Lemont Contingent Wraps Up Competition at IHSA Class 2A Wrestling State Finals

Lemont High School advanced six wrestlers to the 2015 IHSA Class 2A Wrestling Individual State Finals, which were contested from February 19-21 at Assembly Hall on the campus of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Two of those wrestlers—junior John Polk and sophomore Egan Berta—advanced to the final day of competition, where they fell in the quarterfinal wrestlebacks. Senior Jimmy Brennan made his third IHSA State Finals appearance; sophomore Jake Kirkman reached the state finals for the second straight season; and seniors Dimitri Giatras and Ryan Glynn each made their first state finals trip.

Berta (42-10) split four matches over three days in the 138-pound class. He opened by pinning Urbana’s Demetrius Jackson at the 5:31 mark. He just missed reaching the semifinals in his weight class, falling in a 6-5 decision to Boylan Catholic’s Alexander Butler - the class’s top seed who has maintained a perfect record this season and reached the IHSA Class 2A Championship in his class. Berta rebounded with a 16-6 major decision against Vernon Hills’ Peter Vanderbloomer in the quarterfinal wrestlebacks, but dropped a 7-5 match to Johnsburg’s Brandon Peshek in the quarterfinal wrestlebacks. Berta was making his second state finals appearance; he went 1-2 at 126 pounds in 2014.

Polk (33-15) enjoyed a successful state finals debut, as he also split four matches at 170 pounds. He opened by edging Pontiac’s Levi Ransom in a 7-5 decision, but lost by fall at the 5:38 mark to Fenton’s Juan Alfaro in the quarterfinal round. Polk rebounded in a big way in the first round wrestlebacks, earning a 14-3 major decision victory over Champaign Central’s Trystyn Schoonover. He lost by fall to Lakes’ Jared Smith at 2:57 in the quarterfinal wrestlebacks.

Brennan (32-7) competed in the 145-pound class for the third time in four seasons. He opened with a 13-6 win over Metamora’s Lucas Munter, but dropped a 7-5 decision in a quaterfinal match with Antioch’s Patrick Schoenfelder. Brennan then was on the short end of a 15-3 major decision against Carbondale’s Cameron Caffey in the first round wrestlebacks. Brennan qualified for the state finals as a freshman in 2012, and split four matches at 145 pounds as a junior in 2014.

Kirkman (35-10) dropped a 13-4 major decision to Grayslake Central’s Jonathon Makey in the first round in the 152-pound weight class. He advanced to the IHSA State Finals at 138 pounds as a freshman in 2014.

Glynn (24-16) and Giatras (28-21) made their IHSA State Finals debuts at 126 pounds and 160 pounds, respectively. Glynn lost by fall to Triad’s Merik Fulton at 2:43 in the first round, and dropped a 12-4 major decision to Crystal Lake Central’s Lenny Peterson in the first round wrestlebacks. Giatras lost by fall at the 4:02 mark to Highland’s Trent Rakers in the first round.

Lemont’s contingent reached the state finals after their efforts at the IHSA De La Salle Sectional on February 14. Brennan repeated as an IHSA Sectional Champion at 145 pounds; Berta, Kirkman and Polk all placed third in their respective classes; and Giatras and Glynn were fourth in their classes.

Head coach John St. Clair’s team won the IHSA St. Laurence Regional on February 7, advancing 11 wrestlers to sectional competition. In addition to the six IHSA State Finals qualifiers, sophomore Jack Leffler (106 pounds) and freshman Gabe Berta (120 pounds) also won IHSA Regional crowns in their weight classes.

Brennan and Glynn each won South Suburban Conference championships in their weight classes earlier this season.

Lemont will compete in the IHSA Oak Forest Sectional against De La Salle on February 24. The winner will advance to the 2015 IHSA Wrestling Dual Team State Finals, which will be contested at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington on February 28. Lemont appeared in the IHSA Dual Team State Finals each season from 2009-11, and earned state trophies in 2010 (3rd) and 2011 (4th).

Lemont’s state medalists have included Paul Burke (4th, 119-1984), Angel Cabral (1st, 285-2009; 1st, 285-2010), Brian Diaz (3rd, 167-1984), Marvin Drummond (4th, 132-1975), Dave Festin (2nd, 132-1974), Mike Freemantle (4th, 140-1990), Chris Giatras (5th, 182-2012; 3rd, 182-2013), Jamal Hamdan (4th, Hwt.-1986), Jehad Hamdan (2nd, 167-1988), Ryan Hennebry (5th, 125-2000), Jake Kaminsky (2nd, 152-2012), Eric Kirkman (2nd, 170-2012), Mark Kirkman (4th, 160-2012), Gordon Kickels (4th, 189-2007; 5th, 189-2008), Jake Latanski (4th, 103-2010; 5th, 126-2012), Matt Leibforth (3rd, 135-2009; 1st, 135-2010), Joe Long (6th, 215-2005), Andrew Mason (4th, 103-2009), Glenn Malecki (4th, 132-2012), Derek Nagel (2nd, 160-2011) and John Tomala (3rd, 195-2012).

Wrestling is the seventh Lemont High School sport to be represented in IHSA State Finals competition this year. The cheerleading squad was fourth at the IHSA Medium Division State Finals; the girls’ cross country team was fourth at the IHSA Class 2A State Finals; the football team was the IHSA Class 6A State Runner-Up; the boys’ golf team tied for ninth at the IHSA Class 2A State Finals; freshman Alex Knutte competed at the IHSA Girls’ Swimming State Finals; and senior Kyra Udziela is competing in the IHSA Girls’ Bowling State Finals this weekend.