Resurrection, which finished third in 1986, did the same this season. That`s not quite what coach Sue Fosco and the Bandits wanted, but it will do. ”The weekend was a huge emotional roller-coaster,” Fosco said. ”It went from laughing to crying at least 10 times. First, Beth Horn (a sophomore all-arounder) gets hurt and can`t get to state. Then, Karen Tincher hurts her ankle the last day of practice for state. I couldn`t even believe she got up there Friday. It took a lot of guts. Then, Sheryl falls. It was like we could all feel it with her. That was really hard. We`re grateful to have gotten here, but so many things happened.”
– The girls from Downers Grove South were understandably nervous in their first finals. Coach Kirk Mango believes the experience was important to the Mustangs, whose 139.65 placed them eighth. ”Now they know what state is all about,” Mango said. ”We`ll wait until next year to see if the impression of what these girls saw this weekend is enough to motivate them to come back.”
WRESTLING
Glenbard North`s Mike Palazzo`s title at 140 salvaged the season for the Panthers. Glenbard was fifth in the regional and failed to qualify for the dual tournament. ”It`s a good end to the season,” said Palazzo, a senior with a 43-1 record. ”We should be in the sectionals. I definitely think we have a better team than Willowbrook, but we didn`t wrestle well. This hasn`t sunk in yet. I know I won, but I don`t feel that much different. I can`t wait to go back to school and get in the lunch line. It`s been a long time since I went into the cafeteria.”
– Downers Grove South`s Kip Hennelly probably wrestled his last match in the 171-pound final. Hennelly, who will play football at Eastern Illinois next fall, defeated Thornwood`s Tuhan Waller 11-5, avenging two previous defeats to the Thunderbird junior.
– Gerdes` state championship was doubly rewarding. It erased a first-round loss of last year and came 20 years after his father, Ken, won his first state title for Tinley Park. Gerdes became the Celtics` first Class AA champion, edging Bormet and McClarence by minutes. ”That`s something they can`t give to Sean Bormet,” joked Gerdes. ”We thought Luke Pascale (third at 103) would be the first.”