Sports
Swimmers and Wrestlers Battle at State
Both of Barrington's teams unable to advance at state meets.
In a rough weekend at state meets, Barrington's swimmers and wrestlers end their seasons.
Bronco Wrestlers Lose in State's Quarterfinals
When an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, something has to give.
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Barrington wrestling, after finishing fourthin state last year, has been on a collision course with the IHSA 3A state wrestling dual meet tournament in downstate Bloomington held Saturday, Feb. 25, thanks in part to their undefeated record in dual meets this season and being ranked fifth in the state.
The Broncos defeated Niles North (Notre Dame) in convincing fashion, 39 to 5, at the Dundee-Crown sectional to move on to the quarterfinals at the Bloomington state meet. Coach Alex Strobl knew the team would have a battle on their hands at every weight class when facing Orland Park (Sandburg), the number one ranked team in the state, who also cruised to their quarterfinals match by defeating Granite City 60-9.
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“[Sandburg] is number one for a reason,” Strobl said after the team's match with Niles North. "We will throw everything at them."
Things looked good for the Broncos as they slipped out to an early lead at the meet as junior Daniel Davidson (215) wrestled his way to a victory that gave Barrington a 7-4 lead. The squad looked poised to build on their momentum with senior Aaron Castagna (285), who finished fifth place at state in the individual competition, but he would face Chris Lopez who happened to finish second at state. Castagna would be unable to help the team capitalize on their lead as he would fall in a decision and (103) so to freshman Matt Sheehy that would give Sandburg an 11-7 advantage.
Barrington would get back the lead quickly at 13-11 after junior Adrian Gonzalez (112) would manage a pin. Unfortunately for Barrington that would be the last time the team would have the lead, as Orland Park would navigate through the heart of Barrington's line-up by reeling off five straight wins (three majors) before Barrington's (145) category which the Bronco's would forfeit.
Normally this weight class is occupied by senior Dakota Wapotish, who has been wrestling through a right shoulder injury of late, and had a gritty performance in his win against Notre Dame, but the forfeit would add to the Bronco deficit, but at this point the match was all but over for Barrington mathematically.
The Broncos would eventually lose to Sandburg 35-23; however, the score was more deceiving then the actual matches portrayed as Barrington and Sandburg battled throughout the meet and in 13 of the 14 weight categories (forfeit).
Barrington failed to advance pass the quarterfinals and were eliminated from the tournament while Sandburg completed the tournament in third after losing in a rematch with the states soon to be crowned, Carol Stream (Glenbard North).
Bronco Swimmers Unable to Advance
After cruising through and winning the MSL Conference meet and then qualifying in nine different events for state at Sectionals, the Broncos had high hopes for a strong finish to their season at state. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned for the Broncos as the team failed to have any swimmers advance past the Feb. 25 preliminaries at the IHSA state swimming and diving competition held at Winnetka (New Trier).
Not much can happen in .08 seconds, but that was just enough time for Barrington's senior swimmer Matt Lee to end an incredible season at the 50-yd freestyle during the state meet. Lee ended the Friday preliminaries tied for 16th place in the event with a time of 21.64, just .08 seconds (21.56) off the time necessary to advance to Saturday's finals. A disappointing end to Lee's senior season and career at Barrington, especially since he had been swimming really strong of late, taking first at the MSL Conference meet in the 50 yd, and then capturing first a week later at sectionals and qualifying for state by finishing first with a time of 21.55.
Lee, who is also part of two relay teams (200 yd freestyle and 400 yd freestyle), failed to make it past the Friday preliminaries, and all three of Barrington's relay teams that had qualified for state were unable to make it to Saturday's finals. The highest any of the relay teams finished was 20th (200-yard freestyle relay). Barrington's 200 and 400 yd. freestyle relay teams lost to New Trier, the swim team that won the state's toughest meet with 217 team points, 54 points higher than second place finisher Naperville Central who completed the meet with 163 team points.
Also coming up short at the IHSA meet were freshman Connor Kobida (17th in the 100 yd breaststroke with 59.69, .7 off the qualifying time) and sophomore Jack Strauss (19thplace finish in the 100 yd freestyle with 47.72, just .34 off the qualifying time) giving these underclassman valuable state competition experience and leaving the Bronco team in good hands and poised for a run at state next year.