Area wrestling title hopes are all gone
By Mike Clark mclark@suntimes.com February 15, 2013 9:34PM
Marmion Academy's Johnny Jimenez (right) locks up with Glenbard North's Jon Marmolejo. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: March 17, 2013 6:38PM
CHAMPAIGN — A rough day for Lake County wrestlers ended in surprising fashion Friday night at Assembly Hall.
Springfield Southeast’s Copache Tyler pinned Carmel’s Jake Cochrane in 1:54 in the Class 2A semifinals, wrapping up an 0-5 round for local wrestlers.
Cochrane (42-2) was ranked second in 2A at heavyweight by Illinois Best Weekly and was bidding to become Carmel’s first finalist since 1992 and first champ ever. Tyler (36-1) is ranked sixth.
Losing earlier in the semifinals were Stevenson 145-pounder Justin Weber in Class 3A and three Class 2A competitors: Wauconda teammates Devin Tortorice at 132 and Nate Magiera at 220, and Vernon Hills 106-pounder Jordan Reich.
All five semifinal losers still are alive to earn medals.
Weber (40-4) fell 22-9 to returning 145 state runner-up and top-ranked Bryce Brill of Mount Carmel.
Tortorice [39-5) lost 4-0 to Springfield’s Randall Taborn, while Magiera (35-2) was beaten 8-5 by top-ranked Lucas Joseph of East Peoria. Reich (44-6) fell 4-3 to Oak Forest’s Danny Swan.
Six more Lake County wrestlers advanced to Saturday’s quarterfinal wrestlebacks with Friday wins.
Moving on in Class 3A were Grant’s Nick Koch (37-10) at 106 and Tony Cashmore (31-2) at 182, along with Libertyville’s Austin Pettinato (28-7) at 145.
Staying alive in Class 2A were Antioch teammates Briley Schultz (34-15) at 106 and Mike Gussarson (38-11) at 132, as well as Vernon Hills’ David Pierce (41-8) at 145.
