Bronco Wrestlers Repeat as MSL Champions

First year head wrestling coach Ken Hoving said that winning Saturday’s MSL Championship held at Elk Grove was exciting, but not just because Barrington repeated as champions in his first year.

“Obviously winning (the MSL Title) is exciting,” the seven-year member of Barrington’s wrestling staff said.  “What’s really exciting is when you have had a chance to see some of these guys come in as freshman and now to see where they are today is very exciting.”

With the help of 13 wrestlers finishing in the top five, Barrington scored 281.5 team points on their way to winning the MSL title in convincing fashion over second place Schaumburg (186 points), Buffalo Grove, Conant and Prospect.

Of Barrington’s six crowned champions this year, only Jared Parvinmehr (113) repeated from last year’s championship with his technical fall over Schaumburg’s Ivan Gomez.

“He’s been at the top all year,” Hoving said of his senior wrestler that has only two losses this season.

Senior Ryan Wilt (195), who took fourth at last year’s meet, utilized the experience as he secured a first period pin in the championship round over Prospect’s Jon Bilancia.

Kevin Conrad (126), who as a sophomore last year finished third, also favored much better this year with his 8-4 decision.

“He’s a junior and wrestling really tough in some elite tournaments,” Hoving said.  “Hopefully he has built up his confidence for regionals.”

Conrad wasn’t the only junior to capture an individual conference championship as Ben Calamari (285) came up big against one of the states larger competitors.

“Calamari pretty much stole the show,” Hoving said of his junior wrestler that ended the regular season at 29-5 after a 4-2 decision in the championship match.  “He’s been wrestling well of late and to end the tournament against a tough ranked opponent in (Igor) Romanowski…well hopefully this is a start of a solid run through the state playoffs for him.”

The other junior to stand atop the podium was Mark Shealy (182).  His 3-1 decision over Prospect’s Dan Fiumetto was just a couple of matches after senior Nick Shealy’s (152) second period pin.

“Both Shealy boys have been huge this year,” Hoving said. “My biggest thing is that I love bonus points (earned for the team), and these guys have got to be leading the team in pins.”

“If you can beat (your opponent) by a point or two, that’s good,” Hoving went on to say.  “But a pin is the way to go and what you are shooting for every match.”

Barrington would have had a seventh individual championship but senior Adrian Gonzalez (106), who prior to his final match had only spent 2:38 seconds on the mat as he pinned both earlier competitors in the first round, lost a grueling 11-8 bout with Conant’s Bobby Alexander in the last seconds.

“I think Adrian was just caught by surprise,” Hoving said of his senior wrestler.  “People are gunning for him and he will have to be ready at any moment.”

Junior Coord Wiseman (145) also lost in the championship match, a tough 3-2 decision to Buffalo Grove’s Jordan Rathje.

How the rest of the Broncos finished the MSL meet:

Seniors Michael Lurz (160), Cameron Thompson (170) and Daniel Davidson (220) all captured third place while sophomore Matt Conrad (120) ended in fourth place and senior Joe Thorn (138) finished in fifth.

“Winning the MSL was kind of expected,” Hoving said of the win.  “Hopefully this is just one mark along the way to a good finish (at state).”