Different, but glad to be on mat for St. Bede, Princeton wrestlers

Prouty Gym at Princeton High School is a hot bed for wrestling in the winter with thousands of boisterous fans following every takedown and pin during the PIT and the Tiger Town Tangler Invitational.

Wrestling in May in the middle of a global pandemic is a lot different this school year with a limited number of fans in attendance, although vocal. Such was the atmosphere for Tuesday night’s showdown between the Tigers and St. Bede.

The Tigers won seven of eight matches contested and gained five forfeitures en route to a 65-3 victory.

Different and crazy are two words to describe the IHSA spring season.

“It’s different, that’s for sure,” PHS coach Steve Amy said. “The guys are adapting, somewhat buying into it. It’s hard going to practice when it’s 60-70 degrees out. They’re doing a pretty good job with it.”

“I think it’s crazy. We’ve got all our warmups and long sleeves and sweat shirts. We’re not ready for the weather apparel wise,” St. Bede coach Sam Allen said. “It’s strange getting out of practice with the sun still out, that’s different, too. I’m just glad we’re doing something rather than nothing. We’re not all sitting out behind computer screens. We’re out doing our best trying.”

Allen said there’s a lot more juggling than any coach likes to do, especially with the seniors trying to get in as many other activities as they they can, but “I think the kids are just happy to be doing it.”

PHS sophomore Augie Christiansen, who won by fall with two seconds left in the second period over St. Bede’s Noah Setser, is happy to be wrestling.

“It’s a lot different without the tournaments, especially the PIT, but it’s better than nothing,” he said. “I was scared at the beginning of the year if we were even going to have it. I’m glad that it’s here. Just trying to make the best out of it.”

Christiansen said he started the season slow following spring football, but has picked up his game coming off higher contested matches against Morrison and Erie-Prophetstown.

“He’s had some big matches recently, not his typical get out and score a lot of points. For him, it was go the distance in three periods,” Amy said. “He’s gotten in a lot better shape. We still have to work on some of those big guys, but they’ll get there.”

Christiansen said playing running back and linebacker in football requires one to be in “awesome shape” to run a marathon where wrestling is more of a six-minute sprint.

“In wrestling, it’s pretty much six minutes and no break. You’re pretty much going at it constantly and using every muscle of your body,” he said.

Carson Etheridge opened the night for the Tigers with a fall over Ben Kroyak at 152 pounds.

Tigers Drew Harp (195) and Jesse Wright (220) also won by fall while Payne Miller put a pain on the Bruins’ Michael Shaw, who tapped out of their match at heavyweight.

Matthew Harris won by a 15-0 tech fall at 132 over Dominic Bima.

PHS’ Stephen Benevidez (106), Carlos Benavidez (126), Cael Davis (160), Kaden Baker (170) and Jimmy Kurth (182) all won by forfeits.

Henry Orteza scored the Bruins’ lone points of the evening with a 4-3 decision over Preston Arkels at 138, the second to last match of the night.

Despite the lopsided margin of wrestling, Amy said the best part of the night was “we got to wrestle.”

“I know they’re missing quit a few guys which makes it difficult this time of year,” he said. “We’ve had a couple duals like that already where we’re missing guys for track and everything else.”