Plainfield Central Cruises to Win over Romeoville

Plainfield Central senior wrestler Eddie Vicich and junior Jaelen Morain have been patiently waiting for their chance to start on the varsity level.

Both plan to make the most of the opportunity this season.

"We had a very good heavyweight last year (in state qualifier Lavelle Howard, who had a 38-5 record) so I didn't get to wrestle varsity much at all," Vicich said. "I'm just trying to fill his shoes as best as I can. Plainfield sure produces a lot of good heavyweights, so I've got to keep that tradition going. We're looking to take a trip back to state as a team again this year."

Vicich and Morain recorded two of Plainfield Central's nine pins Thursday to lead the Wildcats to a convincing 70-6 victory over visiting Romeoville.

Morain opened the dual with a pin in just 22 seconds at 145 pounds.

"We just wanted to come out and wrestle strong," said Morain, who was a state qualifier at the frosh-soph level last season. "We want to keep pounding through the season and try to reach or exceed our expectations. My expectations are to go to state.

"I had a state placer over me last year, so it was sort of rough not wrestling varsity. I'm just happy to be on the varsity now. It's a nice change. Practices are harder, but overall it just makes me a better wrestler."

Plainfield Central, which advanced to the state quarterfinals as a team last season, improved to 3-0 in duals and was coming off a fifth-place finish at the loaded Barrington Invitational (Nov. 26-27).

Romeoville fell to 3-3 in duals.

"We're a young team and we're going to get better," Romeoville coach John Arlis said. "We have a lot of sophomores and a couple of juniors and very few seniors. It was a good experience for the guys. Sophomores Darshawn Hardy and Caleb Ramos wrestled real tough matches. We were facing one of the elite teams in the state and they were tough. I would've liked to have seen us do a little bit better, but I'm sure as the year progresses we'll get there."

The match of the night came at 112 pounds. Plainfield Central freshman Nick Nasenbenny, who is ranked No. 5 by illinoismatmen.com, squeaked out a 7-4 victory over Hardy, a junior.

"Sometimes there's a transition as a freshman, but this kid is probably one of the harder workers we have in the room, if not the hardest worker," Plainfield Central coach Jim Kappas said of Nasenbenny. "He's very coachable and just trying to get better. I like where he's headed and have been very pleased so far."

Hardy fell just one win shy of a state berth as a sophomore after placing fourth at sectionals, but hopes to change that this season.

"I just want to keep getting better and win as many matches as I can," Hardy said. "Hopefully I can dominate most wrestlers. Falling short last year is definitely motivation for me this year. I want to try to get to state. I should've done better (Thursday). I cramped up a little bit, but that's no excuse. We lost to a really good team, but this will help us down the road."

Plainfield Central forfeited at 119 pounds, but won every other match.

Plainfield received additional pins from Tyler Ledbetter (160), Henry Thigpen (171), Jordan Ellingwood (189), Greg Cameron (215), Ryan Whitten (130), Ryan Holzrichter (135) and Terry Kubski (140), while Dylan Cramer earned a 10-3 major decision at 103 and Jeremy Brown won a 12-7 decision at 125. Kyle Ledbetter won by forfeit at 152.

"I'm pleased with our guys," Kappas said. "We take every match seriously. That's the great thing about wrestling … everyone has to do their individual job for us to come together. Romeoville has some good lower-weight wrestlers."

Kappas has been impressed by what he's seen from Morain and Vicich so far.

"Jaelen Morain and Eddie Vicich have been working hard for the last three years or so and now it's their time to step up," Kappas said. "They're very well prepared and have done a good job of being confident and expecting to win. Sometimes your first time on varsity you're just happy to be there, but not these guys. They expect to contribute in a real positive way."