It`s not that the Conant wrestling team had won enough trophies this season, but Cougar coach Jim Cartwright was more concerned about his individuals in Saturday`s Leyden Invitational.
”We came in looking at who our individuals would wrestle,” said Cartwright, whose individuals pulled together to give the Cougars the team title with 204.5 points to 156.5 for Joliet West.
”We had some real confidence-building matches and have made improvement. At this point in the season when you win big matches, the team will do well. We have to zero in on the mistakes we made against quality wrestlers.”
Conant scored in all 13 weights in the eight-team tournament, placed 12 wrestlers in the top five and had four champions. Mike Bruno won the 112-pound title, Brad Bessemer won at 125, Courtney Pitter won at 160 and Chris Hruska won at 135.
Hruska shared the outstanding wrestler award with Joliet West`s Doug Buell, who won the 171-pound title. Hruska pinned Niles West`s Matt Stern in 4:00 of the final.
Buell pinned Conant`s Tom Carroll in 5:08 of the 171 championship bout but spent the entire second period fighting to stay off his back. Buell took a 2-0 lead on a takedown in the first period but had his hands full in the second.
”I was turning into him and he was putting me in a cradle,” said the Tiger senior, who is 18-2. ”I kept doing it. Coming in here against a ranked guy like Caroll (23-2), I was looking forward to that. I wanted to see what I could do. It should help my confidence.”
Leyden`s Steve Smerz and Niles West`s Marc Tadelman won championships and remained unbeaten. Smerz is 24-0 after a 5:50 pin of Conant`s Joe Shoemaker at 130. Tadelman ran his record to 17-0 with a 52-second pin of Glenbard North`s Tony Rigirano.
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Mt. Carmel 25, Marist 24-Caravan state champion Mike Manganiello moved up to heavyweight from 189 and defeated Marist`s Kevin Nolan 5-3 to give Mt. Carmel the victory. Marist (12-1) jumped off to a 24-12 lead after Redskin state champion Paul Andreotti recorded a decision at 152, but lost the next four matches. Mt. Carmel won six matches, Marist won five and there were two draws in the dual at Mt. Carmel.
Glenbard West Invitational-Sherif Zegar led Oak Lawn to a narrow victory over Maine West, 129-127.5. Zegar won the 189-pound class and was voted the meet`s outstanding wrestler after a 12-0 victory over Maine West`s John Wach. The Spartans also got titles from Dan Walters (103), Chuck Wagner (125), Steve Kestian (135) and Bill Evers (heavyweight).
GYMNASTICS
Pitting Elgin against Larkin is a treat in any sport. In gymnastics, add neighboring Streamwood and, pardon the pun, you have an added twist.
Saturday, for the third time in four seasons, Elgin captured the Larkin Royal Invitational, besting host Larkin 133.9-128.4. Streamwood (127.6) was third.
”This is a big meet for our girls,” said Elgin coach Sher Zimmerman.
”I guess there is a rivalry, but it`s a friendly one. The girls are friends. They braid each other`s hair, they sit together, they`re buddies. It`s good competition.”
Larkin coach Bob Todd agreed. ”I run a little kids` program and I have girls who`ll eventually go to our school, Larkin and Streamwood,” he said.
”We`ve been trying to build the area up. A meet like this really helps.”
What pulled Elgin, which finished second to Streamwood at last season`s meet, through was the top score in vaulting (34.5), uneven bars (33.1) and balance beam (34.1). Elgin tied Cary-Grove (32.2) in floor exercise.
Elgin`s lone gold medal went to freshman Laurie Rennhack, whose 8.8 was best on balance beam. Amy Kovacs of Larkin won the floor exercise title (9.2), with Streamwood`s Jodi Reese carting home the remaining gold.
Reese finished first in vaulting (9.3) and on bars (9.5) and edged Kovacs 8.895-8.85 for the all-around title.
”I feel confident coming in to this meet,” said Reece, whose only other victory over Kovacs was in last season`s Upstate Eight meet. ”I did well, but I probably could have done better on beam (8.3 for sixth).”
Kovacs` second-place finish marked the first time this season she didn`t win the all-around.
”She had some problems,` said Todd. ”She fell off beam and blew bars.” Lake Forest Invitational-New Trier (142.3) won the team title over Resurrection (137.5). Resurrection`s Nicki Tader won the all-around title with 36.5, and Ilsa Kuffner was second with 36.11. Tader finished second in the vault (9.1), third in the uneven bars (9.2) and third in the floor exercise
(9.3). Resurrection`s Sheryl Kurowski won the uneven bars (9.6), balance beam (9.4) and floor exercise (9.5).
SWIMMING
Evanston Invitational-The Maurer brothers, Erik and Greg, combined forces to lead Loyola Academy to the title with 103 points. New Trier was second with 81, and Evanston had 77. Erik Maurer won the 50-yard freestyle in 20.84 seconds and the 100 freestyle in 46.16. Greg won the 200 freestyle in 1:47.15 and the 500 freestyle in 4:46.94. They also swam on the winning 400 freestyle relay team (3:16.29). Loyola won the 200-yard medley relay team in 1:43.98. Jeff Ritz of Brother Rice won the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke.
Riverside-Brookfield Invitational-Benet Academy (259 points) edged Deerfield (254) at R-B. Defending state champion Tim Shanley of Benet won the 100-yard backstroke in 54.57 seconds, the 200 individual medley in 2:00.11 and was a member of the winning 200 medley relay team (1:45.12). Elk Grove`s Scott Casterton won the 50 freestyle (22.93) and the 100 freestyle (51.55). Ramon Redondo of Deerfield won the 100 butterfly (59.19) and was a member of the winning 400 freestyle relay team (3:41.23). Jay Vance of Deerfield won the 100 breaststroke in 1:05.26.
Waukegan West Relays-Marc Sanzone of Waukegan West was a member of three winning relays as his team won the title with 118 points. Lake Forest was second with 98, and Zion-Benton had 82 for third place. Sanzone particpated in the 400-yard medley (4:03.13), 400 butterfly (4:24.14) and 400 backstroke
(4:32.40) relays.
Hinsdale South Invitational-Fenwick won only the 800-yard freestyle relay, but the Friars nonetheless won the team title with 215 points to 189 for runner-up Barrington. St. Charles was fifth at 135. Dave Stoppenhagen won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:45.64 and the 100 in 47.83 for Peoria Richwoods. Stevenson got firsts from Darren Heydanek in the 400 individual medley
(4:25.53) and Scott Carl in the 200 butterfly (1:56.49). Matt Trudeau of Barrington won the 200 breaststroke in 2:17.85 and swam a leg on the Broncos` first-place 400 medley relay team.
BOWLING
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Jacobs Invitational-Oswego was one pin better than Conant at the Jacobs meet. Oswego (4,623 pins) was led by Nicole Richards (fourth place with 971)
and Tia Schreiber (fifth with 961). Mooseheart`s Shawn Davis had the high series at 543 and Liz Aguirre of Schaumburg had the high game at 229.