Wrestling: Lincoln-Way East upends Providence
By Logan Malloy For Sun-Times Media December 8, 2012 10:08PM
Providence Catholic’s Vince Ambrose (left) and Lincoln-Way East’s Nick Allegretti battle in a clash of heavy weights during the Minooka Duals in Minooka Saturday afternoon December, 8. Allegretti won the match in overtime.| Ray Luna ~ For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: January 10, 2013 6:33AM
The eight-minute heavyweight slugfest had family retribution at stake.
Lincoln-Way East junior Nick Allegretti and Providence senior Vince Ambrose, two of the top heavyweights in the area and standout linemen on their respective football teams, battled to a 1-1 stalemate after three periods in the third and final dual of the day at the eight-team Minooka Duals on Saturday.
In the end, it was Allegretti who had more gas left in the tank, escaping from bottom position and landing a takedown as time expired for a 4-1 victory in the second overtime to finish 3-0 on the day.
“He beat my brother at regionals last year so there was definitely extra incentive,” Allegretti said. “I’d been looking forward to this match for a while. My coach (Tyrone Byrd) has been trying to get me to be more aggressive in my matches. I think I’m finally starting to listen to him and it’s paying off.”
Allegretti was the bigger man, but he also appeared to be more mobile than Ambrose, a state qualifier last season.
“I tore my meniscus and MCL playing football,” Ambrose said, not hinting at any kind of excuse. “I’m waiting until March when the season is over for surgery.”
The Griffins, who had nine pins, beat Providence 57-21. It was a comeback match for East, which lost to Minooka 36-33 and downstate power Edwardsville 43-21.
Providence had a difficult draw and finished 0-3 on the day. The Celtics also lost to Edwardsville 50-15 and O’Fallon 55-14.
Lincoln-Way East’s returning state champ Kyle Langenderfer, an Illinois signee, was in midseason form despite missing the first month of the season — along with Allegretti — because he was playing for the Griffins’ state finalist football team. Langenderfer had three pins to stay undefeated on the year.
“It’s kind of tough when you’re already a month behind in the season,” Langenderfer said. “But I’m trying to string together some wins and get used to being back on the mat.”
After beating Lincoln-Way East in its first match of the day, Minooka struggled against Homewood-Flossmoor, losing 29-28, and Edwardsville, falling 45-18. Minooka’s lineup wasn’t in the best shape, with top wrestler and returning state medalist Corbett Oughton sitting out along with a few other contributors.
