Tigers pin down state berth

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GENESEO – Crystal Lake Central spent more than twice as much time on its bus ride as it did in defeating Washington, 46-23, on Tuesday at the IHSA Class 2A Dual Team Wrestling Geneseo Sectional.

The Tigers got six first-period pins – four in less than a minute – to put away the Panthers in about an hour and 15 minutes and earn a trip to the state finals at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington. Central will wrestle Sycamore, which beat Sterling, 41-23, in the quarterfinals, at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Tigers coach Justin Lehr said he told his team before the meet that he needed his horses – the wrestlers who qualified for the individual state finals last weekend – that he wanted them to go for pins to get extra points.

“We need bonus points, and [Washington] can’t get bonus points,” Lehr said of his strategy.

Six of the seven state qualifiers heeded their coach’s mandate and got pins – Trevor Jauch (125 pounds), Jason Fugiel (130), Christian Malouf (135), Taylor Servant (145), Joey Kielbasa (152) and Gage Harrah (285).

In the most interesting match, Central’s Austin Marsden, state champion at 189, wrestled Dylan Reel, state champion for Washington at 160. Marsden said that he didn’t think Lehr was serious when Lehr told him whom he was wrestling.

“Are you joking?” Marsden said of his reaction. “I did not expect that at all.”

Marsden was up, 2-0, heading into the third period, but then put Reel on his back three times for near falls to put the match away. The weight difference was noticeable, particularly when Reel tried to pick up Marsden and could not lift his heavier opponent.

Marsden said he didn’t alter his approach against Reel but was impressed with his quickness.

Central finished third last year at the dual team state finals and was eliminated by Montini, the team title winner, in the semifinals. This season, Montini and the Tigers are on different sides of the bracket and could meet in the finals.

“I love dual team state,” Marsden said. “We have a good shot of making it to the finals.”