Proviso West prevails at Hinsdale South

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:52PM

Bonus points are the supreme difference-maker in multi-team wrestling tournaments.

Saturday at the 12-team Hinsdale South Invite in Darien, Proviso West added yet more ammunition to the belief the West Suburban Silver is the deepest wrestling league in the state.

The Panthers, seventh in their division last year, crowned three champions and had four runners-up to edge league rival Downers Grove North (four champions), 225-213.

Kennard Washington (145 pounds) and Malik Thurman (160) combined for seven falls to lead the Panthers to the team title.

"Pinning is huge in any type of wrestling competition," Proviso West coach Robert Wortel said. "This is the first time we've won a major tournament in recent memory. In at least the last 15 years. The 1968 team was the best wrestling team in Proviso West history. We're aiming to be right with them."

"I just wanted to get off the mat," said Washington. "(I) wanted to get the most points, the bonus points, for the team."

Thurmond, one of two returning state qualifiers for Proviso West, improved to 10-1 with his three falls.

"I have been wrestling with a new philosophy," Thurmond said. "I was wrestling off my opponents' mistakes. They were aggressive, and I took over off it."

Julius Johnson secured a major decision over Downers North senior Brendan Johnson for the Panthers' third individual crown.

But it was Shaquille Pittman who was the unsung hero for the Panthers' team championship, according to Wortel.

With regular 189-pounder Rasheen Lemon, a returning state qualifier, on a college visit, the junior, surrendering nearly 20 pounds to his foes, won three critical matches.

"I found out about it on Tuesday," Pittman said. "I figured I couldn't say no. My team needed me. I would have wrestled at 215 pounds."

"Without him we don't take first," said Wortel.

Pittman was vanquished by Downers North senior Zach Lommatzch, who ran his consecutive pins streak to start the season to 10 with his championship efforts.

"I plan on making it to state this year," said Lommatzch.

The heart and soul of the Downers North program is Jimmy Nehls.

The three-time state qualifier needed only 16 seconds to terminate his first match, and his final two opponents met the same fate.

"I have a lot of confidence going into every match," Nehls said.

Maxx Lozano and David Tessiatore made it three straight wins for the Trojans with back-to-back wins at 135 and 140 pounds.

Fenwick crowned bookend champions: junior Matt Garelli terminated his championship match early at 103, and senior heavyweight Steve Sreniawski was untested in his three wins.

"I knew there were going to be guys gunning after me," Garelli said. "I knew I had to continue my shots."

The Friars were nosed out by Hinsdale South for fourth place.

The host Hornets had two champions in Sebastian Picque (112) and Marc Kosiek (119),

"I was sick last week at our tournament (Wheaton Warrenville South) and didn't wrestle very well," said Picque, the Hornets' lone returning state qualifier.

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