Libertyville wrestler Joey Gunther is not a fan of close matches.
In the five state series matches leading up to his Class 3A Barrington Sectional title bout at 160 pounds Saturday, Gunther had recorded three pins and won the other two matches by an average of eight points.
“He’s a lot more dominant,” Libertyville coach Dale Eggert said. “He’ll tell you, ‘I don’t like close matches.’ He’s doing everything he can to get out to a comfortable lead. Then a bad break is not going to hurt you.”
Gunther got a bad break in the sectional title match. Facing Deerfield senior Sage Heller, whom Gunther beat in the Stevenson Regional final Feb. 7, Gunther led 9-3 midway through the second period. But Heller flipped Gunther over, and the Wildcats senior, who had been on top, was quickly on his back.
By the time Gunther escaped, Heller had gained four points to cut the deficit to 9-7.
“I was kind of nervous there. He kind of freaked me out for a second,” Gunther said.
Gunther regained his footing and held on for an 11-7 win. The victory meant a second consecutive sectional championship for Gunther, who won at 152 pounds last season.
In a season that has included one loss and 33 wins — most of them one-sided — Gunther savored the competitive nature of the Heller match.
“It was a good wakeup call for state. [Heller is] someone who can score points on me,” he said.
Eggert added: “I think it was good he had a good competitor in the finals. You want to go into the state tournament on a high note.”
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A season ago, Gunther was one of a convoy of six Wildcats who competed at the individual state meet in Champaign. He was one of four Wildcats to earn all-state medals at the state tournament, finishing in sixth place at 152 pounds.
This season Gunther, ranked No. 2 in the 160-pound division by illinoismatmen.com, enters the state tournament that begins Thursday as a championship favorite.
“The kid is confident. If you saw him in the practice room, he’s got it going,” senior 195-pounder Jordan McInerney said. “You’ll see him drenched in sweat in practice. He’s relentless.”
Gunther will be joined in Champaign by one other Wildcat, 220-pounder Mark Dunsing. The senior defeated Deerfield’s Christo Moran in the wrestleback semifinals, ensuring a state berth. In the third-place match, Dunsing bested Prospect’s James Ford for a 4-2 overtime win.
Although there will be fewer Wildcats competing in Champaign this year, Gunther and Dunsing are striving for what was unattainable in 2013-14 — a state championship.
Eggert said practice days leading up to the tournament will consist mostly of drills, with bursts of live wrestling. The goal is to keep state competitors sharp while saving energy for matches. With workout partners Sal Potts, a 152-pounder, and assistant coach Jeff Keske, Gunther said he will be pushed.
McInerney said a state title is within Gunther’s sights.
“It wouldn’t surprise us at all,” McInerney said.
Jon Kerr is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.