Kahok boys grapplers compete at sectional tournament
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
By Mark Jurgena
Collinsville had three wrestlers qualify for this past weekend’s IHSA boys Class 3A Normal (Community) Sectional. While they were unable to qualify for the state finals meet, the three wrestled well and gained experience for the next season.
“Unfortunately they did come up short,” began CHS coach Jordan May. “But I can definitely say they pushed their limits, they wrestled their hearts out, and they all learned what they were capable of and they stuck with it throughout the season. I do have high hopes for the season next year.
Junior Cody Lutz went 3-2 finishing his tournament in the consolation semifinal at 170 pounds. He fell to Mason Gougis from Romeoville via pinfall at 2:57.
He began his tournament with a pinfall win over Aiden Plumley of Bradley (Bourbonnais) at 3:12.
“He was very relentless,” said May. “He’s a very mean but clean wrestler. Kids definitely know that they wrestled him when they walk off the mat. They are a little banged up every time.
“He was very physical with Gougis and pinned him in the second period.”
Ari Zaeske of Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East) beat Lutz in 32 seconds to drop the Kahok to the Consolation bracket. Zaeske – who is now 38-4 – took second place at the sectional.
He scored a 15-5 major decision over Mike O`Connor of New Lenox (Providence Catholic) in his third match and won another match over Cody Pelton from Minooka by a pin at 5:31.
“Cody was losing this match the whole time and the kid picked down and we made the decision to have Cody cut him,” said May. “So Cody cut him, took him down and then cross-face cradled him and pinned him.
“It was a beautiful match, a beautiful comeback.”
Lutz ended his season at 30-15.
Devin Habermehl won one of his three contests in the 220-pound class.
After dropping his opening match via pinfall at 3:30 to Johnathan Espinoza-Luna Romeoville, he bounced back with a huge pin over Gavin Schumacher of Quincy.
It was the third time this season he met the Quincy wrestler. The Kahok was pinned in the opening match of the year and also fell in the title match at the Granite City Regional.
This time Habermehl took the victory.
“He was hitting beautiful blast doubles and he ended up hitting one of the best blast doubles I’ve seen all season, caught Schumacher on his back and pinned him,” said May.
He was beaten by Leonardo Tovar of Plainfield (East) via a quick pinfall. Tovar took third place at the tournament and has a 43-8 mark on the season.
Habermehl finished his first-ever season wrestling with a 19-20 record.
Sophomore Scott Snyder dropped both of his 195-pound matches on the mat at the sectional.
