Harlem too strong for Dundee-Crown

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:18AM

Starting with back-to-back pinfalls and scoring bonus points

throughout, Harlem proved to be simply too strong for Class 3A Sectional host

Dundee-Crown as the Huskies cruised to a 48-21 victory.

The victory kept Harlem unbeaten in duals at 23-0 while D-C's Chargers ended

their season at 13-11. In the site's other match, Barrington also stayed perfect

at 20-0 following a 39-5 win over Niles Notre Dame.

"The bonus points were definitely a key and I was glad to see our guys go after

pins or tech falls," Harlem coach Cale Ferry noted.

The Huskies started with a 12-0 lead when Jake Baxter chalked up a pinfall over

Dillon Muscat in 2:43 in the opening match at 130.

"Six points for the team is the best way to start," Baxter said. "I've trained

really hard and felt confident that I was in better shape and in control of the

match."

When Harlem's Jake Messink followed with a 3:55 stick of Tim Schanmeier, the

scoreboard had yet to use the third period indicator.

"Getting a pin is what Cale wants us to do," Messink said. "After hitting the

cisco I just pinned him. After individual state, I liked being back together as

a team and we want to keep going."

Dundee-Crown broke through on the scoreboard after the 140-pound bout when

Gustavo Jacobo chalked up a 9-3 decision over Max Kuhrt followed by a stunning

17-second pancaking by Alonzo Fuller at 145. For the D-C senior, it was a

measure of revenge for a sectional loss.

"That's a great win for Alonzo. He was hurting at sectionals and once we got him

to a dentist and helped out, he was able to focus on wrestling," D-C coach Al

Zinke noted.

"He wanted to throw me but I knew I was stronger and had the leverage," Fuller

explained. "By the sound he made when I put him on the mat I knew he was done.

As good as it felt for me to win, we wanted to go further as a team, but I guess

we just couldn't finish on top tonight."

That's because the strength of Harlem's line-up had yet to take the mat. The

Huskies got tech falls from Nick Massetti at 152 and from Josh Anthony, who was

fresh off a runner-up finish at 160 in Champaign. After 171-pounder Sean Jones

added a 7-2 decision, Harlem's Sage Hecox rebounded from a disappointing early

exit in Champaign to post a 3:12 pinfall and bump his record to 38-7.

Dundee-Crown kept the door open when 215-pounder Cody Churkey gained a 6-2

decision followed by heavyweight Raymond Griggel pulling out a hard-fought 5-4

decision to make it 31-15.

But then Harlem's Jordan Northrup, the state's No. 2 finisher at 103, slammed

the door shut with 16-0 tech fall in 2:37. Third-place finisher Zac Denny added

a 4:27 stick at 112 before 119-pound state champ Derek Elmore needed just 14

seconds to pin Elijah Velez.

The final 48-21 score was a result of Dundee-Crown's Travel Rounds coming

through with a 5:38 pinfall over Dwayne Milton at 125 pounds.

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