Lemont's Egan Berta Earns Runner-up Finish at IHSA Class 2A Wrestling State Finals

Making his third state finals appearance in as many seasons, Lemont High School junior Egan Berta has picked up his first state medal. Berta finished as the runner-up in the 145-pound weight class at the 2016 IHSA Class 2A Wrestling Individual State Finals, which were contested from February 18-20 at the State Farm Center on the campus of the University of Illinois of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Berta is one of four wrestlers from head coach John St. Clair’s program to compete at this year’s state finals.

Berta (43-3) won his first three state finals bouts to reach the title match. He shut out Chatham Glenwood’s Garrick Walker by a 7-0 score in the first round, and edged Washington’s Ethan Reel, 7-6, in the second round. Berta scored
a huge win in the semifinals, as he knocked off Rantoul’s Demarius Smith by a 6-4 score; Smith entered the match undefeated on the season. In the title match, Berta lost by technical fall in the third period (23-8) to Geneseo’s Hunter Grau, who completed an undefeated season.

Berta, who reached the 40-win mark for the second straight season, had previously competed in the state finals at 126 pounds in 2014 and 138 pounds in 2015. In addition to his state runner-up finish, Berta also won South Suburban Conference, IHSA Regional and IHSA Sectional titles in 2016. Berta’s 43 wins this year rank fourth on Lemont’s single- season list. Matt Leibforth ‘10 posted 45 wins in his state title season in 2010, while Derek Nagel ‘11 and Chris Giatras ‘13 won 44 matches in 2011 and 2013, respectively.

Junior Jake Kirkman (36-10) also made his third straight IHSA State Finals appearance. He posted a 1-2 record in the 152-pound weight class and reached the semifinal wrestlebacks. His victory came in the first round with a 9-4 decision over Springfield’s Peyton West. An SSC and IHSA Regional champion this season, Kirkman reached the state finals after posting a runner-up finish in IHSA Sectional competition. He had previously competed in the state finals at 138 pounds in 2014 and 152 pounds in 2015.

Senior John Polk (34-12) made his second state finals appearance, winning one of three matches at 170 pounds. He opened state finals competition by knocking off Woodstock Marian’s Thomas Welch - an IHSA Sectional champion - by an 8-5 score. Polk posted a 2-2 record in his first state finals appearance at 170 pounds in 2015, and won an IHSA Regional title and finished fourth in sectional competition this season.

Junior Damyen Gothard (23-12) made his state finals debut as an individual at 160 pounds, dropping his first-round match. He won an IHSA Regional title this season and was the sectional runner-up.

Lemont’s state medalists include Berta, 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 the runner-up at the IHSA Medium Division State Finals; the girls’ cross country team competed at the IHSA Class 2A State Finals; the dance team competed at the IHSA Class 2A State Finals; the boys’ golf team qualified for the IHSA Class 2A State Finals; Maggie Micetich competed in the IHSA Class AA Girls’ Golf State Finals; and Grace Horky, Ashley Mathews and Gabby Rabianski all competed in the IHSA Girls’ Tennis State Finals.