New Trier’s Alec McKenna, seen here during regional action earlier this season, claimed the 132-pound title at the Barrington Sectional on Feb. 14. Photography by Ting Shen
When it comes to cooperating with reporters, New Trier High School’s most celebrated wrestler, Alec McKenna, is a far cry from famed Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch.
But, while sitting in the stands at Barrington High School shortly after winning a sectional championship at 132 pounds on Feb. 14, there he was, a la Lynch, eating … a bag of Skittles.
Skittles?
“I like candy,” said McKenna.
The New Trier senior, who doesn’t shun the press the way Lynch does, also is fond of having his arm raised by an official at the end of a wrestling match. A four-year varsity performer, he owns the school record for career wins (134).
McKenna, who will wrestle in the Big Ten next year for Northwestern University, no doubt will be in “beast mode” when he puts his current 40-1 record to the test at the Class 3A state meet in Champaign on Feb. 19-21.
He heads Downstate with something to prove. Competing at 126 pounds last year, he finished the state’s showcase meet with a 1-2 record — dropping a pair of tight decisions on Day Two.
“I really wanted to do well last year,” said McKenna. “I was a little too stressed.”
McKenna, who is ranked No. 2 behind St. Rita’s Austin O’Connor in Class 3A by Illinois Matmen, looked extremely confident at the sectional. He nailed down his second sectional crown in two years by beating Crystal Lake South’s Garrett Dziedzic 5-2 in the title bout.
“It was another sound win by Alec,” said NT head coach Marc Tadelman. “The kid he beat in the final is a top-10 wrestler.”
Tadelman also has high hopes for Luke Iida, who earned a state berth with a third-place finish at 138 pounds. After dropping a 6-2 decision to eventual champ Andrew Mehrholz of Deerfield in the semifinals, the senior qualified by pinning McHenry’s Carter Herber in 2:58 in the semifinal wrestleback.
A couple of hours later, Iida joined the 30-win club (30-11) when he edged Cary-Grove’s John Cullen 2-1 in the third-place match.
NT freshman Patrick Ryan (26-12) was denied a state berth, when he was defeated by Deerfield’s Kyle Clough 4-2 in overtime in the 113-pound semifinal wrestleback.
Highland Park
It looked like things might be stacked against senior John Ciancio.
He wrestled at 145 pounds last year.
This year, he was the team’s … 170-pounder.
“He made significant sacrifices for the team this year,” noted HP head coach Chris Riley. “He did a ton of work (to compete at 170).”
And it all worked out for him.
For the first time in his career, Ciancio (30-7) can put a flashy new title next to his name: state qualifier.
Despite going up three weight classes, Ciancio earned a trip to this weekend’s Class 3A state meet by taking fourth at the Barrington Sectional on Feb. 14.
He punched his ticket by rallying from a 6-4 deficit and beating Hononegah’s Jake Flower 13-9 in a tense semifinal wrestleback.
He will have company in Champaign. Sophomore DJ Penick (34-3) also qualified to state by claiming runner-up honors at 152. He beat Huntley’s Brandon Meyer 7-3 in the semifinal. He then lost 19-6 to Wheeling’s Tulga Zuunbayan in an action-packed title bout.
“You’re going to get your money’s worth with DJ,” said Riley. “He got a little exposed technically against the Wheeling kid. But he’s learning. He’s got a very competitive nature.”
Freshman Alex Rosenbloom finished his season with a 27-7 record. He just missed advancing after losing a 6-2 decision to Harlem’s Dylan Elmore in a 126-pound semifinal wrestleback.
Lake Forest
The pressure was on.
Lake Forest senior Corey Knudsen (34-6) went into the “money round” at the Barrington Sectional needing a win over Rockford East’s Gunnar Morris.
“It’s tough, especially when you start thinking this might be your last match of the season,” said Knudsen, referring to the semifinal wrestleback. “But, once I got out there, the nerves went away.”
By downing Morris 3-1, Knudsen assured himself of a state berth at 145 pounds. He fell to Barrington’s Connor Boundy 3-2 in the third-place match.
Loyola
Ryan Wosick just missed going to state at 182 pounds, when he lost a heart-breaking match to Harlem’s Jenner Hecox 1-0 in the semifinal wrestleback.
Wosick, who became the school’s all-time wins (97) leader this winter, went 1-2 at the Barrington Sectional. He finished his senior season with a 34-9 record.
