Wilmington wins another I-8 title

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:38AM

Another season, another title for Wilmington's wrestling team.

Wednesday night saw the Wildcats (28-4, 11-0) claim the Interstate Eight Conference championship with a 39-25 win over Coal City (19-11,7-4).

The match was a typical Wildcat--Coaler confrontation. Each team had great respect for their opponent and knew that there was a battle to be won.

"Almost everything went well for us tonight," Wilmington coach Rob Murphy said. "You have to come into a meet with Coal City and be ready and well-prepared or you will leave with a loss.

"We know how tough an opponent they are."

Wilmington won the first two matches, then 130-pound senior Robert Shoemaker of Coal City pinned Tony Sinchak in 47 seconds and the battle was on.

Wilmington won the next three matches by decision to build an 18-6 lead, but Coal City did not throw in the towel Senior Nick Skrapates (152) pinned Don Hays in 1:47 to again close the scoring gap to 18-12.

The next match saw Wilmington's Jason Conlin hurt his neck and be unable to finish giving the win to Ryan Naples of Coal City and tying the score at 18. Wilmington then hit their stride by winning five of the last six matches, giving them the victory.

Coach Murphy was quick to say that 103-pound sophmore Ryan Boyle has stepped up.

"He has been a back up for us at the beginning but lately he beat the No. 7 rated wrestler in Class 1A," Murphy said. "Tonight he had a very close match, losing 5-2 aginst Casey Brown from Coal City who is ranked sixth.

"This is what it is all about, wrestling for your team."

"Tonight was tough and it seems our kids wrestle up to their competition," Coal City coach Mark Masters said. "Again, tonight - like in other meets - we just cannot seem to finish.

"We cannot win the close matches. Wilmington is a great rival with a very strong tradition of success in the conference and in state competition. That is where I want Coal City to be."

Wilmington and Coal City will compete this weekend at the conference tournament to be held at Westmont.

Both coaches are looking for a tough tournament with the possibility of 3-4 teams being able to come out of the tourney with the trophy.

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