BLOOMINGTON — Bartlett sophomore Emma Engels doesn’t like making the same mistake twice. And that mindset has brought about massive improvement.
It made a big difference in a rematch with Oak Forest’s Alex Sebek.
“We wrestled before at a Palatine tournament,” Engels said, recalling the previous match with Sebek. “I was winning, and she caught me on my back. I got pinned.”
This time, Engels defeated Sebek 4-0 in the 100-pound championship match of the girls wrestling state meet at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Engels (37-12) had a bifurcated season. The earlier loss against Sebek was her only defeat against a female wrestler. She went 26-11 wrestling at 106 for the boys team.
“What I learned from wrestling against boys who are bigger and stronger than me was that I could not outmuscle them,” Engels said. “I had to learn how to use my speed and technique.”
Her takedown in the first period and reversal in the second keyed Engels’ win over Sebek.
“It was great to score first and have those points,” Engels said. “That gave me a lot of confidence.”
Engels utilized her power and skill to ride out the athletic Sebek (41-7), who could not break free.
A natural athlete, Engels is wiry, strong and explosive. She’s a middle infielder and outfielder in softball, but started wrestling at age 9.
“In the beginning, she lost all of her matches,” Bartlett coach Matt Pancamo said of Engels’ club career. “When she won her first match, it changed her outlook.
“She works overtime all the time. There isn’t a pause button with her.”
Engels, the first state champion, also became just the second state champ in program’ history. She joins Sal Annoreno, who won in 2012 at 132 in Class 3A.
“I am really excited to get back to school Monday and just be proud of that,” she said.
Meanwhile, events seem to conspire against the dominant run of Batavia junior Sydney Perry.
She dealt with jet lag and an altered training schedule after returning from an international event in Sweden.
Before the state meet, Perry received notification that she and El Paso-Gridley’s Valerie Hamilton, her eventual opponent for the state title, were being disqualified by the Illinois High School Association due to rules violations.
Both, however, were cleared to compete.
Perry stormed back from a 4-2 deficit with a late takedown and back points for a 7-4 victory in the 145-pound championship match.
A three-time state champion, Perry (34-0) remains undefeated in high school. She is 59-0 the last two seasons.
“Keeping my eye on the prize,” Perry said. “I train so much for this stuff. It feels great to go out and just wrestle.
“Even though I was down late, I felt pretty comfortable in that position. I just trusted myself.”
Like Perry, the nationally ranked Hamilton is an elite wrestler who returned to compete at state after a stint with the U.S. national team.
“I stuck to my stuff in the end,” Perry said. “I kind of let her control the first period. I’m great on my feet.”
Among other area finishers, East Aurora sophomore Kameyah Young (32-4) took fourth at 100 and Batavia freshman Lily Enos (44-13) ended up fifth.
Burlington Central sophomore Victoria Macias (31-9) was fifth at 110. Sandwich junior Ashlyn Strenz (25-16) finished fourth at 115.
Kaneland sophomore Brooklyn Sheaffer (35-12) was fifth at 120. Larkin senior Maria Ferrer (31-7) was fifth at 155.
West Aurora had two sixth-place finishers in junior Ionicca Rivera (27-7) at 170 and Brittney Moran (28-5) at 190.
Despite her defeat against two-time state champion Angelina Cassioppi of Rockton Hononegah for the 120-pound title, Yorkville junior Yamilet Aguirre (37-4) was pleased.
“My progression from fourth to second has been amazing,” Aguirre said. “I am so happy with myself.
“After my semifinals match, I was just crying — so proud that I made it. Now, I just want to bring more girls from Yorkville with me.”
Patrick Z McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.