IHSA STATE DUAL TEAM WRESTLING FINALS: Second to none
07.03.2010, 14:12
When people drive into Dakota next year, there will be no shortage of signs greeting them at the edge of town.
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The Indians cemented their status in local history by adding their second team state title of the year with an overpowering 45-15 win over Wilmington in the finals of the IHSA Class A Dual Team wrestling tournament.
Dakota's wrestling trophy will enter a case that already holds its prize for winning the Class 2A state football championship this fall. Dakota is the first school in The Journal-Standard's coverage area to ever win two team state titles in one year - and did so without a single blemish.
“It feels good. We knew that we were the favorites coming in and we knew we were probably the best,” said Dakota senior Matt Wenger. “But we wanted to wrestle real good this last match. We just left no doubt.”
Indeed, the Indians (24-0) proved they were the best in a most emphatic fashion. Dakota established state dual team meet records for the most points (156) and the most pins (18).
Dakota coach Pete Alber said he made the team very aware of what it would take to set the state records in those categories. The Indians weren't just going after a state title; they were gunning for history. And they were doing it in front of a staunchly partisan audience.
“The boys got the job done,” Alber said. “They were really fired up. They were ready to goŠ look at the crowd behind them though. They had an unfair advantage for the other teams.”
Dakota shattered the record of 139 points in a tournament, which was set by old nemesis Lombard Montini last year. Roxana established the old record for most pins in 2004 with 16.
The Indians made it to the finals by blowing past Vandalia, 47-18, in the quarterfinals and then cruised past St. Joseph Ogden in the semifinals by a score of 64-11.
St. Joseph Ogden went on to place third.
“They're ranked first, they're undefeated, and they proved out on the mat that they're the best team in the state,” said St. Joseph Ogden coach Bill Gallo, Sr.
Two Dakota wrestlers, Seth Milks (103) and Vinny Alber (119) had pins in all three of their matches.
Fittingly, it was Milks' pin against Wilmington's Mike Busby that established the new tournament record, and it was Alber's pin of Ryan Nash that mathematically clinched the state title.
Paul Graybill and Wenger were nearly as dominant as Milks and Alber in their victories. Graybill and Wenger each won on a pair of pins and a major decision.
For Graybill, who wrestled at 160 pounds, the performance was sweet redemption after he had been bumped from the lineup in favor of Caleb Kraft in the individual sectionals.
“It's just great to be back wrestling with this team,” Graybill said. “Š It's just nice to see how when we get on a roll it just keeps going. It may look like we get lucky, but it just carries over.”
Luke Winterhalter also picked up two pins at 215 pounds, even though he only wrestled in the semifinals and finals due to rib and knee injuries.
Five other Indians recorded one fall: Tyler Olsen (140), Brandon Houghton (171), Scott Nicholas (275), Cody DeHaven (125) and Kraft (171).
Dakota is the first team not named Montini to win a Class A state title since Sandwich in 2001. The title is the first team wrestling championship in school history. The Indians finished fourth (1989), third (2005) and second (1994) in their three previous trips to the state tournament.
“It's special. We're thankful for it - we've got the two, three and four sitting at home and we finally got the No. 1 trophy,” Alber said. “So now that we've got the collection of four, I guess we'll just try to collect No. 1's.”
Polo, the other area team to qualify for the state tournament, was eliminated by St. Joseph Ogden in the quarterfinals, 48-15.
While the Marcos have qualified individuals to state before, this was the first team in school history to reach a state tournament.
Cort Lawton, Justin Bush and Scott Powell all won matches for Polo.
“When we did get our few wins, it was pretty nice to see the Polo fans all cheer,” said coach Mark Downey. “We surprised a lot of people this year. It was a good stepping-stone for our program and great for our community.”