Sports
LT Sports Roundup: Boys Bowling Team Rolls to 1st Trophy
The Lyons Township boys bowling team takes second at the St. Charles East Invite and posts the highest team pin count while the wrestling team hopes for another strong invite showing at Palatine. Meanwhile, the gymnastics team wins its first home invite.
In just its third season of existence and second as a varsity program, the Lyons Township boys bowling team is on the verge of plenty of history.
The Lions took a big first step Dec. 17. They earned their first team trophy with a second-place finish at the St. Charles East Invitational.
LT actually had the invite’s top team pin count (4,935) by 98 pins over South Elgin after combining scores from three conventional games with five bowlers (3,051) and eight more using the Baker format, in which the five bowlers took turns over the 10 frames.
The teams then played off for the title using the Baker format. South Elgin defeated LT in the final after the Lions waited about an hour while the Storm beat out three other teams to face LT on the same lanes.
“(That invite) was big. We walked home with our first trophy,” LT coach Francisco Gamboa said. “Our approach at the tournament really showed that we’ve come together as a team, especially given the Baker scoring, which is a true team score. We did really well. We did the best that we’ve ever done for the season and throughout the history of our program.”
So far, the Lions are 9-0 in duals and hoping to contend for their first state team berth with a top-two finish at the Hinsdale South Sectional Jan. 21 at Willowbrook Lanes. Four of LT’s dual victories have come over sectional foes.
“We’re looking like we have a shot at (state). As far as our individual performance and talent, it’s there,” Gamboa said.
The Lions return their entire sectional lineup from last year, when their 5,889 finished fifth behind advancing teams Oak Lawn (6,179) and Lemont (6,134).
Sophomore twins Robert Kicmal (213.9 average) and Mike Kicmal (213.1) own the Lions’ leading averages this season, followed by seniors Matt Rivera (189.8) and Ryan Suhajda (187.3) and junior Marko Micovic (185.1), who had a team-best 1,240 six-game series at the 2011 sectional. Rivera and senior Joe Delpino are team captains.
The LT program started two seasons ago strictly as a junior varsity team. Gamboa said the learning process from last year’s varsity debut already is paying dividends.
“I would say the biggest stride has been in their mental game as far as approaching competition,” Gamboa said.
“Out of our varsity, maybe 70 or 80 percent had a lot of history as far as competing on an individual basis whereas now, competing in the IHSA, you’re playing as a team. Supporting one another and really the energy, building that as a team going into these competitions is essential. We failed at that last year. They weren’t used to that. The program was new. Everything was new to these kids. We showed that (unity at the St. Charles East Invite) by doing how well we did as a team. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Competing in the three conventional games at the St. Charles East Invite were Mike Kicmal (772 series, 268 high game), senior Kyle Gasteier (613), Rivera (591), Micovic (516), Delpino (404 for 2 games) and Suhajda (155 for 1 game).
LT also has finished 10th at the Vernon Hills Invite Dec. 3 (5,542) and 16th at the Plainfield North Invite Nov. 19 (5,496). Mike Kicmal was ninth at Vernon Hills (1,277) and Robert Kicmal was 25th at Plainfield North (1,241) with help from a season-best 258 game.
In duals versus sectional foes, the Lions have defeated Hinsdale Central twice, 2,845-2,841 Dec. 1 and 2,274-1,890 Nov. 22, as well as Hinsdale South 2,970-2,625 Dec. 15 and Richards 2,101 to 1,851 Dec. 7 in two rather than the usual three games.
Other dual victories have come over Morton 3,085-2,730 Dec. 6, Lemont 3,072-2,615 Nov. 17, Evanston 2,818-2,385 Nov. 10 and Thornton Fractional South 2,810-2,379 in the Nov. 8 season opener.
Before sectionals, the Lions have just two home duals at Rolling Lanes in Countryside against Plainfield North Jan. 5 and highly regarded Andrew Jan. 12.
“The rest (of the season) is going to be just training as far as strengthening our mental game, making sure we’re able to adjust to lane conditions, making sure we stay clean and pick up spares and handle being under pressure,” Gamboa said.
LT wrestling
The Lyons Township wrestling team has been seeking another strong invite performance at the Palatine Invitational, which began Tuesday and ends Wednesday.
The Lions, ranked No. 25 last week in Class 3A by IllinoisMatmen.com, are 6-4 in duals (1-1 in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division) with three of their losses to the top-four rated Class 3A teams.
Palatine marks the first action for the Lions after taking second at the Crown Point (Ind.) Invitational Dec. 17 to the host Wildcats, who are ranked in Indiana.
Winning individual titles were seniors Carter Beebe (126), Conor Condon (138) and Jaime Jones (182), junior Brian Krueger (113) and sophomore A.J. Villarreal (132). The Lions’ 257.5 points took second to Crown Point’s 321.
The Lions had top-three finishes in 11 of the 13 weight classes they entered. Seniors Juan Montes (220), Jack Pearson (160) and Adam Rodgers (285) were second, and senior Noah Avery (152) and juniors Jack Bates (145) and Eric Rende (170) were third. Senior Alejandro Flores (195) was fourth and sophomore Chris Letsinger (106) was fifth.
“We were very happy with the way the kids wrestled,” LT coach Griff Powell said. “They weren’t happy about the loss on Friday night (36-23 to York Dec. 16) so they did something about it Saturday and it was good to see.”
Jones is the lone returning state returnee for the Lions, who graduated six of their state-best seven individual state qualifiers last season, led by all-staters Drew Bates (second at 130), Joe Gonzalez (second at 215) and Matt Nora (third at 152).
