Wrestling: Lincoln-Way Central on the right track

Updated: December 3, 2011 11:50PM

After his team posted a 10-10 record in dual meets a year ago, Lincoln-Way Central wrestling coach Jason DePolo felt the squad could significantly improve upon that mark this season.

Just two weeks into the campaign, the Knights seem to be proving their coach correct. Lincoln-Way Central improved to 8-1 after a sweep at Saturday’s Plainfield Central quadrangular.

The Knights had a 40-18 win over Hinsdale Central and a 45-15 triumph over Downers Grove South. Lincoln-Way Central then posted a 37-28 victory over the hosts in a clash of 2-0 squads in the finale.

“We’re finally starting to be able to rely on more than four or five guys on the team,” DePolo said. “This is becoming a close-knit group and they know what I’m thinking without me having to say anything and that’s huge.”

Lincoln-Way Central, which has lost only to top-ranked Sandburg, split the 14 matches with the Wildcats (5-1) but won on the strength of a 16-7 advantage in bonus points.

The Knights received pins from Bryce Gorman (170 pounds), Brett Ditchman (182), Grant Bartell (285) and Tyler Schneider (152) while Joey Nelson (120) picked up a forfeit victory.

Also for Lincoln-Way Central, Logan Doyle (145) captured a major decision while Robbie Mikenis (132) claimed a 3-2 triumph over Jeremy Brown in one of the top matches of the day.

Plainfield Central got a pin from Ryan Holzrichter (138), a win by technical fall from Jordan Ellingwood (195) and major decisions from Greg Cameron (220) and Dylan Cramer (106).

In the meet’s biggest surprise, the Wildcats’ Clayton Ledbetter rallied for a 10-8 win over Tyler Price at 113.

Kyle Ledbetter (160) and Nick Nasenbeny (126) also won decisions for the Wildcats.

“We knew that it was going to be a tough dual and that bonus points would play a big factor,” said Plainfield Central coach Jim Kappas, whose team won 52-15 over Downers Grove South and 38-21 over Hinsdale Central.

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