Libertyville’s McDermand making leap to top of heap
by jon kerr Contributor January 16, 2012 10:24PM
Libertyville's Chris McDermand works for a takedown against Warren's Sawyer McCaffery during their 285 pound match on Friday. McDermand won 2-0. He's 23-8 this winter with 14 pins. | John Konstantaras~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 19, 2012 2:00AM
The jump from under-levels to varsity can be fraught with land mines and speed bumps for high school athletes.
Some make the transition, others don’t.
In the case of Libertyville High School wrestler Chris McDermand, one can term his upward mobility a success.
Competing at the freshman level last season, the 6-foot-1, 285-pounder was undefeated. He had the record — and skill — to make the jump to varsity as a sophomore. But there were some missing pieces.
“He had to come a long way in terms of fitness,” said Libertyville coach Dale Eggert. “It’s not easy being a sophomore in the upper weights.”
So he kept wrestling, qualifying for the USA Wrestling Cadet Greco-Roman & Freestyle Nationals in Fargo, ND last summer. An injury kept him from competing, but the journey was a catalyst for this season. His stamina improved along with his intellect, as McDermand’s understanding of mat strategy has catapulted him to a 23-8 record so far this season, including 14 pins.
“He has some good hips, so most of his pins come on upper body locks,” Eggert said. “He can also turn it from the top position as well, so he’s got a pretty good arsenal going. He wants to hear what you have to say and works hard at what you tell him to do.”
Much of that comes from assistant coach Roy Seeger, who’s helped shape McDermand’s style. That was on display Saturday at the Lyons Township Quad, as McDermand pinned his opponents from DeKalb and Conant. He won his match against a Warren foe 2-0 on Friday.
A three-sport athlete, McDermand swaps his football shoulder pads for wrestling gear in November, then competes in discus and shot put in track, beginning in March.
“A football player who wrestles is tough. He doesn’t like to get smacked in the face,” Eggert said. “With shot and discus, they get to work on explosiveness, which will come in handy.”
For Chris McDermand, so far so good.
Recap: In a battle for the conference lead, Libertyville (14-4, 4-1) lost control to Warren, dropping Friday’s dual meet 25-22.
The meet came down to the 182-pound weight class. With the match tied at 22-22, Austin Koziol dropped a close one, falling 3-2.
The highlight was at 113, where Steve Polakowski won his match 3-0. Pat Fitzgerald also won his match at 126, prevailing 3-2, while Austin Pettinato came up with a clutch pin at 145 pounds.
“It’s a great meet, and they have a really good team,” Eggert said. “We’re doing everything we can to stay in the game with those guys.”
The Wildcats had no time to stew over the loss, as they had a quick turnaround, wrestling in the LT Quad a day later.
And Libertyville performed well, winning all three matches handily. The Cats topped the host Lions 36-18, downed DeKalb 46-9 and clipped Conant 43-19.
Freshman Joey Gunther scored a pin at 138 against a Lyons Township foe, and also won his match against a DeKalb opponent. Fitzgerald and Josh Hirth (138) also scored solid wins against their DeKalb counterparts.
“I admit it’s kind of a downer losing the night (of) the biggest meet of the year,” said Eggert. “But wrestling is the kind of sport where you better bring it the next day, as you can get thumped pretty good. I thought we rose to the occasion (at LT).”
On the schedule: The Wildcats visit Zion-Benton for a dual meet on Friday, and host a triangular meet on Saturday.
Warren 25
Libertyville 22
106 Malles (W) beat Strong (L), 7-2
113 Polakowski (L) beat Mason (W), 3-0
120 Fitzgerald (L) beat Martinez (W), 3-2
126 Kuhn (W) beat May (L), 4-3
132 Santiago (W) beat Meyer (L), 8-3
138 Howard (W) beat Hirth (L), 5-1
145 Pettinato (L) pinned Andrews (W), 4:28
152 Brewton (W) beat MacCallum (L), 5-4
160 Ayala (L) beat Santiago (W), 11-3
170 Hicks (W) beat O’Donnell (L), 12-2
182 Butts (W) beat Koziol (L) 3-2
195 Chapman (W) beat Grote (L), 5-0
220 Barbian (L) beat Miller (W), 4-1
285 McDermand (L) beat McCaffery (W), 2-0
•••
Lyons Quad
Libertyville 36
Lyons 18
106 Strong (L) beqt Letsinger (Ly), 10-0
113 Pollakowski (L) beat Krueger (Ly), 13-4
120 May (L) won by forfeit
126 Fitzgerald (L) beat Beebe (Ly), 6-4
132 Villareal (Ly) beat Meyer (L), 8-6 ot.
138 Gunther (L) pinned Condon (Ly), 5:26
145 Bates (Ly) beat Pettinato (L), 5-2
152 MacCallum (L) beat Lenz (Ly), 13-2
160 Ayala (L) beat Pearson (Ly), 4-0
170 Rende (Ly) beat Koziol (L), 3-0
182 O’Donnell (L) beat Nehf (Ly), 6-0
195 Fuller (Ly) beat Nield (L), 8-1
220 Barbian (L) beat Montes (Ly), 8-1
285 Rodgers (Ly) pinned McDermand (L), 1:00
Libertyville 46
DeKalb 9
106 Montgomery (D) beat Strong (L), 2-0
113 Polakowski (L) beat Olson (D), 15-2
120 Fitzgerald (L) beat Green (D), 9-8
126 May (L) beat Davidson (D), 5-1
132 Johnson (D) beat Meyer (L), 12-5
138 Hirth (L) beat Sommer (D), 2-1
145 Pettinato (L) beat Ackland (D), 9-1
152 MacCallum (L) beat Phelps (D), 16-0 TF
160 Ayala (L) pinned Fuerte (D), 1:12
170 Koziol (L) beat Deweese (D), 7-2
182 O’Donnell (L) beat Diaz (D), 6-2
195 Banta (D) beat Nield (L), 3-1
220 Barbian (L) pinned Roach (D), 5:02
285 McDermand (L) pinned Halverson (D), 5:11
Libertyville 43
Conant 19
106 Alexander (C) beat Strong (L), 10-0
113 Polakowski (L) beat Williams (C), 18-3 TF
120 May (L) beat Davis (C), 8-0
126 Fitzgerald (L) beat Rose (C), 18-2 TF
132 Meyer (L) pinned Karapanos (C), 1:54
138 Gunther (L) pinned Yuen (C), 1:24
145 Sylvester (C) beat Pettinato (L), 6-2
152 MacCallum (L) beat Stanton (C), 10-5
160 Ayala (L) beat Penny(C), 1-0
170 Prestia (C) beat O’Donnell (L), 3-0
182 LaBarbera (C) pinned Egan (L), 4:40
195 Nield (L) pinned Comstock (C), 2:57
220 Schramm (C) beat Barbian (L), 3-1
285 McDermand (L) pinned Meier (C), 2:33
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