Wrestling: Hubs continue winning ways against Freeport

10 Rochelle athletes earn victories during 57-24 win Wednesday.

By Russ Hodges, Sports Editor
Posted 1/23/24

Sophomore Deegan Schabacker’s increased focus has led to a starting role on the Rochelle Hub varsity wrestling team this season.

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Wrestling: Hubs continue winning ways against Freeport

10 Rochelle athletes earn victories during 57-24 win Wednesday.

Posted

ROCHELLE — Sophomore Deegan Schabacker’s increased focus has led to a starting role on the Rochelle Hub varsity wrestling team this season. Schabacker was one of 10 Hub wrestlers to score wins during Wednesday evening’s 57-24 nonconference victory against Freeport.

Schabacker took the mat for the first bout of the evening, facing off against Freeport’s Josh Avila in the 132-pound match. The sophomore needed only 42 seconds to win the match, notching a first-period takedown and fall to give the Hubs a 6-0 lead. Freshman Josh Lassiter followed with a first-period takedown and fall against Freeport’s Mathias Rada to claim the 138-pound bout.

“This season has been awesome,” Schabacker said. “It’s been up and down for me, but I’ve gotten a lot better and I’m starting to win a lot more matches. I feel like I’m taking practice a lot more seriously and I’ve been giving it my all a lot more than I did last season. We’re hoping to go all the way and make it to the team state meet. We also want to get as many people to state as we can. We’re all really close with each other and it’s awesome how we’re all friends.”

Sophomore Brenden Voight put Rochelle (22-6, 5-0 Interstate 8) ahead 18-0 with a first-period takedown and fall over Dayvion Fernandez in the 144-pound bout. Freeport recorded its first two wins of the dual at the 150-pound and 157-pound weight classes, where Maddux Olson and Kyle Clem notched back-to-back falls over freshman Angel Hernandez and junior Matt Lynn.

Junior Grant Gensler snapped the winless stretch with a 20-4 technical fall over Sajjad Abdulrazzaq, winning the 165-pound bout with four takedowns and two near falls. Sophomore Roman Villalobos followed with a first-period takedown and fall over Michael Tillmon to take the 175-pound bout and senior Brock Metzger received a forfeit in the 190-pound bout.

Freeport’s final wins came during the 215-pound and 285-pound bouts, where Dawson Holland secured a first-period takedown and fall over senior Frank Decena and Sami Odeh took a forfeit from the Hubs, who received a forfeit for sophomore Freddie Hernandez in the 106-pound bout. Sophomore Keagan Albers earned a hard-fought win over Thomas Olson in the 113-pound bout, scoring a 12-4 major decision behind three takedowns, one reversal and one near fall.

The dual concluded with Rochelle wins over the 120-pound and 126-pound bouts. Sophomore Tony Milburn compiled two near falls and a reversal before pinning Caveion Boose and junior Xavier Villalobos notched two takedowns and a fall over Anton Young in the 126-pound bout.