The Geneseo wrestlers capped off the regular season with a second-place finish at the conference meet, plus a dominating win over Ottawa in dual meet action.
NCIC Conference Meet
Twelve place finishers in 14 weight classes, including three champions helped propel the Geneseo wrestlers to second place in the Jan. 30 NCIC conference meet. Sterling earned the 2010 conference title.
“I wouldn’t call it a surprise,” said head coach Jon Murray. “I am pleased with a second-place finish given what we were up against. I am happy and pleased with the results.”
Collin Akers (160-pounds) captured first place with an 8-6 overtime win in the first round, followed by a 15-6 major decision victory in round two. Akers won the championship by injury default.
“Collin put on a take down clinic,” said Murray. “Then he would have faced the Morris kid, who beat him earlier this season, but the Morris wrestler dropped out due to an injury.”
Jacob Janssen (171-lbs.) pinned his opening round opponent and then went on to win 4-1 in his second bout to advance to the title match. Janssen captured the championship in a 10-5 decision over Johnny Lopez of Sterling.
“Jacob put it all together and he was on,” said Murray. “He didn’t make mistakes, took advantage of opportunities to score, was confident and got the job done.”
West Cathcart (189-lbs.) continued his dominance in the conference and the state as he improved to 35-0 overall this season. Cathcart pinned his first two opponents in 1 minute and 42 seconds and in 1:20. Cathcart won the title in an 11-4 decision over George Canales of Dixon.
“West just took care of business,” said Murray.
Shane Bormann (145-lbs.) finished the day in second place. Bormann pinned his first opponent in 3:15 and then captured a win by major decision, 13-3. In the championship bout, Bormann fell in an 8-2 decision to Stevie Dewitt of Sterling.
Jacob Arnold (152-lbs.) also took second for the Leafs. Arnold won his first match in an 8-4 decision and then pinned his next opponent in 4:47. Arnold was pinned by Jericho Romoro of Rock Falls in the championship match in 5:10 to take second.
Jacob Koster (130-lbs.) earned a third-place finish for the Leafs. Koster was pinned in his first match in 1:56, but came back to take third with a major decision victory over Josh Sarver of LaSalle-Peru, 13-0.
Ben Rudy (215-lbs.) lost his opener, but fought his way back to end up taking third. Rudy fell in a 2-1 overtime match in the first round, but then pinned his opponent in 2:05 in round two to advance. In the third-place bout, Rudy pinned Michael Rick of Dixon in 4:46.
“Jacob Arnold had a great semifinal win to get him into the finals,” said Murray. “Ben Rudy, stepping in as a small 215-pounder, got beat but came back and pinned the same guy for third place.”
Seth Stewart (112-lbs.) took fourth in his weight class with an opening round win by major decision, 9-0, but then fell 4-3 in the following match. Stewart pinned his next opponent in 2:31 and then lost the third-place bout in a 15-7 major decision to Justin Barkley of Morris.
Sean Lillis (135-lbs.) also came away with a fourth-place finish. Lillis pinned his first opponent in 2:59, but was then beat by technical fall, 19-3. Lillis fell by technical fall to Cody Compton of Princeton 5:11.
Mark Cothron (275-lbs.) finished the day in fifth place. Cothron lost in a 3-1 decision in round one, but then rebounded to pin his next opponent in 2:35. Cothron lost in a 5-3 decision in round three and then pinned Ben Staton of Princeton in :46 for fifth.
Tristan Thies (103-lbs.) placed sixth overall. Thies was pinned in his first two matches in 1:03 and 2:20. Thies lost the fifth-place bout to Frank Barett in a 5-4 decision.
Mitch Miller (140-lbs.) also took sixth for the Leafs. Miller lost his round one bout in a 10-6 decision, but then came back to win round two, 5-2. Miller lost a close one in round three, 2-1 in overtime and then was pinned in :54 in the fifth-place bout by Logan McCauley of Princeton.
Josh Dodge (119-lbs.) was pinned in both of his matches, 4:41 and 4:14, while Jacob Stimes (125-lbs.) was pinned in 3:50 and 3:58.
Geneseo vs. Ottawa
The Leafs closed out their dual meet season with a big conference win over Ottawa on Senior Night Jan. 27, 59-16.
Dodge (119-lbs.) started the night off by pinning Matt Roux in :41, while Stimes (125-lbs.) suffered an 11-9 decision loss to Zach Harvey.
Koster (135-lbs.) rebounded the Leafs with a pin of Jared Jones in 1:34, but in the next match Jon Solberg (140-lbs.) was pinned by Ty Benckendorf in 3:00.
Bormann (145-lbs.) captured a win with a pin of Gavin VanDeveer in 2:31, while Matt Arnold (152-lbs.) suffered a 6-4 decision loss to Derek Martin.
Janssen (171-lbs.) pinned Chris Degner in 4:06, followed by Rudy (189-lbs.) with a pin of Austin Findley in 6:00; and Cathcart (215-lbs.) took down Kory Schott in 1:56.
Cothron (275-lbs.) lost in a 13-0 major decision to Robby Marotta, while Thies (103-lbs.) pinned Ryan Keith in 3:04 and Stewart (112-lbs.) quickly pinned Tristan Littlebrandt in :40.
Ben Chom (130-lbs.) and Akers (160-lbs.) received forfeits.
The Leafs begin their quest for the state finals this weekend at 9 a.m. Feb. 6 in the Rock Island Regional.
“Our team is really jelling well together and we are seeing how they are starting to peak,” said Murray. “I like where we are at, but at the same time we are ramping up the conditioning with the idea of peaking for the state tournament.
“We have to face Sterling again, but our main focus at regionals is getting as many individuals to sectionals as we can. It is not going to be a cake walk. Sterling is loaded and Rock Island is good.”
Geneseo, Ill. —
