Wrestling: Zabala, Silva stay unbeaten
By Logan Malloy For Sun-Times Media January 5, 2013 10:38PM
Tyler Shneider, of Lincoln-Way Central, overpowers Marist's Kenny Condon during the 152 weight match at Lincoln-Way Central, Saturday, January 5th, 2013, in New Lenox. | Gary Middendorf~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 7, 2013 6:25AM
The midway point of the season has passed and a pair of area wrestlers still have unblemished records.
Joliet Central senior Trayvon Zabala and Plainfield South junior Miguel Silva put their skills and unbeaten resumes on display Saturday at the 12-team Lincoln-Way Central Mega Duals. Neither disappointed, each going 3-0 on the day.
What separates the duo other than two weight classes is the way they view their respective streaks.
“The undefeated record is important to me because it’s my senior year,” Zabala said. “Basically, I want to go out there and put it on people. I want to make a statement. People that don’t think I can do it, I want to prove that I can win a state title.”
Zabala was a third-place finisher in state last season. He’s wrestled the majority of this season at 126 pounds but will move to his natural weight class of 120 — which he did Saturday — as the state tournament approaches.
For Silva, a 106-pounder and reigning regional champion, staying unbeaten is just a blip on the radar.
“It’s important but I’m not focused on it because I don’t want to get nervous,” Silva said. “At this point in the season you’re starting to wrestle better competition. I’m trying to wrestle smarter and stay patient and not expect the pin every time.”
After dropping its opening match to Marist — one of the top teams in the state — Lincoln-Way Central rebounded with victories over Glenbard East and Plainfield South.
Tyler Schneider continues to impress at 152 for the Knights. Schneider went 3-0 on the day and notched a fall over Marist’s Kenny Condon.
“I thought my wings and takedowns were working pretty well today,” Schneider said. “(Marist) is a great team. There’s no slouch on that team. I thought we could have performed a little better but we had a few forfeits and that hurt.”
Other notables for Central included returning state medalist Robbie Mikenis (3-0 at 138 pounds) and Bryce Gorman (3-0 at 170).
Oswego mega duals: Lincoln-Way East went undefeated, besting Naperville North 36-28, Oswego 37-28 and Streamwood 72-9.
Fenwick quadrangular: Providence swept the competition, beating Fenwick 71-10, Plainfield North 54-21 and Joliet West 40-34.
Sycamore Invitational: Minooka (341 points) finished 10th out of 23 teams. The Indians were led by Mike McNulty, who was third at 138 pounds. Eric Velazquez (220) was fourth, while Carson Oughton (145) and Jeff Klank (160) each came in fifth.
Boys Basketball
No. 6 Providence 65, Collinsville 64 (OT): Kevin Kozan scored 19 points and Miles Boykin added 12 to lead visiting Providence (10-6).
No. 10 Wilmington 54, Grant Park 32: Dan O’Leary netted 20 points to pace visiting Wilmington (10-7).
Girls Basketball
No. 3 Joliet Catholic 54, Nazareth 36: Jasmine Lumpkin poured in 25 points and Nicole Ekhomu scored 14 to propel visiting Joliet Catholic (14-1, 4-0) in the East Suburban Catholic.
Hinckley-Big Rock 39, No. 10 Seneca 37: Danielle Hauch contributed 13 points for host Seneca (10-10).
Reed-Custer 47, Momence 37: Caitlyn Welch totaled 19 points and nine rebounds for visiting Reed-Custer (3-12) in the Interstate Eight. Allison Willis added 11 points for the Comets, while Ashley Welch had seven points and seven rebounds.
Dwight 55, Gardner-South Wilmington 51: Chelsea Schultz had 18 points for host Gardner-South Wilmington in the Interstate Eight. Breann Fisher added 10 points and eight rebounds for the Panthers.
Girls Bowling
Prospect Invitational: Minooka (5,768 series) was second and Lockport (5,739) third among the 36 squads at Brunswick Zone in Mount Prospect. The top local individual was Lockport’s Megan Szczepanski, who came in fifth by virtue of her 900 series over four games. Lemont’s Nora Collins (841) was eighth, while the Minooka duo of Alison Warwick (825) and Emily Koulis (823) finished 11th and 12th, respectively.
Men’s Basketball
Lewis 70, Missouri S&T 55: Ryan Jackson’s game-high 23 points guided visiting Lewis (7-3, 1-1) in the Great Lakes Valley. Jeff Jarosz added 16 points for the Flyers and Julian Lewis had 13.
Joliet Junior College 87, Purdue-Calumet (Ind.) 84: Pierre Jolly had 19 points and five rebounds to pace visiting Joliet Junior College (8-8).
Men’s Volleyball
Asics Invitational
California Baptist 25-23-25-25, Lewis 22-25-16-23: B.J. Boldog had 28 assists and Geoff Powell added 16 kills to pace Lewis (0-3) at Cal-Santa Barbara.
Women’s Basketball
Missouri S&T 69, Lewis 62: Labrenthia Murdock (5 rebounds) and Alexus Grayer netted 13 points apiece for visiting Lewis (8-2, 1-1) in the Great Lakes Valley. Sam Rinehart tacked on 11 points and eight rebounds for the Flyers.
Contributing: Josh Krockey
