Four Lemont Wrestlers Earn Individual State Medals

LEMONT, IL — Four Lemont High School wrestlers earned medals at the 2019 IHSA Class 2A Wrestling Individual State Finals, which were contested from Feb. 14-16 at the State Farm Center on the campus of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. LHS said junior Kyle Schickel posted his third straight state runner-up finish, doing so in the 138-pound class, while sophomore Apollo Gothard was the state runner-up at 220 pounds. Junior Grant LaDuke earned his second medal in as many years with his third place finish at 145 pounds, while freshman Evan Schiffman was fourth at 106 pounds.

Schickel (43-5) became the first three-time state medalist in program history with his state runner-up finish. The school said he picked up two wins by decision and one by major decision on his road to the state title match before ultimately dropping an 8-4 decision to Carmel’s Riley Palm. He is the first wrestler in school history to record 40 wins in each of his first three seasons and became the program’s youngest state medalist in 2017.

Gothard (44-3) continued his dominant postseason run in state finals competition. After pinning every opponent in regional and sectional competition, Gothard won his first two state finals matches by fall and a third match by decision, according to the school. In the state title match, he dropped a narrow 1-0 decision to Cahokia’s Jacob Bullock, who finished the season undefeated.

LaDuke (28-6) won four of five matches on his way to his second straight state medal. After two wins by decision, LaDuke dropped a close match in the state semifinal. The school said he then won with a pin in the consolation semifinals and a 5-2 win over Rantoul’s Peter McClusker in the third place match.

Schiffman (37-10) won three of five matches in his first state finals appearance. After winning twice by decision, Schiffman dropped his semifinal match. The school said he then rebounded to win the consolation semifinal match before coming up short, 5-2, against Chicago St. Patrick’s Sean Conway in the third place match.

Juniors Drew Nash and Kyle Zator also each made their second straight state finals appearances. The school said Nash (40-7) split four matches at 132 pounds this season and reached the 40-win mark for the second straight season. Zator (31-19) won one of three contests at 152 pounds this season.

Head coach John St. Clair’s program has walked away with at least one state runner-up medal four straight seasons, the school said.

Photos provided by Lemont High School.