Tigers flash claws at state meet

Joe Ellis (top) of Richmond-Burton wrestles Westchester’s Bryant Roby in the Class 2A 130-pound weight class quarterfinal Friday at the IHSA Individual Wrestling State Tournament in Champaign. Ellis won in a major decision, 10-2. (Lance Booth – lbooth@nwherald.com)

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CHAMPAIGN – Crystal Lake Central showed its dominance on the first day of the IHSA Individual Wrestling State Tournament by advancing eight to the semifinals.

The Tigers were perfect in the quarterfinal round, advancing the eight wrestlers who made it that far and are setting themselves up to top last year’s performance of four wrestlers in championship matches with three title winners.

It wasn’t always pretty for Central, but 160-pounder Frank Abitua said you don’t get any style points at state.

Abitua won a back-and-forth match against Mahomet-Seymour’s Austin Armetta, and gave up three reverses en route to an 8-7 decision.

“In the state tournament, a win is a win,” Abitua said.

Abitua got an escape late in the third period for the deciding points.

“I know he was tough on the chest,” Abitua said. “I just had to get my hips awy to get one (point).”

Joey Kielbasa at 152 was not happy with the way he wrestled, but ended up on top. Kielbasa decisioned Marmion’s Eddie Breen, 9-7. Kielbasa gave up two reverses in the third period to tighten the match and said his wrestling was sloppy.

“I just wrestled a very, very poor match,” Kielbasa said. “If I want to win my third state title I can’t wrestle like that.”

Jason Fugiel decisioned Springfield’s Takil Agnew, 9-6, for the Tigers. It was Agnew’s first loss.

Fugiel got a takedown with about a minute left in the match while going out of bounds, to take an, 8-6, lead. He then was awarded a penalty point after the Springfield coach argued the takedown call.

Fugiel said Agnew was trying to run him out of bounds and was sure he would get some kind of point out of it.

“I thought I’d either get a fleeing point or a takedown,” Fugiel said.

Central freshman Mike Zelasco advanced to the semifinals with a, 5-2, decision against Springfield’s Johnnie Carter. Zelasco was down, 2-0, after two periods and thought he was in trouble.

“I thought I was actually going to lose,” Zelasco said. “(But) I knew he was tired.”

Starting down in the third period, Zelasco got a reverse and a near fall to change the momentum and get the win.

Also winning for the Tigers were Clay Lutzow (130), Trevor Jauch (140), Gage Harrah (189) and Austin Marsden (215).

Richmond-Burton advanced three to the semifinals after qualifying nine for the quarters. Jack Dechow took control early in his 171 pound match against Mount Zion’s Joe Butler and won by major decision, 15-7.

After getting a first round bye, Dechow said waiting all day to wrestle is all about being mentally prepared. Also important is to get properly warmed up and ready to compete.

“It’s just all about what you do before the match,” Dechow said. “If you’re not mentally ready for the match, it’s hard to go out and destroy your opponent.”

Also advancing for the Rockets were Cameron Kennedy (103) and Joe Ellis (130).

Marian Central’s Jared Koch won a close, 1-0, decision against Yorkville’s Brant Corwin to move on to the semis. If Koch and Harrah win their semifinal matches, it will be the third consecutive weekend they will face each other in a tournament final. Harrah defeated Koch at the Woodstock Regional and Rochelle Sectional.