion (I wonder how much injury time he used up?). Not able to stand or see straight after the bloow, a back-up referee was called in to take his place. When the replacement referee arrived, wrestling resumed and Mt. Carmel continued to build its lead.
Marist climbed back to within striking distance of taking the lead with a fall Ryan Blake of Marist, fourth ranked at 130, who was wrestling up at 135. From 140 to 160, things went south very quickly for the Redhawks and the Caravan prevailed 42-28. The forfeit hurt Marist, but the losses they took in the swing matches, particularly the falls, dashed their opportunities at a comeback. On the plus-side for the Redhawks, it is still a long way to go to sectionals.
Illinois Matmen Staff
This triangular meet had it all: three ranked teams, key matches in several weight classes, and the referee getting KO’d--no kidding.
Once again, the Montini Catholic Broncos showed why last year's move from A to AA was no big deal for them. The Broncos traveled south to Marist High School and thoroughly dominated two very good teams, defeating Marist 47-15 and Mt. Carmel 47-16, both are top-10 ranked teams by Illinois Matmen. The scariest part is that Montini forfeited 103 pounds and 135 pounds when their wrestlers failed to make weight.
The meet featured some key match-ups, none bigger (no pun intended) than the heavyweight match between Mt. Carmel’s Christian Brantley (ranked third at 215 pounds) and Montini’s Garrett Goebel (ranked number one at heavyweight). Brantley pulled out the win 3-1 with a takedown in the first overtime. How tough is wrestling in Illinois? To steal a quote from Coach Bukovsky, "The winner of the Walsh Ironman [Tournament] in Ohio comes back to Illinois and gets beat.”
Another great match took place at 130 pounds. In a complete “scramble fest”, ninth ranked 135-pounder, Zeke Rowan from Mt. Carmel beat fourth ranked 135-pounder Andrew Saunders of Montini, 14-10. Other matches of note were number one ranked John Schoen from Marist over fifth ranked Ethan Winel of Montini, winning 9-6 at 215 pounds and Carson Beebe from Montini, ranked sixth at 119 pounds, victorious over 125 pounds honorable mention Ben Salabura of Marist, 13-4 at 130 pounds.
In the final match of the day, potential IHSA Team Sectional opponents Marist and Mt. Carmel squared-off in what may serve as a preview for February 20, 2007. The meet began with the 171-pounders squaring off and Mt. Carmel was in command from the start, despite a win by Schoen at 215. Marist forfeited at 103 pounds, and in a “battle of Twisters”, number one ranked 103-pounder B.J. Futrell of Mt. Carmel wrestled up at 112 pounds, defeating 112 pounds honorable mention, Dionte Brown of Marist, 13-4.
The meet took a 45 minute break when legendary referee Greg Brooks, battling leg cramps and dehydration, took a shot to the head during the match between Futrell and Brown, opening a cut over his eye and giving him a possible concussion (I wonder how much injury time he used up?). Not able to stand or see straight after the bloow, a back-up referee was called in to take his place. When the replacement referee arrived, wrestling resumed and Mt. Carmel continued to build its lead.
Marist climbed back to within striking distance of taking the lead with a fall Ryan Blake of Marist, fourth ranked at 130, who was wrestling up at 135. From 140 to 160, things went south very quickly for the Redhawks and the Caravan prevailed 42-28. The forfeit hurt Marist, but the losses they took in the swing matches, particularly the falls, dashed their opportunities at a comeback. On the plus-side for the Redhawks, it is still a long way to go to sectionals.