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30 | January 24, 2019 | The winnetka Current SPORTS winnetkacurrent.com McKenna, Miralles lead Trevians at CSL meet Gary Larsen Freelance Reporter Nothing tosses a shovelful of coal into the blast furnace of a wrestler’s motivation quite like a loss, and the loss that New Trier’s Matt McKenna took on the title mat at this year’s CSL tournament Saturday, Jan. 19, in Winnetka, should provide him with a lot of internal heat. McKenna led 5-0 after two periods against Deerfield’s Josh Avenaim in their title match at 145 pounds before Avenaim battled back to tie it in the third period and then won it 7-5 over McKenna with a takedown in overtime. “We have regionals in two weeks so I’ll be going in there even hungrier,” McKenna said. “In overtime I felt a little gassed but I thought I was in good position. (Avenaim) is a strong opponent but I beat him 5-2 earlier this year.” A short memory is required in wrestling and New Trier coach Marc Tadelman isn’t worried about McKenna with the postseason looming. “He’s a tough kid and he’ll bounce back,” Tadelman said. “Matt wrestled good all day. “He wrestled well in the first and second period of the title match and we thought he had the win locked up, but (Avenaim) kind of caught him on his back. But those things happen and I’m super proud of him, even though it doesn’t sit well with him right now.” McKenna won by fall in his first match and then won by first-period fall in his semifinal match against Maine East’s Angel Villegas. McKenna placed fifth as a freshman and third as a sophomore at the CSL meet, so his appearance on the title mat as a junior this year marked another incremental step forward. “I’ve gotten a lot better on my feet,” McKenna said. “I was terrible on my feet, freshman and sophomore year, and I’d rely on turning kids and pinning them on top. But I’m a lot more aggressive on my feet now. I know you have to have a good mindset, work New Trier’s Michael Miralles wrestles in the 120-pound weight class at the Central Suburban League meet Saturday, Jan. 19, in Winnetka. Gary Larsen/22nd Century Media on your skills, and be good in all phases.” The Trevians placed 10th overall, also getting a third from Michael Miralles (120) and a fourth from Jake Cummings (160). Miralles reached the semifinals before losing 5-2 to eventual champion Zack Chrisovitsiotis, and then won by tech fall in his final match of the day against Maine East’s Jeffrey Beccera. Cummings won two matches in the consolation round to reach the thirdplace mat before losing to Maine South’s Ryan Pena. You won’t find Glenbrook South freshman Will Collins listed on either of Illinois’ top rankings lists — at Illinois Matmen or Illinois Best Weekly — but odds are Collins won’t be a secret for much longer. Collins improved to 32-1 and dominated the CSL field at 138, posting three pins on his way to winning his first conference title. No wrestler made it into the third period with the freshman, who pinned Deerfield’s Troy Mock in 55 seconds on the title mat. Afterwards, Titans coach Pat Castillo spoke to Collins’ competitive nature. “With some of these guys it doesn’t matter if they’re playing video games, tictac-toe, or checkers,” Castillo said, “if they lose at anything, it burns.” “Will’s a competitor. He doesn’t want to lose, no matter what we’re doing. Whether it’s an assistant coach or I’m going with him (in practice), he wants to wrestle a hundred percent and not hold back.” Collins’ three pins were no accident. “I told (Castillo) I wanted three pins and I was able to get them,” Collins said. “All I want to do is win — football, wrestling, anything. That mostly comes from my dad encouraging me to go after it, every single day, and from my coaches.” The Titans got a second memorable performance from junior KP Santos (26-10), who provided the high-drama moment of the tournament. Trailing Niles West’s Omar Abbas by a point on the title mat at 106, Santos earned a takedown with less than a second remaining in the match to win an 8-7 decision. Trailing by a point with 10 seconds remaining is no place a wrestler wants to be but Santos stayed calm and did what he’s been taught. “Stick to the basics. We work on them every day,” Santos said. “Thank god we do that because if I didn’t stick to my basics in that situation, I don’t know what would have happened in that last ten seconds.” It was the first CSL title of the junior’s career and the accomplishment wasn’t lost on him. Glenbrook South recently posted a wrestling record board in the school that lists accomplishments of past wrestlers, and Santos’ name will now be added. “I was really working towards that,” Santos said. “I really wanted my name on the board. I look up there every day and see all those names of people who’ve done amazing things for the program.” The Titans placed fourth in the tournament. BRATSCHI PLUMBING SERVING THE NORTH SHORE SINCE 1937 Let Bratschi install agas line andgas logs in your fireplace for acozy evening in your home. 801 Oak Street, Winnetka 847-446-1421 www.bratschiinc.com Lic. 055-004618
