By Jack Ankony, executive sports editor
The boys ‘ wrestling team accomplished something unheard of in high school wrestling on Feb. 3 at regionals, according to head coach Tom Whalen. The Knights placed all 14 wrestlers in the top four of their respective weight classes. This meet marked the fourth regional championship in five years for the Knights.
“It has been a team effort,” Whalen said. “It really has. A lot of times coaches say that, but we had a great run. It was a group effort and guys that won the championships were leading the way.”
The Knights followed up that successful meet by sending three wrestlers to individual state. Freshman Jack Milos, junior Jose Ramos and senior Ryan Vedner all qualified for state at the sectional meet on Feb. 10.
“I think everyone is taking everything in stride where we are happy and celebrate our accomplishments, when we won the East, the conference, then the regional it was like the next step in the process where we enjoyed the moment,” Whalen said. “What has been nice about this team is that they have been able to refocus come Monday for the challenge at hand.”
The team will now focus on the team sectional meet versus Huntley on Feb. 20. This meet will determine if the Knights make team state, something they missed out on last year.
“I don’t think [the success] has just been the last few meets,” Whalen said. “But what they have done the entire season and all offseason. We have been preparing ourselves to make the elite eight, which is the next step. Their goal has been to make it to team state.”