Chapman finishes his prep career in style

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Shakhiem Chapman of Warren controls Marist’s Josh Pruitt in the third-place match at last weekend’s state tourney. | MATTHEW GROTTO~SUn-TIMES MEDIA

Updated: April 23, 2012 1:51AM

After losing a heartbreaking decision in the quarterfinals, Shakhiem Chapman’s trip to the Class 3A state tournament could have gone either of two ways.

While many would have quickly exited in the wrestlebacks, the Warren senior responded to the disappointment by winning four straight matches.

And all those wins were by three points or less, including of pair of victories that had to go into overtime before they were decided.

The end result was a third-place showing at 195 pounds for Chapman, who capped a 43-3 season by capturing a medal in his first state trip.

“I’m very excited about how I did,” Chapman said. “I worked hard all season and have some wonderful teammates who’ve helped me out. Also some people have cheered me on throughout the whole tournament, like my mom and some of my old coaches.

“This is my first state trip and I was able to place, so I’m so happy. I had two overtime matches but I worked hard and got through it. Ever since the summer, I’ve been waiting for this moment where I would place and see my dream come true.”

As a result, he became just the fifth different Blue Devil to place in the top six at state in the last 23 years, and just the eighth ever from the school.

His showing was the fourth-best by a Warren wrestler, and the program’s best since 1989, when Mike Frecking was a runner-up.

After pinning Wheaton North’s Kellen Cleveland in 1:13 in his opener, Chapman dropped a 7-6 quarterfinal decision to Joliet West’s Matt Koran.

In the wrestlebacks, he beat Proviso West’s Daniel Goree 5-2 and then edged Naperville Central’s Ryan Berg 3-1 in overtime to assure himself of a medal.

Chapman followed that up with a 5-3 overtime win over Glenbard North’s Dan Eldridge before defeating Marist’s Josh Pruitt 6-4 in the third-place match.

The Blue Devils had one other qualifier, junior Danny Hicks at 170, but unlike Chapman, things didn’t go his way in a close match in the wrestlebacks.

After getting pinned by Marist’s Alex Benoit in 1:45 in his initial match, Hicks fell 7-6 to Granite City’s Josh Dowdy to finish with a 33-9 record.