The Rochelle varsity wrestling team hung tough with arguably the top team in the Northern Illinois Big 12 West this season when the Hubs traveled to face Geneseo on Thursday.
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GENESEO — The Rochelle varsity wrestling team hung tough with arguably the top team in the Northern Illinois Big 12 West this season when the Hubs traveled to face Geneseo on Thursday.
Rochelle recorded strong victories at the heavier weights, with the Hubs winning six straight matches from 152 to 220 pounds. But the Maple Leafs dominated the lighter weights, and three forfeits hurt Rochelle as the Hubs fell 40-33 and dropped to 5-8 overall.
“I thought the boys came out fighting and they wrestled really hard,” head coach Alphonso Vruno said. “We’ve been talking about how we need to wrestle as hard as we can for six minutes, and every match is important when we’re giving up forfeits.”
Senior Jacob Fore defeated Geneseo’s Jayden Erdman by injury default at 152 after Erdman performed an illegal slam technique. Junior Zeke Horn topped Harrison Newuma by fall at 160 before junior Bryan Garza won by 3-0 decision against Will McKelvain at 170.
“Bryan moving down to 170 pounds really fits well for our lineup,” Vruno said. “We feel like we have a really good shot to win from 152 through 195 and that’s a really big part of our lineup. Getting him down was important, and we’ve really seen him step up recently.”
Sophomore Ben Harvey received a forfeit at 182, and junior Gavin Ansteth defeated Mick Mooney by 8-4 decision at 195. Senior Pedro Lopez won by fall over Garrett Toom at 220, but the Hubs forfeited matches at 285, 113 and 120 on Thursday. Anthony Montez won by fall over Rochelle sophomore Ivan Pineda at 106, and Luke Henkhaus topped Hub sophomore Grant Thompson by 9-0 major decision at 126.
Brandon Moore defeated Rochelle freshman Ethan Tooley by fall at 132 before Rochelle junior Keegan Davis edged Clay DeBallie by 2-1 decision at 138. Andrew Rizzo took down Hub freshman Osiris Lenker by 17-3 major decision at 145.
“It’s important for wrestlers like Grant, Ethan and Keegan to make an impact because they’re going to be wrestling after we give up two forfeits at 113 and 120,” Vruno said. “We give up 12 points at those two weights so it’s important for them to help get our team back on track.”
