Wrestling

A few years ago at a wrestling meet in DeKalb, a fan yelled to an official during a bout, “Ref, he’s stalling.”

DeKALB – The way Clinton Rosette Middle School wrestler David Long put his hands on his head and gleefully jumped into his coaches’ arms after beating Chatham Glenwood’s Quantorious Courtney in the 167-pound IESA state championship bout on Saturday said it all.

DeKalb girls track team wins quadrangular

SYCAMORE – Austin Culton entered the Sycamore wrestling program as the chosen one.

BLOOMINGTON – Sycamore's wrestling team wasn't new to U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington. The Spartans had been to the state's final dual team tournament before. Saturday was their third straight trip.

Redemption has consistently been replaced by triumph in the Sycamore wrestling team’s historic postseason run.

Spartans advance to 2A state quarterfinals

Austin Culton left a permanent imprint on the Sycamore wrestling program when he won the Spartans’ first-ever individual championship last week.

CHAMPAIGN – Austin Culton registered what now ranks as the most lasting and historic victory in the annals of Sycamore wrestling Saturday night.

CHAMPAIGN – Austin Culton gripped everyone he hugged on Friday night.

Sycamore had four winners, DeKalb had two and Kaneland one at the first day of the Class 2A individual wrestling state tournament Thursday at Assembly Hall in Champaign.

One year ago Evan Jones looked up at the JumboTron at Assembly Hall in Champaign and dared to dream big.

Sycamore sends five wrestlers to state, Kaneland four, DeKalb two

DeKalb girls bowlers Jessica Eberly and Alyssa Mershon advanced to the final day of the girls state bowling tournament at Cherry Bowl Lanes in Rockford, but the Barbs did not advance as a team, finishing in 15th place.

Plenty of familiar foes will take the mat in the Class 2A Sterling Sectional tonight and Saturday.

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Spartans vs. Rocks on Feb. 21

DeKALB – It took a couple of matches Saturday for it to hit Dylan Vaughn-Low that he was back on the wrestling mats.

Sycamore's defense held Kaneland's boys basketball team to 14 first-half points Saturday, and held on for a 51-42 win.

DeKALB – Jake Davis listened. He heard the message from Sycamore wrestling coach Alex Nelson.

A calculated risk has provided Kyle Akins with an opportunity to go on another postseason run.

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SYCAMORE – Matt Copple heard a sickening popping noise come from his right knee.

Sycamore bowler Tony O’Donnell finished 30th with a 1,282 two-series pinfall Friday to advance to the finals today in the state finals, a 213-game average that was 10 pins fewer than his season best.

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Ashley Prost scored 16 points to lead Kaneland to a 41-27 victory against Lemont in girls basketball action on Tuesday night.

Spartans win Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference tournament championship

MAPLE PARK – Predictability has made Ben Kovalick a premiere wrestler in the Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference and a contender for a Class 2A state title at 220 pounds.

Winter weather once again is causing some changes to the prep sports schedule. Changes will be updated as we get them.

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The Genoa-Kingston boys basketball lost to Burlington Central, 60-58, on Friday night on a buzzer-beating layup, but Cogs coach Corey Jenkins said he felt the result was undeserved.

Spartans rally from 14-0 deficit to win 3rd straight against Barbs

DeKALB – The team result didn’t go Evan Jones’ way Thursday night against rival Sycamore.

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SYCAMORE – Sycamore wrestler Kyle Akins thought his season was over before it started.

DeKALB – Jackson Montgomery said he thought he performed well on the first day of the Don Flavin Invitational at DeKalb High School, where the 106-pound wrestler lost only once in three bouts.

Redemption, champions and inspiration across DeKalb County

DeKALB – To their coach, it was a momentum-changer. To sophomore DeKalb wrestler Alex Roach, it was met with a shrug.

DeKALB – Doug Johnson saw the mistakes, and hours later could point them out individually.

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The DeKalb-Sycamore co-op boys swimming team defeated McHenry, 108-60, on Tuesday.

The Sycamore girls basketball team’s offense was rolling Thursday night, and a 54-32 win against Belvidere followed.

DeKALB – A positive attitude carried Mike Halverson the past three wrestling seasons.

Hinckley-Big Rock continued its strong start to the season with a 59-46 win Saturday against Byron. The Royals (7-1) jumped out to a 38-20 lead at halftime and never trailed in the second half.

MAPLE PARK – The momentum in a wrestling meet can turn around in just a few minutes.

Kaneland junior wrestler Dan Goress quickly has worked himself back into mat shape following a lengthy run as a defensive back for the Knights’ 12-1 football team. Goress, a state champion in the frosh/soph state tournament last season, was in the wrestling room on the Monday afte the football team’s state semifinal loss to eventual Class 5A state champion Montini. Shaw Media sports reporter Kevin Druley caught up with Goress to talk about his training, longtime friendship with junior 126-pounder Esai Ponce and other topics. The following is an edited transcript:

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DeKALB – The DeKalb wrestling team got a chance to go under the spotlight in its new home gym Thursday, and performed well in front of the home crowd.

Our weekly look at the prep wrestling scene