No ill effects for champion Moline
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By Shannon Heaton | Sunday, February 03, 2008 |
Moline wrestling coach James Ealy had the flu and missed three days of his team’s preparation for Saturday’s Class AA Moline Regional.
A regional championship will cure many ills, though, and Ealy showed no ill effects after a strong first round of wrestling gave Moline a push through the rest of the day and, eventually, the team title.
The Maroons beat Western Big 6 rival Rock Island 147.5-125.5, with Sterling third at 124. Defending regional champion United Township had a strong final round, but was fourth at 108.
“My assistant coaches did a great job all week without me,” said Ealy. “That’s part of our team strength, also, having a group of coaches willing to practice extra time.
“We had to share conference (with the Rocks and Panthers) and we talked about not liking it. You can’t share a regional title, though. This was our goal, always, from the beginning. We thought it was very reachable.”
Depth was key for the Maroons, who had just one regional champion (145-pound sophomore Austin Guyton), but advanced eight wrestlers to Friday’s Rock Island sectional. Moline now faces Yorkville in the Rochelle team dual sectional Feb. 19. The Maroons lost to the Foxes 36-30 at the UT triple duals in late November.
“I think we wrestled great,” Guyton said. “I think (125-pound runnerup) Jesse Colon (a state qualifier in 2006-07) had a lot to do with this. He got the team going at the beginning of the year.”
The Rocks had three champions Saturday. In addition to Sepehr Kalhor (125), who won by forfeit, Rock Island got firsts from seniors Francisco Castenada (112) and Reese Taylor (140).
Castenada decisioned Sterling’s Marquell Addison, the NCIC champion at that weight, 12-6, behind three double-leg takedowns.
Taylor took down Freeport’s Logan Farrar four times before pinning him in one minute and six seconds. “From this point, it’s all a mental battle,” Taylor said. “My talent’s there, my speed is there, strength is there. It’s all in my mind now, I’ve just got to go out and do it.“
UT had three regional titlists — Billy Christensen (103), Nick Meyers (171) and Robert Cooney (215). Christensen briefly trailed Freeport’s Chad Kundert, but got two reversals and an arm-bar tilt for a 6-3 decision. “I think I have a shot (at state) and hopefully that’s where I’ll end up,” Christensen said. “That’s been my goal, and placing, hopefully, too.“
Meyers didn’t get a pin in his final against Moline’s Nick Bruder, as he had in two previous matches, but controlled the match, winning 8-0. “In IK (kids’ wrestling), I won seven regionals in a row, but high school is so much different,” Meyers said. “I came in here as the favorite, but I didn’t want to take that for granted.“
Cooney was methodical in a 7-1 dismantling of Freeport’s Will Palmer in the 215 final. “It’s a great feeling to be able to improve so much,” Cooney said of his first regional title. “This week (at sectionals), I’ve got to practice harder, get everything ready and all of my technique down.“
Alleman got regional titles from freshman Kevin Wetherell (130) and senior Austin Murray. Murray’s 4-2 win over Christopher Owens of United Township was probably the match with the most highly-regarded pair of wrestlers in the regional. “I definitely think so,” said Murray, asked if both he and Owens could make it to state. “He’s got experience and strength, and I’m hoping I’ll do pretty well, too.“
Wetherell pinned Rock Falls’ Jonas Romero in the third period, winning his second revenge match of the day (his two-OT semifinal win over Sterling’s Chris Cutter being the first). “It feels very good,” Wetherell said of being the only local freshman to win regionals. “It’s a big confidence boost for sectional.“
Perhaps the most dominating performance of the day was turned in by Geneseo junior Adam Sheley, who needed exactly four minutes to win two matches by technical fall, including a 2:17 tech of Moline’s Alex Vermuelen in the finals. “I want to show that I’m ready to go. I really want to push it hard for state,” Sheley said. “I want to get my point across that I’m not afraid of anyone.“
Maple Leaf teammate BJ Weber closed out the night with a 2-0 win at 285 over Freeport’s Jace Werkheiser. “Once you get that first takedown, it gives you a little more breathing room,” Weber said. “It’s going to be nice (to get a first-round bye at sectionals). I’ll see who I wrestle against first and get to see what they can and can’t do.“
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