In a wrestling match that likely decided the Southwest Prairie Conference title, Minooka was looking to win and repeat as champions.

Minooka won a couple of big matchups and held off up-and-coming Plainfield North, 40-33, on Wednesday in Minooka.

The Indians (9-2, 8-0) came in at No. 6 in the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Class 3A rankings, while Plainfield North (17-4, 7-1) entered at No. 16. Both teams have three conference matches remaining, but if Minooka holds on it will win its fourth straight SPC title.

“We want to win, that’s the bottom line,” Minooka coach Mike Kimberlin said. “Plainfield North did a great job, but we’ve got a lot of seniors, and we want to keep developing them into solid kids, solid wrestlers and solid citizens.”

The match started at 106-pounds. Each team had five pins on the night, but Minooka won three other matches. That included a big match at 160 where senior Jake McClimon toppled previously unbeaten junior Jared Gumila, 5-3. Ahead 3-2, McClimon took charge on a takedown with 50 seconds left.

McClimon was a state qualifier last year while Gumila placed fourth in Class 3A at 138 pounds. The win at that point was huge for the Indians, as it put them ahead, 34-12, with five bouts to go.

“That was the biggest regular-season match that I will have all year,” McClimon said. “I had this one marked on my calendar all year. He was ranked No. 5 and I was ranked No. 6, but I thought I was better and I proved it. I figured it’s me and another state qualifier, and I knew the team needed it, too.”

“Jack wrestling and beating guys like that shows where he’s at,” Kimberlin said.

Minooka’s five pins were by junior Dylan Harder in 21 seconds at 106 pounds, senior Joey Cecala in 36 seconds at 120 and sophomore Elijah Munoz, who gave the Indians the lead for good at 18-12 with a pin in 3:20 at 132. Senior Michael Ruettiger added a pin in 1:01 at 145, and senior Ben Joder clinched the match with a pin in 4:29 at 195 pounds.

The Tigers had five pins as well with freshman Cayden Amico getting his in 51 seconds at 113, junior Jacob Macatangay’s was in 1:01 at 126, senior Branden Fike got his fall in 2:34 at 170, freshman Leo Tovar won by fall in 58 seconds at 220 and junior Kaden McCombs’pin came at 1:59 at heavyweight.

Indians’ senior Nate Berta had a 12-2 major decision over Brody Wyller at 138 pounds, and senior Landon Jaime won 8-1 over Anthony Gulino at 152, where he scored the final eight points, including six in the third period. The Tigers won at 182, as junior Evan Smith prevailed 8-2 over senior Eli Lewis.

“I thought 152 was a big turning point too,” Plainfield North coach Joby Bodi said. “Also at 195 pounds. We just can’t give up a pin there.”

In the end, Bodi thought the Indians experience was the difference.

“They took care of business,” Bodi said of Minooka. “We were both hurting with some injuries, but they took care of business. They have a lot of tradition and a lot of guys step up. Hats off to them, they gave us a good old-fashioned butt whipping.”

Bodi believes his young team will learn from this.

“We’ve never had this much success before,” Bodi said. “We’re just learning how to grow from this, how to compete.”

There actually was an abbreviated triangular on the evening, as No. 10 ranked Moline wrestled Minooka but not the Tigers. The Indians pulled away to win, 41-32. Moline is coached by 2007 Providence graduate Jake Ruettiger.