As the dust settles on the 2016-2017 season, the Barrington wrestling team is processing the disappointment of falling one step short of making it to state as a team while also celebrating its many accomplishments.
That includes head coach Dave Udchik.
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“Oh yeah, it was a terrific year for Barrington wrestling,” Udchik said just a few days after the Broncos lost their Class 3A dual-team sectional to Deerfield by a score of 40-25 on Feb. 21 in Rockford. The Warriors went on to place fourth in the Class 3A state tournament in Bloomington.
“We had a great dual with Deerfield the first time around (during the regular season), but they got off to a very good start in our sectional with them,” Udchik said. “It’s hard to chase a strong team for most of the night and hope to catch and pass them.”
Barrington (15-9) might not have the elite record of most other state-caliber teams, but it’s impressive considering the Broncos’ tough schedule, which included stops at some of the best tournaments in this half of the state.
The Mid-Suburban League runners-up were second at their own Moore-Prettyman Invite, first at the Mudge-McMorrow tournament at Prospect and third at the prestigious Berman Holiday Classic at Palatine.
The Broncos then won the Class 3A Grant Regional on the strength of six individual champions and 10 sectional qualifiers, four of whom advanced to the state tournament.
“The best part is eight of those 10 sectional qualifiers are back (next year) in addition to a couple of others who were unable to get out of that regional,” Udchik said.
Udchik said he and his staff will have plenty to prove next season, but they’ll have the skill to repeat their run toward the state meet.
The top of the list of returning wrestlers begins with 145-pounder Markus Hartman (45-2), who placed second at state and won conference, regional and sectional titles.
“Markus took that (state) loss very hard, but with him, you know he’s an all-everything guy in this sport who goes 24/7 in his training,” Udchik said. “He’ll be back, bigger and better then ever to be our lead guy, and a young man whose focus is clearly on to get himself in another state final.”
State medalist Jarit Shinhoster (132 pounds, 41-7) returns, as does 160-pound state qualifier Dan Rasmussen (33-11), whose ankle injury at sectionals slowed him down at the state meet.
“That’s a solid core right there, but you can’t forget guys like Jake Meyer (33-11), who was a state qualifier in 2016, plus several freshmen and sophomores who came a long way this season and were all key figures in our success,” Udchik said.
“On the other side, we’re going to miss Jake Cysewski (152, 40-10) an awful lot.”
Udchik said help is on the way from a quality eighth-grade class that will be ready when it arrives, as will a few who have been in the Broncos room and were on the brink of the starting lineup this season.
“Last year, I said we were in our three-year plan,” Udchik said. “But we might be better than I thought we would be next season if we can shore up a few spots in our lineup.”
Michael Garofola is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press