Conant sophomore Matt Goldstein is going to Champaign for the state individual wrestling tournament next weekend. He’ll bring a pair of black eyes and an unbeaten record with him.
The Cougar 103-pounder was one of four unbeaten wrestlers to survive Saturday’s Class AA Conant sectional. Goldstein (35-0) defeated St. Charles’ Brian Comstock 9-3.
Goldstein, one of five Conant state qualifiers, took Comstock down twice in the first period and controlled the match. Comstock, a sophomore with a 34-6 record, got within one point with an escape to start the second period but gave up two more takedowns before the match ended.
“He’s a real tough kid,” said Goldstein, who was elbowed in one eye during the championship match and bumped in the other in the semifinals. “I was a little conservative, but the score was close and I didn’t want to give up two points for a reversal. The most I would give was one for an escape.”
Also taking unbeaten records to the state tournament are Lake Park’s 140-pounder Chuy Villareal (36-0), Waubonsie Valley’s 160-pounder Jim LeDuc (40-0) and Conant heavyweight Pete Marx (38-0). Marx is the defending Class AA state champion; LeDuc placed fourth at 160.
Saturday, Marx defeated Mike Phillips of Elk Grove for the third time this season. Marx has handed Phillips his only three losses in 22 matches. In the finals, Marx pinned Phillips in 3 minutes 44 seconds.
“Just four more matches,” said Marx of his drive for another state title. “I was a little worried because I beat him last time only 4-2. That was good. It kind of motivated me. I was pumped.”
It will be the first trip Downstate for Villareal, who has had an outstanding career at Lake Park but could never get past the sectionals. Saturday, he handled Oswego’s Jeremy Kulbartz 10-2.
“This feels good, and I’m not done yet,” said Villareal. “One more week. All the other times I got to sectional, I just got beat. I wasn’t ready for it, wasn’t hungry. Now I am.
“Being undefeated could be good and it could be bad. You might be able to intimidate some guys. It really doesn’t matter much. To me, everybody is 0-0 down there and has a chance.”
There were no team scores Saturday, but Waubonsie Valley, Conant and St. Charles dominated. Waubonsie qualified six, including champions Javier Quintanilla (119), Ruben Saldana (152), Al Olieh (189) and LeDuc. Conant got titles from Tony Spizzirri (125) and Dan Weber (145), Goldstein and Marx. St. Charles’ six qualifiers were led by 112-pound champ Armando Calderone.
Goldstein won’t have teammate Anuj Maniar competing after him in the state meet. Maniar, who was 30-1 going into the tournament, lost to Calderone in the semifinals in overtime when Maniar couldn’t escape and then lost to Maine West’s Lance Weber in the consolation matches.
Maniar will continue to work out, with state team duals following the individual state meet. He’ll help prepare Goldstein for state.
