1997-98 KANELAND WRESTLING

Click here to review the 1996-97 Kaneland Wrestling Season

Coach: Gary Baum (first year)

Last year: 6th in SPC - 2nd in Class A Regional

Top returners: Conor Gibbons (119, So.), Josh Rogers (112, Jr.), Brian Tegtmeier (125, Jr.), Jeff Knoerzer (140/145, Sr.), Jason Harley (160, Jr.), and Jason Reyes (275, Sr.)

Top newcomers: Robert McGinnis (130, Fr.), Chris Cornell (135, So.), Brian Melton (140, Jr.), Marty Kiefer (160, Sr.), Jason Tapp (171, Sr.), and Matt McGinnis (145, So.)

Baum: " I think once we get to January and get kids down to their weight classes we'll be solid. Our lower weights are solid. There is some real good youth in the wrestling room."

1997-98 Wrestling Results

Larkin 57 Kaneland 15
Kaneland 39 East Aurora 30

The Knight's opened their home season in a double dual match between Larkin and East Aurora. The Knights struggled with Larkin but came back to defeat East Aurora for their first win of the season.

The Knight's lost their opening meet of the season against Larkin. Josh Rogers won his match at 119 with a fall in the second period. Jeff Knoerzer competing at 145 also pinned his man in the second period. Josh Tapp at 171 defeated his opponent 11-5. Jason Reyes at 275 went the full three periods, winning 13-9.

Against East Aurora at 119 Conor Gibbons pinned his man in .48 seconds. Robert McGinnis at 130, won a tough match 11-10 and Chris Cornell won his match at 140 16-6. Jeff Knoerzer pinned his opponent as did Josh Tapp at 171. Jason Reyes won his match 6-4 at the 275 weight class.

Kaneland 48 Wilmington 27
Sandwich 56 Kaneland 12

The Knight's wrestled a double dual at Sandwich. The Varsity beat Wilmington, but lost to Sandwich.

The Knights defeated Wilmington with the help of a fall at 3:00 by Conor Gibbons at 119, a fall at :22 by Robert McGinnis at 1:30, a fall by Chris Cornell at 3:02 at 140. Jeff Knoezer also scored a pin at 1:23 in the 145 class and Josh Tapp pinned his man at 3:59 at 171. Jason Reyes at 275 defeated his opponent 8-2.

Verses Sandwich, Conor Gibbons won the 119 class with a score of 7-3 and Robert McGinnis won at 130 with a score of 12-7.

Yorkville 55 Kaneland 15

The Knight's lost to a tough Yorkville team on Friday night. Conor Gibbons won at 119 10-5. Jeff Knoerzer won by a fall at 1:32 in weight class 145.

Oregon 52 Kaneland 21
Kaneland 57 Marian Central 12

Kaneland split yet another duel meet, wiping out Marian Central while being wiped out by Oregon.

Against Oregon Connor Gibbons got the Knights only earned points with a fall at 3:37 of the second period. All other points were by forfeit.

Against Marian the Knights had a little better luck, with wins by Josh Rogers, Connor Gibbons, Brian Tegtmeier, Robert McGuinnis, Chris Cornell, Jeff Knoezer, Jason Harley, and Jason Reyes. Cornell was a pin at 3:02 of second.

Ridgewood 42 Kaneland 32

The difference between a win or a lost was the fact that the Knights had to forfeit 12 point to Ridgewood and lost by 10. Ridgewood on the other hand didn't have a heavyweight, and the 189 lb was hurt. The 189 was ranked, and the heavyweight was a national qualifier.

Chris Melms (103), Brian Tegtmeier (125) and Jason Reyes got pins and a technical fall (18-3) by Jeff Knoezer (145) to lead the Knights.

It was Kaneland's first loss ever to Ridgewood.

Reaper Classic

The Plano Reaper Classic is a tournament of 16 teams that traditionally showcases some of the best talent in the state. "This year was the toughest the Reaper's been in a long time," said Kaneland coach Gary Baum.

