DGS Wrestling Holiday Update

Happy New Year and welcome to 2015!!!

It was a busy holiday break for the Downers Grove South Wrestling program.  DGS started the break by sweeping rival Hinsdale South on all levels on Thursday, December 18th.  While all other DGS students started their break in rest and relaxation, the Mustangs had some work to do.  The Freshmen team led by Coach Kud, Coach Lee, and Coach Gates won the South Elgin Freshmen Dual Tournament with wins over South Elgin, Metea Valley, and Schaumburg.  The Varsity team participated in the prestigious Rex Whitlach Invitational at Hinsdale Central High School.  The Whitlach is regarded as probably the second toughest tournament in IL throughout the season. Oak Park and River Forest, Montini, and Carl Sandburg are among the teams at the tournament.  The Mustangs finished with a top ten finish while only fielding 12 wrestlers in the tournament.  This also marked the first time since the tournament expanded to 24 teams that the Mustangs had two finalists. It was a great showing for the Mustangs and one that left the Mustangs looking for more.

We then began our Holiday Break.  We closed the room for five full days and I think everyone (coaches included) were able to rest, relax, and re-group for the second half of the season.  Upon returning, we started our "Christmas Training Camp" which included several alternative workouts:  Hot Yoga, Final Round Workout, Lifetime Workout, and a trip of 25 wrestlers to the Midlands at Northwestern University, which is one of the most prestigious college wrestling tournaments in the nation.  

The final weekend of the holiday break included the Oswego East JV Team Dual Tournament, and the Varsity trip to OH for the Troy Invitational.  The JV team, led by Coach Maloney and Coach Kud, consisted of 24 FR-SR wrestlers and they claimed the 2nd place trophy going 4-1 on the day.  The Mustangs defeated Glenbard West, Oswego East, St. Francis, and Oswego before dropping the final dual for 1st place to Wheaton North.  

The Varsity team traveled to Troy, OH for the Troy Invitational.  It was a 14 team field which included several teams who finished in the top 15 in their divisions in OH last season.  The Mustangs brought eleven scoring wrestlers and ten of those wrestlers placed as the Mustangs won the Troy Invitational by 3 points over Covington (OH) which is currently ranked #4 in Division I in OH.  There were also 4 Nationally ranked wrestlers at the tournament.  Five Mustangs made the finals including the only Champion, Ahmir Hooks at 126 lbs.  With the Mustangs tied with Covington going into the final match of the day, HWT Marcus Rutledge pinned his opponent in the 5th place match to win the tournament for Downers Grove South.  It was an exciting finish to a great day of wrestling by the Mustangs!  

Below you will find all of the Mustangs who placed at the varsity tournaments over the Holiday Break.  The Mustangs are back in action this Thursday when we travel to West Suburban Gold rival Morton.  On Saturday, the Varsity will be at the Sycamore Tournament, the JV will be at a top JV tournament at Bolingbrook, and the Freshmen will host the Freshmen Tournament at Downers Grove South.  

Special thanks to Yoga By Degrees in Downers Grove, Joe Manzello at Final Round Combat Academy, Lifetime Fitness and instructor Lynn Wallace for making the Christmas Training Camp a great experience for all of the kids in the program!!!!

REX WHITLACH INVITATIONAL- HINSDALE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

TEAM- 10th place out of 25 Teams

126-  Ahmir Hooks- JR- 4th Place

138-  Tyree Johnson- JR- 2nd Place

152-  Mark Chapman- JR-  8th Place

220-  Zach Muller- SO- 2nd Place

TROY INVITATIONAL (OH)- TROY HIGH SCHOOL

TEAM CHAMPIONS

120- Calum Bonds- JR- 2nd Place

126- Ahmir Hooks- JR- CHAMPION

132- Jacob Chisholm- SO- 3rd Place

138-  Tyree Johnson- JR- 2nd Place

152-  Mark Chapman- JR- 2nd Place

170- Ramarro Lamar- JR- 4th Place

182-  Ryan Gurski-  JR- 5th Place

195-  Sergio Villalobos-  FR- 3rd Place

220-  Zach Muller- SO- 2nd Place

285-  Marcus Rutledge- SR- 5th Place 

SOUTH ELGIN FRESHMEN DUAL TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS

OSWEGO EAST JV DUAL TOURNAMENT- 2ND PLACE