Wrestlers Claim 6 Titles At Expanded Elias George Invitational

Rudy Salinas can still remember back in the day when, as a coach at Lane Tech, his wrestlers couldn’t even get access to the school building over holiday breaks.

They were grateful to be extended the chance to practice at places like Maine South, or Niles West, or Ridgewood in the suburbs at a time when suburban schools rarely (if ever) even invited city schools to compete in tournaments they hosted.

Now Salinas is paying it forward.

The Evanston head coach continued to honor his roots --- and to pay tribute to an ETHS Hall of Fame coach who preceded him --- by expanding the Elias George Invitational tournament field to nine teams this year. Six of those teams competing Saturday were Chicago Public schools.

The Wildkits played the role of congenial hosts --- but only up to a point, crowning 6 individual champions and piling up 241 points to take the team title. Marco Terrizzi (132 pounds), Eren Atac (138), Bryan Lemus (144), Rodrigo Salinas (157), Xavier Starks (165) and Jeremy Marshall (285) all ruled their respective weight classes.

After 7 years as a head coach at his alma mater, Salinas knows first-hand the obstacles most city coaches have to deal with trying to keep their mat programs alive.

“Coming into a fieldhouse like ours is like a dreamland for these CPS schools,” said the ETHS coach. “The competition was good today, not great, but the intention of this tournament is to honor Coach George’s name and to invite city schools who are trying to improve their programs. A lot of suburban schools still look down on the city, but we don’t. Maybe it’s because we have diverse socio-economic groups in Evanston, like in the city. But I told our kids this week that we had to wrestle tough because these (CPS) kids would rather throw you than know you.

“I know their kids were excited just to get some seconds and thirds today. I think the talent the city has needs to be encouraged.”

Amundsen (178) and Mather (171) placed 2-3 in the team standings. Also representing CPS were Sarah Goode, Phillips, ITW Spear and Tilden.

Evanston’s six champs didn’t have to spend much actual time on the mat on a long day for all of the coaches and competitors due to a couple of breakdowns in the computer program that kept track of the entire tournament schedule.

Terrizzi scored 3 falls and all of them were recorded under 45 seconds. The senior standout opened by pinning Augustin McKinney of Amundsen in 29 seconds, then scored back to back falls against a couple of his Evanston teammates --- sophomores Zach Weston and Behr Harvey --- in 36 and 44 seconds, respectively to take the title at 132.

At 138, Atac only needed 175 seconds to notch 3 falls. Lemus earned his second straight tournament championship this season, nailing John Lopez of Mather in the finals in 1:53, and Starks stopped John Norton of Amundsen for his 3rd pin in as many bouts in 1:37 in the 165-pound title bout.

Salinas, a freshman who is the youngest son of the ETHS head coach, registered a pair of falls and a technical fall on his way to the top of the bracket, and Marshall blanked teammate Ian Sims 4-0 in the heavyweight finale.

On the girls side, there weren’t enough competitors to fill out complete brackets in any of the weight classes. But it turned out to be a memorable --- and confidence boosting --- day for Coco Herro of ETHS, who won all 3 of her matches via fall.

It was a staggering turnaround for Herro, who as a sophomore last year posted a 6-11 won-loss record. Nine of those losses were by falls, most of THOSE coming in the first period of matches.

And she began her junior year with 3 straight losses before Saturday’s turnaround in the 126-133 bracket. She pinned Diana Garcia of Mather in 59 seconds, rallied after falling behind another Mather grappler, Marestela Martinez to put her on her back in 5:46, and then shook off an early takedown by Phillips’ Lavaun Jackson to score another pin in 56 seconds.

Herro is a native of Guatemala who was adopted by a family in Evanston as a baby. She has since connected with her birth family back home, and their financial woes plus an illness suffered by her birth mother have taken a toll on the ETHS junior.

She said Saturday that she’s channeled her sadness and anxiety into something positive when she steps on the mat now.

“This past summer was really a downfall for my mental health because of a lot of family issues,” Herro said. “Now it seems like I’m willing to fight for a place, and I’m putting out a lot of anger and emotion on the mat.

“Last year I didn’t practice much, and I didn’t do much conditioning at all, and I still expected to win. This year I’m a lot more motivated to do as much as I can in practice. Getting those pins today makes me feel like I can keep winning now. Now when I lose, I think I’ll win the next match by going (competing) twice as hard. I’ll use all those emotions I felt (while losing) in the next match.

“Getting first place is like wow! I’ve never done this well before. I know I’m going to put in the time and effort now to get where I want to go.”

“You could see Coco’s body language getting better and better after each match,” said Salinas. “She was walking with her shoulders back and her head up. We’ve tried to create a (practice) room with our staff where it’s about them needing wrestling, not wrestling needing them. I really think the sport is helping girls like Coco with their self-esteem.”

Seniors Priscilla Hartwell and Natalie Graettinger combined for 5 falls in their matches at 137 and 154, respectively.