New surroundings for R-B; CLC eager

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For one, it’s a first venture as a team to state. For the other, it has become an annual rite, but this might be the best chance yet at a championship.

Richmond-Burton and Crystal Lake Central begin competition today at the IHSA Dual Team State Wrestling Tournament at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington. Central has placed at state the past two years and is the top-ranked team in Class 2A by illinoismatmen.com. The Rockets won the Grayslake North Regional to qualify – their first regional title in school history.

Central will face Mount Zion at 9 a.m. today in the quarterfinals after beating Rock Island on Tuesday at the LaSalle-Peru Sectional. R-B will wrestle Sycamore, also at 9 a.m. The Rockets received a sectional bye because regional winner Chicago Gordon Tech did not have enough wrestlers to qualify for the dual team tournament.

Rockets coach Bret Wojcik said it was a little weird for his team to practice after the individual state championships this past weekend in Champaign. Not getting to compete at sectionals was not what they would have chosen, but the Rockets will take the free pass to state.

“It would have been nice to wrestle as a team again, but it is what it is,” Wojcik said. “We’re excited to be down there.”

Kyle Akins (41-5) finished third at 112 pounds at individual state for Sycamore’s only place winner, but the Spartans (20-1) had six others with 30 wins.

“There’s definitely some key matchups. If they go our way, it will be pretty good for us,” Wojcik said. “It’s probably the best team we’ve seen all year.”

Cameron Kennedy (103 pounds) and Jack Dechow (171) finished second for R-B, but they and other Rockets were not satisfied with their performance at the individual state tournament, Wojcik said. At 29-3, this is R-B’s only 20-win season in its seven years under Wojcik.

“Some of them were disappointed. They had goals that they didn’t feel they met,” Wojcik said. “We’ve got a chance for the whole team to place.”

Central has six seniors in the lineup, including three who are state champions. It will be the group’s last shot at a dual team state title. The Tigers have had top-three finishes the past two years at dual team state.

Central is not looking past Mount Zion (20-3) or even R-B or Sycamore in the semifinals, but the most anticipated contest is a rematch of last year’s finals against Montini. Getting there and possibly winning it all is about putting the team first. Tigers coach Justen Lehr said that he would outline in detail what is expected of every wrestler going into each dual competition.

“We’ll tell them exactly what we’re looking for,” Lehr said. “It helps if you have a game plan.”

The Tigers boast a lineup with four state champions, including seniors Trevor Jauch (140), Joey Kielbasa (152) and Austin Marsden (215) and junior Gage Harrah (189), along with three other state place-winners.

Although Central (21-2) has senior leadership, freshmen Kyle Fugiel and Mike Zelasco will compete at dual state for the first time. Fugiel said his teammates have stressed to him the importance of every team point.

“Just go for pins and don’t do anything stupid,” Fugiel said was the advice he was given.

Junior Frank Abitua also will wrestle in his first dual state matches after transferring from Dundee-Crown this school year. How a wrestler wins, or even loses, often is the difference in a close dual match.

“It’s all about wrestling smart,” Abitua said. “Don’t give up team points.”

Lehr dismissed any notion that inexperience would have any impact.

“They’re not freshmen, they’re varsity athletes,” Lehr said. “If you’re good you’re good.”