Sports
Wrestling: Lemont Boasts Record Seven Medalists at State Finals
Seniors Jake Kaminsky and Eric Kirkman were IHSA Class 2A runners-up in their respective weight classes Saturday.
Just one week after advancing a school-record 10 wrestlers to the IHSA Class 2A State Finals, Lemont High School made history again Saturday.
Head coach John St. Clair’s team finished the competition with seven medalists—more than double the school's previous best total (three medals in both 2009 and 2010). Only three-time defending Class 2A dual team state champion Montini Catholic (10) had more medalists at the event, which was contested at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.
Included among the seven medalists were seniors Jake Kaminsky and Eric Kirkman, who were runners-up in the 152-and 170-pound weight classes, respectively. Senior John Tomala was third at 195 pounds, while seniors Mark Kirkman and Glenn Malecki were fourth at 160 and 132 pounds, respectively.
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Senior Jake Latanski was fifth at 126 pounds, as was junior Chris Giatras in the 182-pound weight class.
The top six wrestlers in each weight class earn medals.
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Kaminsky (43-4) came up just short of finishing an undefeated postseason run. An IHSA Regional and Sectional champion, he won his preliminary, quarterfinal and semifinal matches in the state finals by decision. He battled Sycamore's Austin Culton before falling by a 2-1 final.
Eric Kirkman (42-7) also won his first three state finals matches before falling in the final to Marian Catholic's Nathan Jackson.
Tomala (41-6) won four of five matches on his way to finishing third at 195 pounds. He had a tough first-round draw, as he fell to eventual state runner-up Joey Valdivia of Grayslake Central. Tomala bounced back, winishing three straight matches in the wrestlebacks. In the third-place match, he handed Sycamore's Jake Davis just his third loss of the season, winning by a 6-2 decision.
Mark Kirkman (36-10) went 4-2 on his way to a fourth-place finish. After suffering a quarterfinal loss to eventual state runner-up Austin Armetta of Mahomet-Seymour, Kirkman was dominant in the wrestlebacks. He won once by major decision and twice by fall before losing a 5-3 overtime decision to Richmond-Burton's Brett O'Kane in the third-place match.
Malecki (34-10), making his second state finals appearance in as many years, finished fourth in the 132-pound class after posting a 4-2 record in the state finals.
Latanski (40-10) went 4-2 overall and finished fifth to earn his second state medal of his career (he finished fourth in 2010).
Making his second straight appearance in the state finals, Giatras (40-6) finished fifth after winning three of five contests.
Also competing for Lemont on Saturday was seniors Bobby Bromberek (21-7) and Mike Devitt (31-15), and freshman Jimmy Brennan (31-17).
Lemont’s seven medalists 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).
For the complete results, visit www.ihsa.org.
RELATED STORIES: Lemont High School IHSA Playoff Success
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