Wrestling: Naperville North Takes Second in DVC Tournament

WHEATON–Naperville North’s wrestling team finished the DuPage Valley Conference season with a 4-3 record, firmly in the middle of the pack of the league.

In Saturday’s DVC meet at Wheaton Warrenville South, however, the Huskies put it all together.

While Glenbard North ran away with its 13th straight DVC title with 290 points, Naperville North did the next best thing, creating just enough distance from West Aurora to place second with 180 points. West Aurora followed with 176½, while Naperville Central came in fifth with 159½.

“We were wrestling really solid,” North coach Tom Champion said. “It’s a fun team to coach this year. I don’t know what we placed, but I don’t care. I’m just happy with the way the kids wrestled.”

The Huskies had four wrestlers reach the finals, but none of them were able to win a title. Max O’Briecht (130 pounds), Frank McKeown (135), Steve Gutka (160) and Erik Krieger (171) all placed second.

McKeown fell to an opponent he beat earlier in the season, Naperville Central senior Josh Tardy. The match was tied 5-5 after two periods, but Tardy (29-6) received an escape point early in the third and held on for the 6-5 decision. In the regular season, McKeown (30-7) beat Tardy 5-3.

“I’ve beaten a lot of ranked kids, but this was the best one,” Tardy said. “It feels great, especially because it’s a rival. I lost to him earlier, and I beat him for the conference title. There’s no better feeling than that.”

McKeown knew it was going to be a battle coming into the finals, and he was dead on.

“He’s a tough kid,” McKeown said. “I’m confident in my conditioning, so I just wanted to wear him down. I thought if I could wear him down in the third, I could get some shots in. I just wanted to get one leg attack in, but he’s got good shot defense. I just have to work on a few things in practice and come back strong next week.”

Krieger was forced to injury default in the finals and had to be helped off the mat with an apparent knee injury. He later left the school on crutches, making his availability for next week’s Class 3A Naperville Central Regional a mystery.

“He wanted to wrestle, but with his restriction of leg movement, I don’t know what else you can do with that except wait and get a doctor involved,” Champion said. “Just a terrible way for him to end his conference meet.”

Tardy was the lone Redhawk to reach the finals. Central did have a trio of third-place finishers: Jon Williamson (125), Kirk Cherep (130) and James Mitchell (285). The Redhawks also had five fourth-place finishes.

The Huskies were bolstered by third-place finishes from Wayne Yuan (103) and Parfirio Gallegas (152) and a fourth-place finish from Juan Ramirez (119).

Download the movie