WRESTLING ROUNDUP Sandburg soars to invitational title Eagles dominate at Wheeling; Barrington best at Prospect

Sandburg's Eagles are flying in the right direction after winning10 weight classes and capturing the Wheeling Invitational title with248 points Saturday.

There are high expectations with this group," Sandburg coach MikePolz said. We have 90 percent of the group going hard. Every weekthey've made adjustments, and they're getting better."

No. 3 Sandburg got pins from Brandon Precin (125), Ryan Precin(130), Mike Anello (140), Eric Pretto (145) and Ben Friedl (152).Brett Ambrosino (160) had a major, and Matt Schmeski (112), MattCusick (135), Clinton Polz (171) and Eric Rettke (275) earneddecisions.

Everyone in the room is strong," Anello said. We all go at eachother hard; there's never a break. Our JV guys give us a battle. Ourcoaches are always pushing us all the time."

Sophomore Cusick earned the outstanding wrestler award with amajor, a pin and a 6-3 win over Wheeling's Matt Smith in the final.

Lincoln-Way Central was second with 179 points; Wheeling scored140.5. The Knights were led by Josh Kratovil (103) and Thomas Gagan(119), who pinned Grayslake's Dan Lund in the first period. Gagan (6-1), who had three pins on the day to give him six for the season, hasbeen using his Mills quite well.

I am charged up this year," said Gagan, who reached the statequarterfinals last year. I am focused on what to do. I have to go getit.

When I wrestled [in junior high] with the Little Celtics, we usedthe Mills all the time. It's been working well for me so far."

St. Laurence's Scott Sands (189) had two majors and a technicalfall on the day. Sands will get his first big test when the Vikingsface Mount Carmel and host St. Rita on Wednesday. Grayslake's DavidQuedens (215) beat Lincoln-Way's Chris Coccaro 4-1.

*Barrington won the Prospect Invitational with 200.5 points. TheBroncos were led by Nate Horswill (112), Andy McArthur (119) andChris Ciepley (130).

Kent Roome (160) and Jonny Brennan (103) led the way for Prospect,which finished in second place with 182 points.

Fremd (171.5 points) was led by Robert Panayi (215), who had threepins -- all in the first period. Buddy Dudczak (275), Jake Jobst(152) and Joe VanWetering (125) also were winners.

Maine South's Rich Loera defeated Prospect's Justin Milos 6-4 inthe 171-pound final.