The IHSA 3A State Wrestling Meet, is once again at the State Farm Center at the University of Illinois. 14 weight division champions in class 3A decided on day 3 but first we start with the 3rd and 5th place matches.
First up in the afternoon is Metea Valley senior and three time state qualifier, Phillip Sims. The Mustang competing at 145 pounds and facing Kevin Countryman of Providence Catholic in the third place match. Sims goes to work quickly, picking up 2 points on a takedown in the first 15 seconds, coach Claudio Torres is pleased at the fast start.
It would go that way the entire match, as Sims slams the door with another takedown late in the third to secure a 13-7 victory and the 3rd place medal. An all state performance to end his high school career.
The only loss for Sims came in the semi finals against defending state champion Trevor Chumbley. The Marmion Academy senior defends his title with this escape point in overtime against Fidel Mayora of Montini in the 145 championship.
5th place match at 170 pounds features Naperville Central senior Jackson Punzel and Jordan Chisum of Zion Benton. Punzel started the tournament with a pair of convincing wins but was defeated by friendly rival Jake Boumans on Neuqua Valley 8-1 in the semi finals.
Not a lot of scoring through the first two periods, but near the end of the second Punzel finally gains control and gets two points to take the lead.
30 seconds into the third period, Punzel finishes his Redhawk career with a win and an all state finish by taking the 5th place spot on the podium. Teammates Ben Cianchetti, Tyler Driessens and Colin Baumgardner were also state qualifiers, but only Punzel made it to day three.
Another 5th place match with the heavyweights as Neuqua Valley senior Roberto Pena made it all the way to the final day despite losing his opening match on Thursday.
Junior Lloyd Reynolds of Libertyville is his 5th place opponent and neither wrestler giving an inch for much of the match. In the 2nd period it’s Pena who racks up a couple of near fall points, but he can’t secure the pin and Reynolds escapes to pick up a point of his own.
Near the end of the match, Reynolds simply doesn’t have enough left in the tank to get Pena off his feet and the Wildcat senior ends his career with an all state finish as well. A 3-1 victory by decision for Pena.
It’s time for the main event, the grand march around the arena as Neuqua Valley senior Jake Boumans and head coach Mike Mucha (moo-cha) head to the championship match against top seed David Ferrante of Huntley.
Boumans with three wins by decisions of 7-0, 5-0, and 8-1 en route to the title match.
Ferrante on the offensive early as Boumans does all he can to prevent the takedown, but it’s two points for Ferrante. But the Wildcat slips free for the escape point to keep it close early.
Lots of action in the first as Ferrante flips Boumans onto his back, racking up three near fall points for a 7-1 lead, but Boumans doesn’t let his shoulders touch and keeps fighting long enough to get two points on a reversal.
But 20 seconds into the third period, the Huntley junior shows off his quickness and strength, getting the shoulders down to secure the pinfall victory and a cartwheel for good measure. Jake Boumans with one of the best seasons in Neuqua history with a runner up finish and a 40 and 4 record on the season. Ferrante improves to 45 and 2 with his championship victory.
In the 182 pound championship, Glenbard North senior Abe Assad became a two time state champion in historic fashion, breaking the IHSA record for fastest pinfall victory at 182 with a time of 1:54 over runner up Jon Halvorsen from Maine South. Congratulations to all the IHSA wrestlers on a great season.
