Uncharted Waters For Sycamore
Spartans earn first team trip to the State Tournament with a 41-23 win over Sterling ...
By Cody Cutter
Northern Illinois Sports Beat Publisher
GENESEO (Feb. 23) – In trying to accomplish something that hasn't been done before,
the Sycamore wrestling team had to step into different shoes.
Last-minute lineup changes proved well for the Spartans, as they punched their ticket to
the Class 2A State Tournament with a 41-23 win over Sterling.
All but three Spartan wrestlers were bumped up a weight class. Due to the meet starting
at 160 pounds, the upperweights felt the pressure at competing at a higher weight.
Sycamore (20-2) led 7-3 after three matches. Sycamore's Mitchell Jordan scored a 15-3
major decision against Sterling's Nathaniel Urrutia at 160 to open the meet. Sterling's
Johnny Lopez scored a major decision against Luke Pritchard to tie the score at four
before Jake Davis scored a 10-6 decision over Tyler Garcia at 189. Garcia led early in the
match until Davis scored a takedown and secured a near fall to go up 8-4.
Jordan, Pritchard and Davis were all up one weight class from their usual spots. So was
Spartan 215-pounder Matt Copple, however his opponent – Sterling's Jeremy Galvan –
was bumped up three weight classes.
Galvan, roughly fifteen pounds lighter than Copple, kept the match close and was up 8-6
after the first two periods. Copple scored one more point to inch the gap to 8-7 before
gaining control of Galvan with a half nelson, scoring a takedown with 10 seconds left in
the match to go up 9-8. It would be a crucial blow as Copple soon had him pinned, and
earned it with just one second left in the match.
“It's all for the team right now,” said Copple. “When I sunk in that half all I could think of
was how we needed this for the team. Looking over at my coaches, I just knew I had to get
the pin for the team.”
All of the half nelsons executed during practice and in prior matches paved the way for
that one, swinging the momentum Sycamore's way.
“It kind of took some work in the end, and I work hard at this in the practice room,” added
Copple. “Practice hard, and that's what you get.”
Copple's win gave Sycamore a 13-4 lead. Sterling would find themselves in at least a two-
match hole afterward, forfeiting at 103 at 119.
“It kind of got the ball rolling back our way,” said Sycamore coach Chauncey Carrick. “So
that was great.”
Zach Fraedrich was no match for Curtis Lilly as the Spartan heavyweight scored a 13-
point shutout. Sterling's Branden Cater defeated Austin Zimmer at 112 pounds by major
decision, securing one bonus point for the Golden Warriors (17-5). Points became a
necessity as they found themselves trailing 29-8 before the 125-pound match between
Chris Kerwin and Jordan Lopez. Kerwin scored the first takedown and didn't look back in
defeating Galvan 5-4.
Sterling's Dylan Devers earned a team bonus point with his major decision over Thomas
Ernster at 130 pounds. A win by Austin Culton at 135 pounds over the much-lighter
Marquell Addison would seal the team win, and the state berth, for Sycamore.
Leading 5-4 halfway through the third period, Culton was able to take charge of Addison –
who normally wrestles at 119 – and put together two takedowns to go up 9-4 with a minute
left in the match. Culton won 15-7 to put Sycamore ahead 36-12.
“Chris Kerwin and Austin Culton wrestled great matches,” said Carrick. “Mitchell Jordan
wrestled a great match to get us started off with a big win. All our guys top to bottom
wrestled their tails off tonight, and we're real happy with what happened.”
Sterling's Tyler Balsley pinned Shane Lay after 3:27 at 140 pounds. Sycamore's Steven
Lalowski scored a technical fall at 145 pounds. Steve Dewitt ended Sterling's day with a
win, defeating Zack Spiewak 3-2 at 152 pounds to conclude the meet.
“The guys did well and fought hard, and that's what we asked them to do,” said Sterling
coach Charlie Bishop. “They still went out there, even when they're not at their normal
weight class, still went out and fought hard. That's all I can ask of them.”
Sterling fell short at making it to State for the second year in a row. They last advanced to
State in 2002.
“Overall we fought hard. It was nice for us two times in a row to get down here,” said
Bishop. “I think we were a little satisfied again with making it. We really got to get in that
attitude towards making it as a team to State. We're pushing for that, and the next year is
going to be very key.”
Sycamore had won three Regional meets prior to this year, but could never get over the
Sectional hump until this season.