Jones was 0-2 at state at 195 pounds. He was pinned in both of his matches, including by state runner-up Chris Johnson of Wheeling.
Third-year varsity wrestlers Beebe and Pearson, as well as Krueger and Villarreal, also were part of last year’s individual regional lineup. Beebe (119) and Pearson (160) both finished fourth, one place from advancing to sectionals.
“Whenever you have that (much graduation), you’re going to have years like this, where it’s a bunch of new faces, new kids gets a chance and they’ve just got to learn,” Powell said.
“But they’re starting to come around. They’re not there yet, but they’re getting there. But again, we’re working towards (the postseason in) February. They’re starting to get there.”
Villarreal (15-3 record at 126/132 pounds), Rodgers (14-5 at 285) and Jones (12-4 at 182) currently are among the Lions’ leaders in winning percentage.
“Those three guys have had pretty consistent performances, wrestling the way we want them to wrestle,” Powell said. “Other guys have had moments, but we just haven’t had those consistent performances.”
In the home loss to York, Jones (182) and Rodgers (285) recorded pins, Villarreal (21-7 score at 126) and Bates (10-1 at 145) won major decisions and Letsinger won 4-3 at 106.
“We didn’t wrestle our best at all, but York did a great job. They won all of the close matches, got bonus points,” Powell said.
The Lions won their Silver opener over Glenbard West 36-25 Dec. 9 in Glen Ellyn. Pearson (160), Jones (182) and Montes (220) recorded pins, senior Justin Fuller (195) won by default, and Rende (4-0 at 170), Rodgers (1-0 at 285), Condon (6-2 at 138) and senior Troy Lenz (4-0 at 152) won decisions.
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Additional results
At the Lockport Quad Dec. 10, the Lions defeated Argo 52-7 after losing to No. 4 Marist 44-21 and No. 3 Lockport 38-27 despite winning six matches.
At the Naperville North Quad, the Lions defeated Naperville North 40-27 and Batavia 43-22 and lost to top-rated Sandburg 46-21. LT won its first two duals over Plainfield East 57-6 Nov. 23 and Notre Dame 39-30 Dec. 2.
In its first invitational Nov. 26, LT took eighth of 30 teams at the Barrington Invitational with 114.50 points.
Villarreal (132) took second, Jones (182) was fifth and Beebe (126) and Rogers (285) were eighth.
In the final, Villarreal lost to Zion-Benton junior Abel Rios 13-5 after winning his first four matches with a pin, technical fall and two decisions by at least six points.
Jones pinned Wheeling’s Sam Rosengarden in 3:36 for fifth after two losses to ranked wrestlers. Beebe and Rogers each were 3-3 with Rogers losing his last two matches each by one point and Beebe losing twice to Oswego’s Frank Yattoni.
Top LT wrestling records
A.J. Villarreal (15-3 at 126/132 pounds), Adam Rodgers (14-5 at 285), Jaime Jones (12-4 at 182), Carter Beebe (13-5 at 120/126), Jack Bates (12-7 at 145), Noah Avery (10-6 at 152)
LT girls gymnastics
The Lyons Township girls gymnastics team’s first home invitational in recent memory Dec. 16 was a success on many levels.
The Lions scored 139.15 points in La Grange to edge rival Glenbard West’s 139.00 and win the five-team invite. Naperville Central (132.25), Lake Park (130.675) and Glenbrook North (121.20) also competed.
LT freshman Kelsy Kurfirst swept first place in all-around (37.30), floor exercise (9.5), vault (9.4), uneven parallel bars (9.3) and balance beam (9.1).
LT junior Maren Craig was second on vault (9.4), senior Kalen Iffert was fourth in all-around (34.20) and vault (9.15) and fifth on vault (8.85), and freshman Kelly Ryser and Craig tied for fifth on vault (8.55).
“I am definitely pleased with the performance, pleased with their progression, but we have so much more to do and I just really focus on the little things that are going to help us reach our potential,” LT coach Kari Karubas said.
The Lions have held regionals for three or four other teams in their cozy La Grange gym, but they never play host to the West Suburban Conference Silver Division Meet, which holds the varsity and junior-varsity levels simultaneously.
Unlike regionals, beam and vault competition was moved to the adjoining gym while uneven bars and floor remained in the practice gym.
“The gym setup, the organization I thought ran smoothly for all of the teams that were invited so I’m pleased from that point of view,” Karubas said. “I’d like to make this a tradition. I'd like to get more teams involved. I think it’s good to have people at home because we’re always visiting. It’s very nice to give the girls a different perspective of what can happens in these walls.”
The Lions currently are the top-scoring team among those assigned to their sectional. They would automatically qualify for the eight-team state meet if they win sectionals.
Despite a season-high score just two nights earlier, however, the Lions suffered a tough West Suburban Conference Silver Division dual loss at Glenbard West 140.30 to 140.25 Dec. 14.
The loss was a blow to the Lions’ Silver title hopes, but the overall title is a 50-50 combination of dual-meeting and Silver Meet standings. LT can stay in contention Jan. 4, when it returns to action at home with another important Silver dual against Hinsdale Central.
“Painful (to lose that Glenbard West dual), although we had some falls, some flaws. They were the better team that night,” Karubas said. “From a coaching standpoint, I never like to lose, but I like that we lost. If these are the right athletes to take this team the farthest, then it’ll impact them that they care and they should try to change that. Perhaps we won’t be conference champions, but maybe we’ll be better off because of it.”
