By Ed Muniz
All year long wrestling coaches throughout the city kept saying the top team in the Chicago Public League was the defending city champion Indians of Lane Tech; and rightfully so. The Indians defeated every city school they faced coming into the City Championships which included contenders Mather and Kelly high schools.
Last year Lane Tech managed to win the City Championship with Kelly finishing up the bridesmaid, due mostly to the Indians first-day lead. Kelly had beaten Lane in a dual meet earlier last season, but was unable to catch the Indians on day two.
With so many high schools, the city is divided into four sectionals which in essence are tournaments on Friday to determine who advances to the city finals on Saturday. The top three place winners at each weight advance. Teams scoring tallies are also forwarded.
Last year it benefited Lane Tech, this year the roles flip-flopped. Lane Tech defeated Kelly in their dual meet, but Kelly carried a 27-point lead into day two. This time it was Lane Tech that just couldn’t catch the Kelly. The Trojans, in just their sixth season with a team, took their first-ever City Championship. Kelly (278) outlasted runner-up Lane Tech (254). Mather was third with 188 points.
“We knew we had to do a bump with everyone,” said Kelly coach Joe Joyce. "so we asked the kids if they wanted to bump up a weight, even though it could mean they would give up a chance to be city champs. It was all about the kids and they were all in favor of it."
The Trojans did bump up a weight from 119 through 160, eight weight classes in all. The strategy worked.
“We had everyone score points for the team. Even the two kids that didn’t qualify scored for us and last year that didn’t happen," Joyce said. "We knew it was going to be a rough semi and it was. We wanted to get a bunch into the finals and only got three.
“We sucked it up the last consolation round because we had a pretty bad semi-final consolation round. We ended up winning six to clinch, but we could have choked it away had we lost all our matches and Lane won all theirs.”
The Kelly wrestlers showed heart throughout the championship and were determined not to let another title slip away as happened in softball, soccer and other sports.
“Our kids knew what was at stake and they weren’t going to hand it over," Joyce said. "It really took our whole team to get us in first and keep us there.
“Next is the regional and we’ll do the best we can with St. Rita and De La Salle in there. We’ll move down now in weight and work hard.”
A couple of teams surprised many of the elite city wrestling schools. Lightly regarded Fenger (178) and Gage Park (150) picked the best time to wrestle their best with fourth- and fifth-place finishes.
Coach Chris McFarland of Fenger tried to inspire his Titans to wrestle as he coached; lots of energy and go, go, go.
McFarland was seldom in his coaches’ chair during his Titans matches and watching him was as entertaining as the wrestling. In many ways, his energy and the respect of his wrestlers was responsible for the good showing in the tournament.
“All year we’ve been preparing for this moment, I’m satisfied when my kids go out there and do the best they can, give 110% in the middle of the mat. That way we can take a win or a loss as long as they leave all on the mat,” said McFarland.
Commenting on their top five standing, McFarland said; “We always want more but we have loftier goals for our team; to qualify some of these kids to the state tournament, and we would like to win our regional and compete at the sectional level as a team.”
McFarland’s energy could be the difference if that happens.
Gage Park isn’t known for its wrestling. Nestled in some of the hardest areas of the city where gangs, drugs and the streets tug at every unwearied kid; finishing in the top five is so far beyond expectations. Most understand why they weren’t ever considered contenders.
Second-year coach Ray Hagerty is one of the young city coaches that are willing to do anything to provide another outlet
for those kids wanting more from life. His Fighting Owls opened many eyes and guaranteed they no longer will be slighted in wrestling.
“I think it’s great, we fought hard all year,” said Hagerty. "We re-started the program last year and started rolling. Standing where we are now is huge for my kids and it’s huge for my school.
“The community out there needs something like this because it is a community with difficult areas. It brings attention to the school that’s positive, and my boys are so proud of that. It’s so great.”
Hagerty has a unique relationship with his wrestlers and they feed off each other. They are a tight-knit group; so tight that each wrestler attended his wedding in Wisconsin not long ago.
Hagerty has the Owls on the right track so much so that you may end up seeing them become a fixture vying each year for a city title and joining those elite programs the coach has admired.
Last year the Owls made some noise finishing 15th. This year they were extremely loud.