“It's a great feeling,” said Carrick. “Our kids have really worked their tails off. This is a
culmination of everything, and just real happy that everything's worked out for us. It's a
great accomplishment for them.”
“It feels great, just to be on the first team to do that,” said Copple. “I'm speechless right
now.”
* In the Sectional's other dual, Washington defeated Crystal Lake Central 46-23.
Sycamore will take on the Panthers in the State quarterfinal round on Saturday at 9:00 a.
m. at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington. Washington wrestlers wrapped up action
early while Sycamore had five matches left to go, giving them enough time to get a glance
at what there is to offer.
Cody Cutter is the Publisher of Northern Illinois Sports Beat. He can be reached at
Northernillinoissportsbeat@yahoo.com. --- Talk about what's written on our Message
Boards!
Northern Illinois Sports Beat Publisher
GENESEO (Feb. 23) – In trying to accomplish something that hasn't been done before,
the Sycamore wrestling team had to step into different shoes.
Last-minute lineup changes proved well for the Spartans, as they punched their ticket to
the Class 2A State Tournament with a 41-23 win over Sterling.
All but three Spartan wrestlers were bumped up a weight class. Due to the meet starting
at 160 pounds, the upperweights felt the pressure at competing at a higher weight.
Sycamore (20-2) led 7-3 after three matches. Sycamore's Mitchell Jordan scored a 15-3
major decision against Sterling's Nathaniel Urrutia at 160 to open the meet. Sterling's
Johnny Lopez scored a major decision against Luke Pritchard to tie the score at four
before Jake Davis scored a 10-6 decision over Tyler Garcia at 189. Garcia led early in the
match until Davis scored a takedown and secured a near fall to go up 8-4.
Jordan, Pritchard and Davis were all up one weight class from their usual spots. So was
Spartan 215-pounder Matt Copple, however his opponent – Sterling's Jeremy Galvan –
was bumped up three weight classes.
Galvan, roughly fifteen pounds lighter than Copple, kept the match close and was up 8-6
after the first two periods. Copple scored one more point to inch the gap to 8-7 before
gaining control of Galvan with a half nelson, scoring a takedown with 10 seconds left in
the match to go up 9-8. It would be a crucial blow as Copple soon had him pinned, and
earned it with just one second left in the match.
“It's all for the team right now,” said Copple. “When I sunk in that half all I could think of
was how we needed this for the team. Looking over at my coaches, I just knew I had to get
the pin for the team.”
All of the half nelsons executed during practice and in prior matches paved the way for
that one, swinging the momentum Sycamore's way.
“It kind of took some work in the end, and I work hard at this in the practice room,” added
Copple. “Practice hard, and that's what you get.”
Copple's win gave Sycamore a 13-4 lead. Sterling would find themselves in at least a two-
match hole afterward, forfeiting at 103 at 119.
“It kind of got the ball rolling back our way,” said Sycamore coach Chauncey Carrick. “So
that was great.”
Zach Fraedrich was no match for Curtis Lilly as the Spartan heavyweight scored a 13-
point shutout. Sterling's Branden Cater defeated Austin Zimmer at 112 pounds by major
decision, securing one bonus point for the Golden Warriors (17-5). Points became a
necessity as they found themselves trailing 29-8 before the 125-pound match between
Chris Kerwin and Jordan Lopez. Kerwin scored the first takedown and didn't look back in
defeating Galvan 5-4.
Sterling's Dylan Devers earned a team bonus point with his major decision over Thomas
Ernster at 130 pounds. A win by Austin Culton at 135 pounds over the much-lighter
Marquell Addison would seal the team win, and the state berth, for Sycamore.
Leading 5-4 halfway through the third period, Culton was able to take charge of Addison –
who normally wrestles at 119 – and put together two takedowns to go up 9-4 with a minute
left in the match. Culton won 15-7 to put Sycamore ahead 36-12.
“Chris Kerwin and Austin Culton wrestled great matches,” said Carrick. “Mitchell Jordan
wrestled a great match to get us started off with a big win. All our guys top to bottom
wrestled their tails off tonight, and we're real happy with what happened.”
Sterling's Tyler Balsley pinned Shane Lay after 3:27 at 140 pounds. Sycamore's Steven
Lalowski scored a technical fall at 145 pounds. Steve Dewitt ended Sterling's day with a
win, defeating Zack Spiewak 3-2 at 152 pounds to conclude the meet.
