School-Record 10 Lemont Wrestlers Qualify for State Finals

Ten wrestlers are headed to the IHSA Class 2A state finals this week after turning in some of the school's most successful sectional performances to date.

Lemont dominated its home sectional Saturday as all 10 of the school's competitors finished among the top four in their respective weight classes and set a school record for number of state finals qualifiers. The school's previous record for the most state qualifiers was six, which occurred in both 2009 and 2010.

The IHSA Class 2A individual finals will be contested Thursday through Saturday at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Lemont senior Jake Kaminsky and junior Chris Giatras won sectional titles at the 152-and 182-pound weight classes, respectively; Giatras and seniors Jake Latanski and Glenn Malecki all earned return trips to the state finals. 

Eight of Lemont’s 10 qualifiers—Giatras, Kaminsky, Latanski, Malecki and seniors Bobby Bromberek, Eric Kirkman, Mark Kirkman and John Tomala—already have state finals experience after competing in at least one of the program’s three IHSA Class 2A dual team finals appearances from 2009-11.

Head coach John St. Clair’s team advanced 10 wrestlers to the sectional from the IHSA Evergreen Park Regional, and all 10 earned state finals berths.

Kaminsky (40-3) won by technical fall in the championship match at 152 pounds, while Giatras (37-4) needed just 72 seconds to pin his opponent in the title match at 182 pounds.

Three Indians were runners-up in their respective classes: Latanski (36-8) at 126 pounds, Mark Kirkman (32-8) at 160 pounds, and Eric Kirkman (39-6) at 170 pounds.

Third-place finishers were Malecki (30-8) at 132 pounds, Bromberek (21-6) at 138 pounds, and Tomala (37-5) at 195 pounds. Senior Mike Devitt (31-13) and freshman Jimmy Brennan (32-15) finished fourth at 145 and 220 pounds, respectively.

Lemont’s 10 representatives all are looking to build on the school’s past success at the IHSA state finals. Lemont’s state medalists have included Paul Burke (4th, 119-1984), Brian Diaz (3rd, 167-1984), Angel Cabral (1st, 285-2009; 1st, 285-2010), Marvin Drummond (4th, 132-1975), Dave Festin (2nd, 132-1974), Mike Freemantle (4th, 140-1990), Jamal Hamdan (4th, Hwt.-1986), Jehad Hamdan (2nd, 167-1988), Ryan Hennebry (5th, 125-2000), Gordon Kickels (4th, 189-2007; 5th, 189-2008), Latanski (4th, 103-2010), Matt Leibforth (3rd, 135-2009; 1st, 135-2010), Joe Long (6th, 215-2005), Andrew Mason (4th, 103-2009) and Derek Nagel (2nd, 160-2011).

The IHSA state finals will begin with first-round matches at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Tickets fare $8 or $10 per session; all-session passes are available for $40 or $50. Tickets may be purchased at Assembly Hall.

For the complete schedule, visit www.ihsa.org.

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