It’s back to the grind for three of the Southland’s state champions.
Oak Forest’s Danny Swan, Sandburg’s Rudy Yates and Lockport’s Shayne Oster were given a few short days to celebrate their titles. All three returned to work in preparation for the dual team wrestling state tournament, which starts Tuesday and ends Saturday at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington.
Sandburg, Lockport, Mount Carmel and Lincoln-Way Central won respective Class 3A regionals to advance to the round of 16.
In 2A, Oak Forest, Lincoln-Way West, Lemont and De La Salle will vie for the state quarterfinals with a sectional victory.
The goal for Oak Forest, home to six state placewinners, is to reach the finals against Montini, a juggernaut with seven straight state titles. The Bengals fell one match short last season, losing to Geneseo in the semifinals before bouncing back in the third-place match against Cahokia.
Swan (44-2) is optimistic his 5-1 victory over Montini’s Jimmy Pawelski for the state title can provide a spark.
“I’m hoping that win over Montini can help us as a team know that we can compete,” said Swan, a three-time state champ. “I’m hoping I inspired a few of us.”
Oak Forest received the best draw it could hope for. The Bengals should cruise to the semifinals, where they will likely meet Washington or Geneseo. Washington notched three individual titles and Montini, on the opposite side of the bracket, had six.
The Bengals might not be as potent at the top, but third-place finishers Mousa Jodeh (43-4) and Patrick Kristin (38-4) give Oak Forest considerable depth. However, a major blow could stem from the potential loss of Ahmad Ashkar. The 182-pound conference champion is doubtful after suffering a severely sprained ankle prior to individual state.
In 3A, Sandburg looks primed for a run at the finals and a potential clash with the nation’s No. 1 team, Oak Park-River Forest.
The Eagles will first need to dispatch Mount Carmel in a juicy sectional match on Tuesday, and then likely defeat Lincoln-Way Central and Glenbard North in quarterfinal and semifinal action.
Glenbard North and Oak Park-River Forest are the only teams to beat Sandburg this season.
Look for lightweight Louie Hayes (39-4) to be on a mission after falling in the state finals. Tom Slattery, Sandburg’s lone senior medalist, is another to watch.
Lockport can put a cherry on top of its terrific postseason with a trip to team state.
The Porters amassed four state medalists led by champion Shayne Oster, who is coached by his eldest brother, Josh, and is the third Oster brother to win a state title.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to coach three of them in the state finals,” Josh Oster said. “It’s always good when you’re coaching in the state finals, but obviously I’ve known Shayne since he was born and I was a 15-year-old wrestling in high school myself, so I’ve seen him progress throughout.
“He’s grown from a slightly above-average grade school wrestler to a very, very good wrestler.”
The Oster legacy would receive a boost if Shayne and Co. can make the state semifinals. A top-four finish would give Lockport the first state trophy in its storied history.
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The Porters open with Edwardsville and would face Deerfield or Jacobs in the quarterfinals.
Logan Malloy is a freelance writer.