The Knights did not fare well as a team as they fell near the bottom of the standings. Conor Gibbons (119 pounds) was the only Knight to place - with a fifth-place finish.

Lemont 64 Kaneland 9

Jeff Knoezer earned the only real points for the Knights with a 7-6 score at 145.

Kaneland 37 Geneva 28
Batavia 49 Kaneland 28

Batavia and Geneva came to Kaneland in a double dual meet. Kaneland was and always will be giving the advantage to it's opponents. "We're going to be forfeiting two weights for the rest of the season," said Kaneland coach Gary Baum. Kaneland forfeited 171, 189, and 215 poind classes for 18 points to each team.

Against Geneva Mike Lemmer pinned Adam Bonk in 3:52 at 160. Josh Rogers pinned Derrick Graves in 2:41 at 112, Nick Poss got a 13-4 major decision at 145, Jason Harley a pin at 152 and forfeit wins by Matt Schoonover (103) and Chris Cornell (135).

Verses Batavia Robert McGinnis got a decision 10-5 at 130, Chris Cornell won by injury default at 135 and Matt McGinnis has a 11-3 major decision at 152.

Ridgewood 52 Kaneland 13

The Knights took a 52-13 loss at the hands of Morris in a SPC dual meet. Josh Rogers (major decision at 112), Chris Cornell (decision at 140) and Jeff Knoezer (pin at 145)

Kaneland 48 Westmont 27

Kaneland beat Westmont 48-27 thanks in part to the lighter weight classes. At 112 Josh Rogers got a pin 1.35, at 119 Conor Gibbons got a pin at 3.12 of the second period and at 130 Robert McGinnis got a pin at 3.29 of the second period. The Knights won the 103 and 125 classes by forfeit to jump out to a 30-0 lead. Then Chris Cornell and Jeff Knoerzer both won decisions. Josh Tapp and Jason Reyes both won with pins at 171 and 245 pounds respectively.

Polo Invitational Wrestling Tournament

Oregon 237
Byron 216
Fulton 151.5
Polo 138
Erie 106
Dakota 104.5
Morrison 98
Kaneland 88 (with 1 penalty)
Lena Winslow 86
Rockford Lutheran 66.5
Camanche 64.5
Eastland 50.5
Aledo 48
Rockford Christian Life 32 (with 2 penalties)

Individual Place Finishers:

Chris Cornell 2nd at 135
Jeff Knoerzer 5th at 140
Jason Harley 6th at 152
Mike Lemmer 6th at 160
Jason Reyes 2nd at 275

Kaneland 46 Evergreen Park 25

In a quick match the Knights took a 46-25 win against Evergreen Park in Suburban Prairie White action. Robert McGinnis (125) won a major decision, Brian Melton (130) got a decision, Chris Cornell (135) a pin, Jeff Knoerzer (140) a decision, Matt McGinnis (152) a decision, and Josh Trapp (171) a pin. Chris Melms, Conor Gibbons, Nick Poss and Jason Wolfe all won by forfeit.

Despite wrestling poorly the Knights generated a win and in the opinion of KHS head coach Gary Baum. "We wrestled good enough to win...but I was a little disappointed in our performance," Baum said.

Robert McGinnis won by major decision at 125 pounds to start a streak at four straight Kaneland victories. Brian Melton, at 130 pounds, won his match 8-3. Chris Cornell pinned his 135-pound opponent in 3:03; and Jeff Knoerzer shut out his opponent at 140 pounds 4-0.

After Kaneland took six points for a forfeit at 145 pounds, Matt McGinnis won 4-2 at 152 pounds; and Josh Tapp, at 171 pounds, won by a pin at 3:32.

Batavia Tournament

The Knights participated at the Batavia Tournament on Saturday as the only Class A team in a field of 16 teams. They placed 12th in the tourney, just 10 points out of eighth place and a half point out of 11th.

"It was pretty tight in the middle...We lost a couple of close matches that we shouldn't have," Baum said.