“The guys did well and fought hard, and that's what we asked them to do,” said Sterling
coach Charlie Bishop. “They still went out there, even when they're not at their normal
weight class, still went out and fought hard. That's all I can ask of them.”
Sterling fell short at making it to State for the second year in a row. They last advanced to
State in 2002.
“Overall we fought hard. It was nice for us two times in a row to get down here,” said
Bishop. “I think we were a little satisfied again with making it. We really got to get in that
attitude towards making it as a team to State. We're pushing for that, and the next year is
going to be very key.”
Sycamore had won three Regional meets prior to this year, but could never get over the
Sectional hump until this season.
“It's a great feeling,” said Carrick. “Our kids have really worked their tails off. This is a
culmination of everything, and just real happy that everything's worked out for us. It's a
great accomplishment for them.”
“It feels great, just to be on the first team to do that,” said Copple. “I'm speechless right
now.”
* In the Sectional's other dual, Washington defeated Crystal Lake Central 46-23.
Sycamore will take on the Panthers in the State quarterfinal round on Saturday at 9:00 a.
m. at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington. Washington wrestlers wrapped up action
early while Sycamore had five matches left to go, giving them enough time to get a glance
at what there is to offer.
Cody Cutter is the Publisher of Northern Illinois Sports Beat. He can be reached at
Northernillinoissportsbeat@yahoo.com. --- Talk about what's written on our Message
Boards!
| Northern Illinois Sports Beat http://www.northernillinoissportsbeat.com |
IHSA Class 2A Sectional
at Geneseo
Sycamore 41 - Sterling 23
103 pounds – Brendon
McGehee (Syc) rec. forfeit.
112 – Branden Cater (Ste)
major dec. Austin Zimmer, 10-
2. 119 – Colton Burns (Syc)
rec. forfeit. 125 – Chris
Kerwin (Syc) dec. Jordan
Lopez, 5-4. 130 – Dylan
Devers (Ste) major dec.
Thomas Ernster 12-3. 135 -
Austin Culton (Syc) major
dec. Marquell Addison 15-7.
140 - Tyler Balsley pin Shane
Lay (3:27). 145 - Steven
Lalowski (Syc) tech fall Alan
Lewis. 152 - Steve Dewitt
(Ste) dec. Zack Spiewak 3-2.
160 - Mitchell Jordan (Syc)
major dec. Nathaniel Urrutia
15-3. 171 - Johnny Lopez
(Ste) major dec. Luke
Pritchard 9-1. 189 - Jake
Davis (Syc) dec. Tyler Garcia
10-6. 215 - Matt Copple (Syc)
pin Jeremy Galvan (5:59).
285 - Zach Fraedrich (Syc)
major dec. Curtis Lilly 13-0.
at Geneseo
Sycamore 41 - Sterling 23
103 pounds – Brendon
McGehee (Syc) rec. forfeit.
112 – Branden Cater (Ste)
major dec. Austin Zimmer, 10-
2. 119 – Colton Burns (Syc)
rec. forfeit. 125 – Chris
Kerwin (Syc) dec. Jordan
Lopez, 5-4. 130 – Dylan
Devers (Ste) major dec.
Thomas Ernster 12-3. 135 -
Austin Culton (Syc) major
dec. Marquell Addison 15-7.
140 - Tyler Balsley pin Shane
Lay (3:27). 145 - Steven
Lalowski (Syc) tech fall Alan
Lewis. 152 - Steve Dewitt
(Ste) dec. Zack Spiewak 3-2.
160 - Mitchell Jordan (Syc)
major dec. Nathaniel Urrutia
15-3. 171 - Johnny Lopez
(Ste) major dec. Luke
Pritchard 9-1. 189 - Jake
Davis (Syc) dec. Tyler Garcia
10-6. 215 - Matt Copple (Syc)
pin Jeremy Galvan (5:59).
285 - Zach Fraedrich (Syc)
major dec. Curtis Lilly 13-0.
Photo by Cody Cutter
Sterling's Jeremy Galvan has a hold on Sycamore's Matt Copple in the
215-pound match of the Class 2A Dual Team Wrestling Sectional. Copple
won the match by pinfall.
Sterling's Jeremy Galvan has a hold on Sycamore's Matt Copple in the
215-pound match of the Class 2A Dual Team Wrestling Sectional. Copple
won the match by pinfall.
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