Host Hinsdale Central’s run of heavyweight champions continued at this year’s 24-team Rex Whitlatch Invitational.
When senior Niko Ivanisevic won a 3-2 decision over Sandburg’s Malik Scates on the title mat at 285 pounds on Saturday, it marked the seventh consecutive year that a Red Devils wrestler won the tournament’s heavyweight title.
Ivanisevic followed on the heels of former Illinois heavyweight state champion brothers Jack, Brian and Matt Allen in winning Whitlatch titles.
“I was just talking to Brian (Allen) about it,” Ivanisevic said. “I did my part to keep the streak alive.”
Ivanisevic improved to 12-2 with his title-mat win. He also placed second at 285 at the season-opening Barrington tournament in a field of 27 teams.
Patience has served Ivanisevic well. After finishing one win away from advancing downstate as a sophomore at 220 pounds, he moved up to heavyweight as a junior but had to wrestle behind last year’s state champion in then-senior Matt Allen.
“I had a good sophomore year, but last year was tough for me,” Ivanisevic said. “I had a couple challenge matches with Matt, but I think I lost them 3-2 and 10-4. I was right there with him but he was better than me.
“But it helped wrestling someone better than me every day in practice, and that contributed to the success I’ve had so far this year.”
Hinsdale Central coach Jason Hayes has been impressed by Ivanisevic’s will to compete.
“Perseverance and sticking it out is huge in wrestling,” Hayes said. “Last year he had to wrestle behind Matt (Allen) so you have to respect him because some kids could have packed up and quit. I’m glad he stuck with it, not only for himself but for the program.
“Matt won a state title last year with Niko’s help. And he saw Matt wrestle at such a high level, knowing he could do that, too.”
The Red Devils placed seventh in the field Saturday, with eight wrestlers earning place medals. Also winning an individual title was senior Ameen Hamdan, who improved to 15-2 at 152 with a major decision title-mat win over previously undefeated Jake Kirkman of Lemont.
“This is definitely one of the best tournaments in Illinois, and our program did pretty well,” Ivanisevic said.
Hamdan was dominant throughout the two-day tournament, posting a tech fall win and two major decision wins en route to the title match.
Hamdan placed fourth in Illinois at 132 for Marist and did not wrestle his sophomore year before joining the Red Devils’ program last season. An injury sidelined him last year, but he’s healthy and ready to compete in his senior year.
He’s also wrestling more aggressively than in years past.
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“You just become wiser with age,” Hamdan said. “With age comes experience and through those experiences, you learn, make mistakes, and correct yourself. I feel like the wrestler I am now has always been in me, but I haven’t had the confidence I needed to let it loose, like I am now.”
Ivanisevic was ranked seventh in the state at 285 by Illinois Matmen as of Dec. 13, while Hamdan was ranked third at 152 pounds.
“Ameen’s a talented wrestler,” Hayes said. “His dad (Jehad Hamdan) was an All-American at Michigan (in 1995) so he’s learned a lot from his father.
“I think him coming to Hinsdale and becoming more attuned to himself was big. Last year I think he put too much pressure on himself and forgot about the fun of wrestling. This year, he’s just letting go.”
The Red Devils also got a fourth-place finish from Luke Skokna (160), a sixth from Peter Pigatti (182), sevenths from Liam Drury (145) and Caleb Lagestee (170), and eighths from Ron Kruse (113) and Malachi Grimm (152).
Gary Larsen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press