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Batavia got off to a rocky start with a 1-9 record, but coach Ben Morris is starting to see some promise from his young Bulldogs.
Batavia has won two straight dual meets and capped last week with a third-place showing at the Downers Grove South Invitational. The Bulldogs had two champions as Joel Shump won the 112-pound weight class while 145-pounder Augie Watson was his weight-class champion.
“We are making improvements,” Morris said. “We are starting to get settled. This is a transition year, but we are doing a lot better.”
Shump and Watson have been a bright spot for Batavia this season, as the two sport 14-1 records. However, Morris has been pleased with the younger wrestlers in the first part of the season.
Freshmen and sophomores make up the bulk of the roster this season because of low numbers, and Morris says the youth movement has given the team a chance to succeed as the season progresses.
Anthony Scaccia and Laren Eustace, both freshmen, man the 125- and 140-pound weight classes, respectively, and boast a .500 or better record. Eustace is 7-7 while Scaccia is 10-5.
“For being freshmen at the middleweights, they are doing awesome,” Morris said.
Sophomores Cullin Rokos, Charlie Smorczewski and Mickey Watson also have shown vast improvements from the start of the season. Rokos has won four of his six matches while Smorczewski is 8-5. Watson is 7-10.
Kaneland misses weekend matches
A week off might be a good time for football players adjusting to the wrestling regimen, but for coach Marty Jahns, he wishes his team had some dual meets under its belt last week.
Kaneland had the week off before Thursday’s dual against Yorkville, and enters a hectic period with two quads in six days. The Knights will face Rock Island, Geneva and Dixon on Saturday before squaring off against Mundelein, Woodstock and Richmond-Burton on Thursday.
“I miss the weekend matches, but I think it’s good for the wrestlers,” Jahns said. “We started pretty heavy in the first week, The week off gave them some time to refocus.”
Jimmy Boyle is undefeated at the heavyweight class after winning his first eight matches. Football players Nick Michels (171) and Ben Kovalick (215) also have made strides since rejoining the team after Kaneland’s run to the IHSA Class 5A semifinals in football.
"They are getting back into the groove," Jahns said. "Their conditioning is light but they are starting to change gears."
Back to basics
St. Charles North coach Ken Moromi said he is taking his team back to the basics after suffering a loss to South Elgin on Friday.
The North Stars held a significant lead with four matches left, but suffered a loss after South Elgin claimed four straight pinfall victories.
Moromi said his team is working on hand control and head techniques and hoping it will translate to wins starting this weekend. North wrestled Larkin on Thursday and heads to the Hinsdale Central Invitational this weekend.
"We are hoping the little things will turn into big things for us," Moromi said.
WRESLTER OF THE WEEK
Ben Whitford – Marmion, sophomore, 130 pounds
What he did: Whitford proved he's one of the best in the nation after this past weekend's Walsh Jesuit Ironman in Ohio with a title in the 130-pound weight division. Whitford, who has won every match since his varsity debut as a freshman, won the title with a 3-1 decision against Brandon Jeske of Cox, Va.
Coach Dean Branstetter says: "The kid he had in the finals is someone he wrestled against the summer and lost to him. It was nice to beat him at a high-school event. He was pretty happy."
WHAT WE LEARNED LAST WEEK ...
Marmion is definitely a national powerhouse. The Cadets placed fourth in the Walsh Jesuit Ironman in Ohio with 103 points and was a half-point away from taking third. Ben Whitford took first place at 130 to keep his undefeated streak going, while Jered Cortez (112) placed third and Johnny Jimenez (103) finished in fourth.
WHAT WE'LL LEARN IN THE WEEK AHEAD ...
If Kaneland can avenge last season's one-point defeat to Geneva during Saturday's quad in Maple Park.
A victory over the Vikings not only would notch some revenge for the heartbreaking defeat, but also would give the Knights a lot of confidence going forward the rest of the season. It won’t be an easy task, as the Vikings enter with a 11-1 record in dual meets.
COACH SLY SEZ ...
Coach Sly always loves it when a wrestler sticks with the sport despite having some early struggles. This fox broke out in a smile Tuesday after reading about Geneva wrestler Jake Mills in Chronicle reporter Kevin Druley's Quick Read column, which noted Mills' trials and tribulations as a sophomore.
Mills has been a key reason why the Vikings are off to a blazing start this year. And most importantly, Mills has turned himself into a state contender after winning just seven matches last season as a sophomore.
Mills’ determination to improve at a sport that was brand new to him should be a lesson for any wrestler aspiring to take up the sport. You might struggle and suffer some defeats at the start, but with hard work, your fortunes will turn around.