Wrestling: Minooka beats Plainfield South for SPC title

Minooka (23-2, 9-0), which is ranked No. 5 in the state in Class 3A, won the first five matches to grab an early 27-0 lead. South (18-5, 8-1) won the final three matches to tighten the final score up.

The meet started at 182 pounds and the Indians followed the decision with three-straights falls before picking up another win because of an injury default. After Connor Colbert beat Will Johnston, 7-3, in the opener, Drew Gutknecht followed with a fall in 40 seconds at 195 pounds.

Connor Briley added a pin in 55 seconds before Derek Wentworth needed 1:16 to record another fall. South’s Gabe Hinkle used an early five-point move in the match at 106 but Jack McClimon evened things in the second period before the match was eventually stopped when Hinkle was unable to continue.

“Our start definitely set the tone for the team,” Briley said. “It definitely has been fun beating other teams that we’ve lost to in years past. Seeing teams that I’ve seen us lose to the three years prior to this, and beating them this year has been great to see. I like the drive and motivation that everyone has. It’s really special to be able to be in a room of guys who all have the same goal and just want to be able to compete with the toughest guys out there, and at the very least, let them know who they wrestled.”

The Cougars got their first win at 113 when Enzo Silva posted a 10-1 victory over Michael Carey. But Minooka answered with a win by technical fall from Austin Markee after that.

South claimed wins in two of the closest matches of the night. Andrew Cervantes used a first-period takedown to edge Zach McDowell, 3-1, at 126 and then Zach Kolb was allowed to escape to start the final period as he pulled out a 3-2 victory over Cody Hoshell.

But coach Bernie Ruettiger’s Indians answered with two big victories as Adam McDowell won 17-8 over Noah Bickett and Noah Boles followed with a fall in 2:20 to give the visitors a 42-10 advantage with three matches remaining.

“This is only the beginning,” Boles said. “We’re busting our butts every day in practice. Losing to these guys last year at regionals was huge for us and it hurt. So we wanted to come out here and give them a statement and show them that we’re the best. Growing up and watching all of those guys on the state teams and then being top-five in the state now is huge for us. I love how close we are since we’re probably one of the closest teams in the state. Everyone gets along and we all push each other every day during practice.”

The Cougars responded with victories in the next two matches as Jake Kendall beat Jake Ryan 5-2 at 152 and Erik Santiago followed with a 16-7 triumph over Danny Debow. And then in the finale at 170, Dan Caldwell recorded a fall in 3:21.

Cougars coach Jason Acevedo acknowledged that Minooka capitalized on the bonus points to put in control on this night. But his squad battled, only falling 8-6 in matches with one of those coming by injury default, he knows that things will play out differently in the regional.

“It was basically a matter of bonus points,” Acevedo said. “They’re a great program and a great team right now with a lot of seniors and to their credit, they took the hammer down. So hat’s off to them since Bernie and his staff do a nice job. So it’s time for us to regroup and get ready for regionals. We know what to work on and we’re going to get ready since it’s going to be a battle. This regional is going to much different than in years past and will be an absolute battle with good kids who don’t go to sectionals. Now it’s time to get our kids ready to go.”