Maine South 48, Evanston 22
THE SKINNY
The Maine South wrestling team opened its CSL South campaign with a 48-22 victory over Evanston in Park Ridge on Friday night.
TURNING POINT
The Wildkits won two of the first three matches — junior James Marshall-Davis won by pin at 126 pounds, Maine South won by forfeit at 132, and then junior Austin Klopfer won by decision at 138 pounds — but Maine South won eight of the next nine matches.
THE STARS
There were several standout performers for the Hawks as they turned Evanston’s 12-9 lead into a 48-15 advantage after Maine South sophomore Jake Bess won by decision at 106 pounds. Senior Tom Brewster (160 pounds) earned the Hawks’ first pin of the match, and senior Tony Perrone (170), sophomore Ibrahim Nasir (195), junior Ken Martens (220) and junior Andy Kopplin (285) followed with pins of their own.
BY THE NUMBERS
All five of the Hawks’ victories by fall took place in the first period.
QUOTABLE
“I think we just have quality at the higher weights, like we tend to have. … [Junior] Claudio [DeBon] just kept working and scoring points, and he ended up winning by seven [8-1]. I thought that really set the tone for everyone else, and we just got into a rhythm of matches.” — Maine South coach Kevin Hansen on the 152-pound match that turned the tide for the Hawks against Evanston
