In a Class 3A consolation quarterfinal match at 220 poounds that carried the ultimate consequence, the writing was on the wall Saturday for Naperville North’s Chris Zhang.
“If I lost it would have been the last match of my high school career,” Zhang said. “I had nothing to lose.”
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Not only did Zhang beat Prospect’s Jake Ford by 3-2 decision at the state finals in Champaign, the win also guaranteed the Huskies’ senior a medal, the first one won by a North wrestler in seven years.
Zhang had a bit of extra motivation going into the match against Ford.
“He beat me earlier this year so I told myself all the pressure was on him,” Zhang said. “I knew he had one move that he caught me with last time and I avoided it.”
Zhang (40-11) ended up placing fifth, reversing and pinning Yorkville’s Will Ferguson in the second period after falling behind 5-1 in the match.
“(Ferguson) is obviously a good wrestler and he got me a couple times in that match,” Zhang said. “But I just listened to what coach said. I went head-hunting and it worked out.”
North coach Tom Champion was happy to see Zhang conclude his high school career with a win.
“Chris has been a great leader, in wins and in his behavior on and off the mat. He’ll be our MVP this year, no doubt,” Champion said. “Win or lose, he wrestles on an even keel. This is the first time I’ve seen him smile after a match.”
Waubonsie Valley’s Max Ihry and Neuqua Valley’s DJ Warkenthien also won place medals among the eight Naperville-area wrestlers present at the three-day tournament.
Both Ihry and Warkenthien also faced sudden elimination in their consolation matches at 195 pounds and came through in tough matches.
Ihry went into extra time against Mt. Carmel’s Dru Worker and won a 5-3 decision on a takedown in the first overtime.
“I just had to keep grinding,” Ihry said. “It feels amazing. It feels great. My goal all season was to place. I had to make sure to peak at the right time, make sure my technique was sharp, and you have to have a good game plan going in. And never quit.”
Ihry (47-11) lost his next match and placed fifth over Warkenthien (39-13), who was forced to into an injury default.
Warkenthien won a 14-12 decision in his win-or-go-home consolation match against Barrington’s John DePersia, but the senior’s nose was broken late in the match and he was forced to forego his remaining place-medal matches.
“It won’t stop bleeding. We both took shots and he head-butted me right in the nose,” Warkenthien said. “I’ll take sixth because I can’t wrestle. My main goal was to be All-State, so to achieve that was good.”
Also in Champaign were Metea Valley’s Kenan Carter (37-9 at 145), Naperville Central’s Jake Keating (34-10 at 106) and Ben Williamson (41-9 at 138), Waubonsie’s Tyler Caldwell (21-11 at 285), and Naperville North’s Steve Schmult (31-13 at 160).
Williamson, Carter, and Schmult each came within one win of earning medals.
Gary Larsen is a freelance writer.