winnetkacurrent.com SPORTS the winnetka current | January 24, 2019 | 31 Adam Jomant/ 22nd Century Media 1st-and-3 three PLAYERS of the WEEK 1. Ciaran Brayboy (above). The New Trier senior boys basketball player scored 21 points in two Trevian wins last week, including 11 in a win over highlyregarded DePaul Prep. 2. Rachel Zun. The New Trier gymnast won all-around honors in two meets last week, against Niles North, as well as Maine South. 3. Aiden Finegan. The Loyola Gold hockey player scored six goals during the Jesuit cup, including a hat trick against Loyola (Montreal). Boys basketball Loyola offense stalls in loss to St. Viator Casey Bannon Freelance Reporter Some coaches like to dive straight into the film after a tough loss. Others like to throw it away. Loyola coach Tom Livatino says he’ll be opting for the latter after a 38-29 loss to Saint Viator at Evanston High School on Saturday, Jan. 19. “I just think we look exhausted,” Livatino said. “And that’s not to make any excuses, [Saint Viator] played great, but we look tired out there.” Playing their seventh game already in January, which follows a four-game Florida trip to end December, the grind-it-out Rambler offense managed little of anything against the Lions. Junior forward Bennett Kwiecinski knocked down a pair of free throws with less than a minute remaining to become the only State-bound Loyola’s Ramblerettes qualify for state meet RIGHT: The Loyola dance team performs its routine at the IHSA Competitive Dance Sectional on Saturday Jan. 19, at Warren High School in Gurnee. Photos by David Kraus/22nd Century Media Loyola scorer in double digits for the night. Quinn Pemberton chipped in with seven. After holding Saint Viator (16-4) to only two points in the second quarter, the Ramblers (16-6) headed into halftime trailing 16-14 before scoring only two points of their own in the third quarter. Just a night prior, the offense failed to make a 3-pointer and managed only 38 points in a victory against St. Josephs. Rather than panic, they will attempt to reset. “We’ve been scoring the ball well all year,” Livatino said. “I just think we need to take some time away.” For all of the offensive struggles, there were equal positives on the defensive end. Jordan Kwiecinski, with help defense from his twin brother Bennett, held the Lions’ senior guard and Loyola’s Matthew Enghauser powers his way past St. Viator’s Owen Hickey in a Saturday, Jan. 19, game at Evanston. Tracy Allen/22nd Century Media Kent State commit Jeremiah Hernandez to 13 points — and only four in the second half. This is only the fourth game that Hernandez has played without his backcourt mate Treyvon Calvin. Calvin, a senior captain and Wright State recruit, broke his left hand while high-fiving a teammate earlier this month but is expected to be back by the playoffs. The Lions are now 2-2 without their leading scorer. In the interim, junior guard Connor Kochera picked up the slack with a game-high 15 points — 14 of those coming in the second half. “I actually thought our kids did a really good job picking up on the things we wanted to do defensively,” Livatino said. “That is a very good team and I think they’re going to have a nice run later this year.” Trailing by eight heading into the fourth, the Ramblers attempted to speed up a patient Lions offense with full court pressure. After creating a few turnovers with a 1-3-1 trap, and adding a 3-pointer from junior guard William Pujals, the Ramblers had a chance to make it a twopossession game with just under two minutes remaining. Hernandez would have other ideas, however, as he plucked the ball from a stumbling Pujals and took it the other way for a twohand dunk to end any hopes of a Rambler comeback. The game was the second of three played at Beardsley Gymnasium on Saturday, as part of the 9th Annual War on the Shore. All proceeds from the shootout will go to the Danny Did foundation—a nonprofit which raises awareness to fight Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. The Loyola dance team poses for a team photo. Listen Up “We have regionals in two weeks, so I’ll be going in there even hungrier.” Matt McKenna — New Trier wrestler after his secondplace finish at the Central Suburban league meet Saturday, Jan. 19. tunE in What to watch this week GIRLS GYMNASTICS: It’s conference tournament time in the gym. • New Trier hosts the CSL meet at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, in Northfield. Index 28 - This Week In 27 - Athlete of the Week Fastbreak is compiled by Sports Editor Michael Wojtychiw, m.wojtychiw@22ndcenturymedia.com.
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