After We Rachal earned a return trip to the Class 2A championship round Friday night at the IHSA wrestling state tournament, he lingered on the floor at State Farm Center.
The Washington junior was hoping his twin brother would join him in the finals, but that didn’t happen. Top-seeded Lenny Petersen of Crystal Lake Central pinned Baan Rachal in the 138-pound semifinals, leaving We Rachal to pursue his own goals on Saturday.
"It’s always tough seeing him lose like that when he could have won," We Rachal said of his brother, who still is assured of placing in the top six. "It is what it is."
What is on We Rachal’s mind now is making some history and getting some bragging rights in at Washington.
Rachal (33-1) will attempt to defend his 2A 132-pound title Saturday and become the sixth Public Leaguer to win two state championships.
"There’s never been a three-timer (from the Public League)," Rachal said. "That’s what I’m shooting for."
Semi-tough: Lockport senior Trevell Timmons (39-4) got past the semifinals for the first time in three tries, and he’s glad the wait is over.
"I’ve been looking forward to this since sophomore year," Timmons said after beating top-seeded Devin Donovan of Wheaton North 5-3 to reach the Class 3A 160 final.
Montini’s Joey Melendez earns redemption at state wrestling Mike Clark
Joey Melendez couldn’t do anything about last week.
Except to prevent it from happening again, that is.
Given a do-over, Melendez didn’t waste the opportunity, and now he’s one win away from being a two-time state champion.
The Montini junior had a big day Friday at the IHSA wrestling state tournament…
Joey Melendez couldn’t do anything about last week.
Except to prevent it from happening again, that is.
Given a do-over, Melendez didn’t waste the opportunity, and now he’s one win away from being a two-time state champion.
The Montini junior had a big day Friday at the IHSA wrestling state tournament…
(Mike Clark)
"Sophomore year, I had the guy nobody was going to touch (Oak Park-River Forest’s Isaiah White, who won his second of three titles)," Timmons said. "Last year I was winning my match first period and I separated my shoulder. That made me mad."
Timmons managed to finish that match, but lost 12-9 to eventual 152 champ Fernie Silva of Rockton Hononegah.
He doesn’t expect to be nervous in his first state final.
"I’ve been on the biggest stage I could be," he said. "I wrestled (in summer nationals at) Fargo and I wasn’t nervous and I won that. If I can win the national title that everyone wants to win, why can’t I win a state title and not be nervous?"
Odds and ends: Two 3A finals will pit a pair of unbeatens — Marian Catholic senior Kordell Norfleet (42-0) vs. Willowbrook junior Jack Jessen (50-0) at 182 pounds, and Marist senior Diata Drayton (43-0) vs. Prospect senior Matt Wroblewski (34-0) at 220. … Norfleet is trying to win his second title, as are Montini’s Joey Melendez (44-4) at 113 in 3A, Plainfield East’s Michael McGee (42-0) at 120 in 3A, Montini’s Real Woods (35-2) at 126 in 3A and Oak Park-River Forest’s Jason Renteria (39-2) at 132 in 3A.
mclark@tribpub.com
Twitter @mikeclarkpreps
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