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LakeForestLeader.com SPORTS
the lake forest leader | January 17, 2019 | 31
Wrestling
Waggoner’s upset win sets up Lake Forest’s senior-night victory
22nd Century Media
File Photo
1st-and-3
Stars of the week
1. Jake Fisher
(ABOVE). The
Lake Forest guard
scored 19 points
to lead the Scouts
to a big comefrom-behind
win
over visiting Zion-
Benton Friday,
Jan. 11.
2. Finola
Summerville.
The Scouts girls
basketball player
dropped 16
points to go with
8 rebounds in a
conference win
over Libertyville
last week.
3. Truman Thuente.
The Lake Forest
wrestler at 220
pounds had a nice
week, winning all
three of his bouts
at a Thursday
quad and getting
a pin against the
Zee-Bees Jan. 8.
David Jaffe
Freelance Reporter
An undefeated team record.
A school record for
dual wins. Lake Forest
wouldn’t let a little thing
like an early deficit slow it
down — especially on senior
night.
In a North Suburban
Conference match with
Zion-Benton on Jan. 8,
the Scouts dropped four
of their first five matches
before turning the tide and
winning seven of the final
nine for a 41-21 victory,
making them 25-0 on the
season.
“On our team, anyone is
capable of stepping up and
winning matches,” Lake
Forest’s Chase Waggoner
said. “We do a good job
following the lead of experienced
guys and were
able to swing momentum
to our favor throughout the
meet.”
And it was more than
just the usual suspects for
Lake Forest.
“Guys stepped up. It’s
not just our star wrestlers,”
Scouts coach Matt Fiordirosa
said. “We had two
freshmen get pins for us
today. If we lose, it’s usually
in a close match and
we’re not giving up too
many team points. These
guys are focused on helping
the team win just as
much as what they do individually.”
Wins for the Scouts included
pins from Charlie
“When I started here, we had
seven kids in the program and
went winless. Now we have 30
kids, and it’s shifted the culture
and community. We want to
keep this going for as long as we
can.”
Matt Fiordirosa — Lake Forest wrestling coach
Heydorn (132 pounds),
Max Terlap (182), Truman
Thuente (220) and Jack
Owen (285). Also winning
were Max Yates (106),
Morgan Cottam (120) and
Bennett Duggan (126).
Waggoner got the first
win in those final matches
beating Jordan Chisum 9-4
at 170 pounds.
With the score even at
2-2 after the first period,
Waggoner did what he
needed to do to take control.
“I know I can’t give my
opponent too much or too
little respect,” Waggoner
said. “I kept pushing the
pace. I always have the
mindset that as it gets later
in the match, he’ll be the
one to get tired because
he doesn’t do the type of
conditioning and workouts
that I do. Don’t get
me wrong: When I got to
the third, I felt dead. But I
don’t ever treat it like I’m
tired and that’s where I
think an edge comes in for
me mentally as well.”
That drive has impressed
his coach.
“Chase lives, eats and
sleeps wrestling,” Fiordirosa
said. “He has one
of the best work ethics
of anyone I’ve coached.
This match was huge for
him. The guy he faced was
ranked 10th in 3A. We’ve
been waiting for him to get
a win like this. He’s beaten
who he’s supposed to, and
if he loses, it’s usually to
someone who’s favored.
But this can hopefully be
a turning point for him and
don’t be surprised if he’s
pulling more upsets as the
season goes on.”
Waggoner believes he’s
developed more confidence
throughout his time
as a wrestler and uses that
attitude to his advantage.
“I’ve continued to learn
more about what I need to
do as far as technique, and
my mindset for each match
Lake Forest’s Chase Waggoner (right) circles Zion-
Benton’s Jordan Chisum during his big 9-4 win over the
ranked wrestler Jan. 9 in Lake Forest. Dave Kraus/22nd
Century Media
is to go in with confidence
in my abilities,” Waggoner
said. “It took some time
and I needed to get some
big wins under my belt.
But confidence is the biggest
thing I’ve developed
over the last few years and
it shows during my matches.”
The comeback win came
on a special night as the
Scouts honored their two
seniors, varsity’s T.J. Cottam
and junior varsity’s
Eric Hill.
Though Cottom fell 7-6
at 145 in the closest match
of the night, Fiordirosa appreciates
what the veteran
has brought to the team.
“This is only T.J.’s
fourth year wrestling
whereas others have been
wrestling since they were
younger,” Fiordirosa said.
“He looks up to some of
the guys who have been
wrestling longer. But they
definitely look up to and
respect him. He fights hard
and gives it his all in every
match, regardless of the
outcome. He’s come really
far in a short amount of
time and is one of our top
wrestlers.”
The Scouts are in the
midst of an historic season,
and it shows just how
far the program has come
in Fiordirosa’s eight years.
“When I started here,
we had seven kids in the
program and went winless,”
Fiordirosa said.
“Now we have 30 kids
and it’s shifted the culture
and community. We want
to keep this going for as
long as we can. At the
same time, we still want
to focus on wrestling our
best during the postseason,
whether or not we’re
still unbeaten.”
Listen Up
“I stuck with [the ball-handler] and predicted the
left-to-right crossover.”
Michael Pasquela — Lake Forest senior basketball player on his mindset
before his clutch steal in his team’s Friday night win.
tune in
Girls Basketball Tournament
• Saturday, Jan. 19, and Monday, Jan. 21,
Scouts host Buffalo Grove, Grant, Highland Park
and Palatine.
Index
28 - High School Higlights
27 - Athlete of the Week
Fastbreak is compiled by Editor Alyssa Groh. Send
any questions or comments to alyssa@lakefo
restleader.com