He didn’t win a sectional title, but if there are quality losses to be had, Naperville North’s Chris Zhang earned one Saturday.
Zhang reached the title mat at the Class 3A Downers Grove North Sectional, where he lost by 7-5 decision to the top-ranked 220-pounder in the state, Hinsdale South’s Josh King.
“He beat me pretty good the first two times I wrestled him but this time I thought I had nothing to lose,” Zhang said. “I went for the big points, which I don’t normally do, and it was a closer match.
“It’s just nice to get (downstate) after all the hard work I’ve put in this year.”
Zhang and seven other Naperville-area wrestlers earned berths to the individual state finals in Champaign, a three-day tournament that begins Thursday at the University of Illinois’ State Farm Center.
Four wrestlers from each weight class advanced downstate from each sectional, where the consolation semifinal matches carried all the drama. North senior Steve Schmult (160) won a nail-biter in his consolation semifinal, winning a 3-2 overtime match to secure a trip downstate.
Naperville Central’s Jake Keating (106) also won his consolation semifinal, pinning Metea Valleys’ Joey Riordan to advance.
“Since the start of the season I’ve been looking forward to this and wanting to get downstate,” Keating said. “That’s been my goal. I’ve grown a lot as a wrestler and I’m an entirely different wrestler than I was at the start of the year.
“I’ll be looking to stay healthy this week, keep working hard and try to get on the podium next week.”
Keating has his work cut out for him. His first match downstate will be against top-ranked Kirk Johansen of Glenbard North.
Central’s Ben Williamson (138) became a four-time state qualifier with a 2-0 decision in the consolation round, before placing third via 3-2 decision over Downers Grove South’s Tyree Johnson.
Metea Valley’s Kenan Carter (145) finished fourth in advancing, while Waubonsie Valley’s Max Ihry (195) and Tyler Caldwell (285) also moved on. Ihry placed third by pinning Sandburg’s Cole Bateman, while Caldwell secured his first trip downstate with a 4-2 consolation win over Simeon’s Malik Allen.
After sitting out more than a month due to illness, Caldwell battled.
“Especially being at that weight and being one of the smaller guys, my conditioning has to be there,” Caldwell said. “I push myself in practice and in my first match back at the regional, I ended up pinning my first (opponent), which helped me get back into the swing of this.”
“It feels great. It will help in the future because I plan on getting back there next year, too. Hopefully I can place and I’ll definitely give it everything I’ve got.”
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Neuqua Valley’s DJ Warkenthien advanced through Saturday’s 3A Normal Sectional, clinching his spot downstate with an 11-9 consolation decision win before placing third with a 14-4 major decision over Minooka’s Josh Bouie.
“I wrestled six matches at the sectional and I wanted to finish strong, partly to send a message to myself, that I have to be ready to go,” Warkenthien said. “There was some extra pressure going into that (consolation) match but I just had to go in there thinking it was just another match.
“The sectional meet was probably the best, most complete wrestling tournament I ever had.”
Gary Larsen is a freelance writer.