Three Mustangs Place at Freestyle State!!!

The 2014 Freestyle State Tournament was once again a showcase of some of the best freestyle wrestlers in the nation. IL has won several national titles in the National Duals and Asics Cadet/Junior Nationals over the past five years, and 2014 looks to be no different.  The Downers Grove South Mustang Freestylers Competed for Suburban Sprawl, which also included wrestlers from Downers Grove North, Barrington, Lake Park and Rolling Meadows.  There were a total of thirteen current and future Mustangs wrestling for Suburban Sprawl.

Incoming Freshman David Lee (Jefferson) and Keiran Burke (DG Cougars) competed in the Schoolboy division along with 7th grader Jeff Nugent who wrestled at 120 lbs.  It was a great experience for these young wrestlers and they will be seasoned Freestyle veterans when they get to high school.  Freshman Ryan Olsen (126 lbs) and Jacob Liaromatis (132 lbs) each won a match in their brackets as did Sophomore Cormac Burke (132 lbs).  Sophomore Ahmir Hooks (126 lbs) went 2-2 at the tournament, while Sophomores Calum Bonds (132 lbs) and Patrick Azer (113 lbs) also competed.

Freshman Zach Muller, who was fresh off a broken hand, bounced back with a gutty performance and a 5th place finish at Cadet Heavyweight.  Zach was no doubt the smallest wrestler in his bracket, however he was about an inch from pinning IHSA State Placer and eventual champion Bryan Ditchman.  With his 5th place finish, Zach will also have a chance to wrestle at the Northern Plains Regional on Team IL.  Junior Marcus Rutledge placed 6th in a tough Heavyweight bracket and battled through some tough matches.  Marcus literally had just brought his bout card back from his one match, when they gave him another one for his next match.  Marcus moved well and showed some some of the other top Heavyweights that DGS will be just as tough at Heavyweight next year as they were this year.

Speaking of tough Heavyweights, Michael Hobbs placed in this top tournament once again.  This time, his 2nd place finish ensures him a spot on Team IL for the National Duals and the Asics Junior National Duals in Fargo, ND in July.  Hobbs wrestled one of the marquee match-ups of the day vs current State Champion, former All-American and BFF Adarios Jones who was wrestling for Impact Wrestling Club, but is from Moline, IL.  It was a great match between two competitors and friends with one having to come out on top.  Hobbs just missed exposing (putting him on his back) Jones as they went out-of-bounds and fell just short.  Despite the loss, Hobbs probably had more "5's" than anyone else in the tournament as he picked up several kids weighing more than 250 lbs and brought them back over his head for full back exposure.  Unfortunately for Hobbs, they got rid of the "5" rule and Hobbs could only earn 4 for them.  Hobbs will look to add to his hardware collection at Greco State in two weeks as well as the National Duals and Junior Nationals.  Hobbs is already a 3X All-American.  With one more All-American finish, Hobbs will leave DGS as the most decorated Freestyle and Greco finisher in DGS history.

Several Mustangs will compete for Suburban Sprawl at the 5th Annual IL Freestyle Club Cup, which will be hosted by Downers Grove South on Saturday, May 10th in the Field House.  There will also be wrestlers competing at the Greco State Tournament at Lincoln Way Central High School in two weeks.