Jeff Knoerzer was the highest place finisher for the Knights with a second-place finish at 140 pounds. Chris Cornell took fifth, while Josh Rodgers (sixth), Robert McGinnis (sixth), Jason Reyes (sixth) and Josh Tapp (eighth) also placed in the tough tournament.

"We wrestled pretty well," Baum said.

Kaneland 52 Elmwood Park 9

The Knights destroyed Elmwood Park 52-9 in Suburban Prairie White action on Thursday evening. Chris Melms (103), Josh Rogers (112), Brian Melton (130), Nick Pace (145) and Jason Reyes (275) all won by forfeit.

Robert McGinnis (125) outlasted Joe Carbonna 9-3; Chris Cornell (135) decisioned Randy Kester 4-0; Jeff Knoerzer (152) pinned EP's Andy Kwzac in 1:47; Mike Lemmer (160) pinned Jason Kaizer in 2:39; and Josh Tapp (189) took a 16-6 major decision against Jon Regan.

Plano-Richmond Meet

Kaneland took two losses on Thursday night, dropping a 46-33 decision to Big Northern Conference foe Richmond-Burton and a 38-30 score to Plano.

The Knights fell behind 37-12 after the 152-pound weight class. Forfeit wins by Robert McGinnis (125) and Chris Cornell (135) were the only Kaneland team points by that juncture.

Kaneland closed the gap with a decision from Matt McGinnis (13-10 over Chris Barber), a fall from Josh Tapp at 189 (in 4 minutes, 44 seconds over Mitch Czaplicki), a double forfeit at 215 and a forfeit win for heavy-weight Jason Reyes.

Against Plano, Matt Schoonover earned a forfeit at 103; Cornell (135) edged Tony Lecuyer 7-6; Jeff Knoerzer (140) pinned Derek Malert in 3:18; Matt McGinnis (152) decisioned Brett Hayden 9-5; Jason Harley (160) beat Chris Anderson 7-1; and Mike Lemmer (171) outpointed Ricky Treveno 7-5.

SPC Meet

Kaneland finished fifth in Saturday's Suburban Prairie Conference White Division wrestling meet.

Lemont scored 240.5 points to win the contest with Yorkville finishing second with 189. Kaneland scored 89.

Kaneland gained a conference championship when Chris Connell defeated Yorkville's Mike Testone for the 135-pound title. Jeff Koernzer was second at 140, losing 5-4 to Lemont's Robb Gotlund for the title.

Kaneland's Josh Rogers was fourth at 112 pounds, Connor Gibbons finished third at 119 pounds, Robert McGinnis was fourth at 125, Josh Tapp was third at 171 and Jason Reyes was third at 275 pounds.

Season Summary

The Knights' varsity wrestling team finished up its season with a record of 8-13. Sophomore Chris Cornell advanced to the state meet.

 "We weren't undefeated, but it was a good season," replied Senior Wrestler Jeff Knoezer.

Last Year at The State

Kaneland had two class A state grapplers, Roy Gustafson at 112 pounds and Ryan West at 160 pounds.

In the preliminary round Gustafson defeated Matt Hartman of Taylor Ridge 6-3, but then lost to 4-time state qualifier and now 2-time state champion Todd Combes of Coal City during the quarterfinals. This forced Gustafson to wrestlebacks and a second loss which eliminated him from further competition.

In the semifinals West lost to Adam Schaefe of Morrision 4-2 in his third straight overtime match. Then wrestling with an injury was eliminated in the wrestlebacks. However, West had secured the honor of being among the top six wrestlers in the state.

West in turn needed a pair of overtime victories to reach the semifinals. West defeated Lawrenceville's Nathan Hill 4-2 in his preliminary match, then edged Orion's Steve Burleson in the quarterfinals 3-1. West (9-2) earned the chance at the overtime victory when Burleson was penalized one point at the buzzer, creating a 1-1 tie. West then won the match with a quick takedown.

Photos by and compliments of Dan Anderson

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