LHS Earns IHSA Wrestling Team State Finals Berth

LEMONT, IL — Squaring off against long-time conference foe Oak Forest, head coach John St. Clair’s wrestling program kept its outstanding season going and earned its sixth state finals berth. The school said Lemont topped Oak Forest, 42–33, in one of two matches at the IHSA Class 2A Oak Forest Sectional on Feb. 19 to gain the program’s second IHSA State Finals berth in three years.

Lemont will compete at the 2019 IHSA Class 2A Wrestling Team State Finals on Saturday, Feb. 23, at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

The victory has earned Lemont a match-up with three-time defending state champion Washington in an IHSA Class 2A State Quarterfinal at 11 a.m. on Feb. 23. According to LHS, the winner of that match will face the victor of the Triad-Chicago Noble/Comer quarterfinal at 2 p.m.; the third place and championship matches will take place at 6 p.m.

Lemont rattled off 26 consecutive points – including three victories by fall, one by technical fall and one by decision — to take control of the match against Oak Forest, the Indians’ top rival in the South Suburban Conference-Blue Division, the school said. Lemont won eight matches in all in the dual team sectional. Juniors Mike Mussallem (182), Kyle Schickel (138) and Kyle Zator (160) and sophomores Apollo Gothard (220) and Connor Stomp (152) all pinned their opponents. Junior Grant LaDuke (145) won by technical fall, freshman Evan Schiffman (106) won by major decision, and junior Drew Nash earned a victory by decision.

Tickets are $7 for each session of the IHSA Team State Finals and can be purchased at Grossinger Motors Arena.

Photos provided by Lemont High School