EVANSTON — James Marshall Davis didn’t reach his goal Tuesday, but the Evanston senior still earned a title at his team’s invitational.
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Davis beat Hubbard’s Damien Gamez at 132 pounds on a technical fall in the second period. What he wanted was a first-period pin, which is how he won his first two matches at the tournament.
“It kind of made me mad,” said Davis, who led 10-0 after one period. “I had him on his back, too.”
The victory ran Davis’ record to 22-2, and the championship was his second this season. Davis also finished first at Glenbrook South’s invitational Dec. 20.
The Wildkits won four of the first five weight classes on their way to their second tournament title of the season. They also won the team dual event at Vernon Hills on Nov. 29.
Chris Rivera (106), Amatziyah Thurman (113), David Rivera-Koh (126) and Izzy Fox (160) also finished first. Evanston took the 15-team tournament title with 242.5 points. Taft was second with 166.5.
“This might be one of Evanston’s best teams ever,” Rivera-Koh said. “We have talent, but we also have put in the work. It’s paying off.”
Evanston coach Rudy Salinas said he agreed with Rivera-Koh, but he “didn’t want to jinx it” this early.
“On paper, definitely we are good,” Salinas said. “If we stay healthy, we will be OK.”