Wrestling: 2A field at state rocks Notre Dame wrestlers

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Niles, 1/7/11--Terry Calkins, (left) of Maine South, and Scott Smith, of Notre Dame, battle it out in the 120 lbs weight class. | Vincent D. Johnson~for Sun-Times Media.

Updated: March 24, 2012 8:34AM

Notre Dame head coach Augie Genovesi affectionately describes two-time state qualifier Scott Smith as “vertically challenged.”

The diminutive senior gave away a little too much leverage to taller opponents in the 120-pound class, but excelled after dropping to 113 five weeks ago. By placing first in both the Class 2A Notre Dame Regional and Grayslake Central Sectional, Smith easily made State again after qualifying in 3A at 112 last season.

Smith (29-13) came within one win of a top-six finish and medal in the 2A individual state meet held Feb. 16-18 at Assembly Hall in Champaign.

Each by a six-point margin, the Dons veteran won, lost and won his first three matches. Montini’s Jordan Laster eliminated Smith 15-7 in the wrestleback quarterfinals and went on to place third for his second straight top-four finish.

“We knew Scott would do well at 113. He did a good job at state, but finally just ran into someone better,” said Genovesi.

Notre Dame popped no corks in Champaign. Smith registered the Dons’ only two victories. Their seven other qualifiers went a combined 0-9, confirming that 2A’s top wrestlers are right up there with the best of 3A.

“In most cases, we just got beat by better people,” Genovesi said. “I’ve got no complaints about any of our guys. We have had a lot of injuries, used 34 guys and kept on going. We had eight state qualifiers, which was outstanding. Our goal was to get downstate as a team, which is still ahead of us.”

By winning its regional, Notre Dame qualified for the Woodstock dual-team sectional and was set to face Crystal Lake Central on Tuesday. Eight winning teams from four sectionals advance to dual-team state at Bloomington’s U. S. Cellular Coliseum on Saturday.

Ranked No. 3 in 2A by Illinois Matmen, Notre Dame drew No. 1 Montini as its potential quarterfinal opponent.

In the individual state tourney, the IHSA uses an abbreviated format in the wrestlebacks. A first-round loser is eliminated if his opponent loses his next match. That one-and-done scenario befell five Dons. It was an especially bitter pill for 220-pound senior Ryan Walsh (28-10) to swallow after a 1-0 defeat.

Junior Joe Cortese (23-7, 152), already a two-time state qualifier, was abruptly gone after a tight 4-2 loss. The same fate awaited freshman Jimmy Gallardo (29-10, 106) following a 6-4 setback. Burlington Central’s Johnny Major went on to claim a medal after controlling junior Roark Whittington (34-8, 145) 8-0.

Kevin Stahmer (32-8, 182) was severely hampered by a high ankle sprain and exited after a 5-0 loss. Stahmer, Notre Dame’s bellwether and a two-time state qualifier, suffered the injury with one second left in his final sectional match. He wore a boot all week and could not put any weight on his foot.

“Ryan just couldn’t get away. Joe was right there, but it’s been tough for him after missing a month with a (separated) shoulder,” said Genovesi. “Jimmy made mistakes that a freshman makes, but the effort is always there. We knew how good Roark’s guy was. Kevin could hardly walk.”

Seniors Tim Donnelly (32-12, 138) and Jimmy Biancofiori (27-9, 132), who each worked hard to drop a weight in January, both drew two rugged opponents. Missing a front tooth and battling a sore shoulder, Donnelly lost by a second-round pin and 11-4 margin. Biancofiori, an ESCC and sectional champion, nearly solved Oak Forest medalist Jay Muller in a 6-4 defeat before falling to Yorkville’s Jacob Hunt.

In 2A, nine of Montini’s 13 qualifiers finished among the top six, and seven of No. 2 Lemont’s 10 claimed medals. Fenwick’s Matt Garelli (120), who edged Montini’s KeVon Powell in an overtime finale, and Richmond-Burton’s Jake Dechow (182) went all the way to stay undefeated. Garelli, Crystal Lake Central’s Gage Harrah (195) and Marmion’s Johnny Jimenez (113) earned their second state titles.

In 3A, ESCC champion Marist led with six medalists, and Lane Tech’s Max Schneider (40-0, 152) became the first two-time state champ from Chicago’s Public League in the last 59 years.