Wrestling: Chance Shea off to quick start for Lake Forest

Updated: November 29, 2011 6:18PM

Chance Shea has no intention of wasting his final opportunity.

The Lake Forest High School senior has made quite a statement in the opening week, collecting three pins during a 4-0 start at 170 pounds.

“It’s my last chance to make my mark,” Shea said.

A rigorous offseason featured plenty of wrestling and countless trips to the weight room.

“I’m in the best shape of my life,” Shea said. “It’s my eighth year of wrestling; it’s all been building up to this.”

First-year coach Matt Fiordirosa has been impressed by this veteran.

“This is his senior year and he knows it,” Fiordirosa said. “Chance knew he wanted to have a good senior year, so he’s been working real hard.”

When Fiordirosa looks at Shea, he sees someone eager to make something happen.

“You can tell he’s more focused (this year),” the coach said. “He has some good turning moves (for pins), and he’s very strong.”

All three of Shea’s pins came during a triple dual Saturday at Buffalo Grove. The other Scouts who picked up pins were Alex Wesolowski and Morgan Layton.

Winning attitude: Fiordirosa, who was an assistant at LFHS the past two years, brings a history of winning to the table. During his days at Grant, he collected IHSA state medals in 2002 (2nd at 135) and 2003 (4th at 140).

“He’s a great coach,” Shea observed. “He really pushes us and conditions us. He’s definitely improving things.”

Fiordirosa, who spent several years competing in mixed martial arts, is currently obtaining a teaching degree from Trinity International University.

Youth movement: The Scouts only have 19 kids in the entire program. But there is help on the way.

At the recent Wauconda Invitational, the Scouts had a trio of placers in this frosh-soph event. Sophomore Regis Durbin earned a 170 title, while freshman Peter Glyman (2nd at 106) and Ryan Wang (3rd at 126) also collected medals.

Durbin, who competes at the same weight as Shea, figures to break into the varsity lineup in the near future.

Fiordirosa is trying to raise the visibility of wrestling at LFHS. The club will host a “Youth Wrestling Appreciation Night” on Dec. 1 during a triangular against St. Viator and Marian Central.

“We want to introduce the sport of wrestling to the kids and the parents,” Fiordirosa said. “We want to get the kids from Deer Path involved in wrestling.”

During the event, members of the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff community will have an opportunity to meet LFHS wrestlers and coaches. The meet begins at 5:30 p.m.

The coach believes the future is bright.

“We have some tough freshmen that we’ll build around,” he said. “We’re taking small steps.”

Busy weekend: The varsity will compete on Dec. 2 when Warren visits for a North Suburban Lake dual. On Dec. 3, the Scouts travel to Skokie for the Niles North Super Duals.

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.