Mount Carmel senior Ryan Boersma used the clock to study his opponent Saturday in the championship match of the Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional.
Boersma entered the showdown with Sandburg’s Kevin Zimmer as the top-ranked individual at 285 pounds by the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association.
The undefeated Zimmer, a senior, came in ranked No. 3. But Boersma knew he had to counter the speed and athleticism of Zimmer, who plays quarterback in football.
Slowly but surely. Tick, tock. Tick, tock.
“Ultimately, I used that first period to build a little confidence,” Boersma said. “I knew he was very good with the sweep single to the left side.
“I was watching it, but I was focused on my offense.”
After a scoreless first period, Boersma seized control. He used his superior size and strength to post a pin in the second period as one of four individual champions for the Caravan.
It was another big win for Boersma (36-2), who took the heavyweight state title conducted last year by the IWCOA. Zimmer (14-1) also will be back at state after reaching the 220-pound finals two years ago as a sophomore.
The key to success?
“I wanted to use my size and be physical,” Boersma said.
Mount Carmel qualified nine wrestlers for the individual state meet at the University of Illinois’ State Farm Center in Champaign.
Freshman Seth Mendoza (35-2), junior Sergio Lemley (36-1) and sophomore Colin Kelly (33-4) also captured individual titles. Mendoza won at 106, while Lemley won at 126 and Kelly won at 160.
Mendoza defeated Marmion’s Donny Pigoni, a Catholic League rival, for the third time this season with a 20-8 decision.
“I knew he was going to come after me harder and harder,” Mendoza said. “I just planned on going in there and doing my stuff, trying to keep applying pressure as the match went on.”
Lemley posted three pins, including a second-period victory over Naperville Central’s Ethan Olson in the championship match.
As a freshman two years ago, Lemley won the 113-pound state title. He won an Indiana state championship last year wrestling for Chesterton.
In his return to Mount Carmel, Lemley is looking for another shot against Homewood-Flossmoor junior Vincent Robinson, who beat him in overtime this season for his only loss.
“It’s been fun being back,” he said. “I am looking forward to that rematch.”
Rylan Breen (182) and Elliot Lewis (195) also qualified for Mount Carmel. Zimmer was one of three individuals who qualified for Sandburg.
Northwestern-bound senior Sammie Hayes, also a state finalist two years ago, defeated Marist’s Will Denny in the 120-pound championship.
Hayes’ younger brother Rocco, a freshman, took third at 106.
Marist had two individual champions and a sectional-best 11 state qualifiers.
Junior Peter Marinopoulos (36-0) maintained his perfect record by topping Mount Carmel’s Elliot Lewis 23-10 in the final.
“It’s just been a phenomenal season,” Marinopoulos said. “We have great coaches and they just pushed us. We wrestle for each other, and I think you saw that.”
Marist senior Ghee Rachal (29-2) also impressed, capturing the championship at 220 with a pin late in the second period against Hinsdale Central’s Marko Ivanisevic.
In addition to Denny, the Redhawks also had runner-up finishes from Owen Dunlap (138) and Tommy Boland (160).
The experience of Eisenhower senior Nate Pacetti ran the gamut.
He posted a fall, a major decision and a technical fall in the preliminaries before defeating West Aurora’s Noah Quintana 4-3 for the championship at 145.
His takedown at the end of the second period turned the tide in his favor.
“I just took what was there,” Pacetti said. “I knew we were going out of bounds, and that was my chance to get my two points.
“This is awesome — my first year going downstate. It feels great to be a sectional champ.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.