Illinois wrestlers turn it around

[admin]

By Shannon Heaton | Quad-City Times

The last time that Glenbard North wrestlers Geno Capezio and Vince Ramos came to the Quad-City area, their visit ended in defeat at the Illinois Class AA team dual tournament.

So the pair of seniors, who were on a Glenbard North team that lost to eventual team dual champion Montini in the quarterfinals at Moline’s Wharton Field House six weeks ago, had even more reason to make their return visit more enjoyable during Sunday’s Iowa vs. Illinois All-Star Classic at Bettendorf High School.

The two didn’t disappoint the Team Illinois fans in attendance as both collected pins to help their side defeat Team Iowa 31-22.

“There’s always motivation for that (winning a state vs. state matchup), but I really believe the Illinois kids do wrestle in a better state for wrestling,” Team Illinois coach Israel Martinez said. “I have much respect for Iowa wrestlers, but we always want to beat Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, doesn’t matter who it is.“

Locally, the two Quad-City area wrestlers in the event both tasted defeat for Team Iowa. At 215, Clinton's Byron Tate wrestled one of the day's better matches against Illinois Class AA state runnerup Pat Walker of Glenbard East, but fell 6-4. Later, at 152, North Scott’s Brooks Smith gave up nine first-period points to state champion Steve Zimmerman of Chicago St. Rita, falling 12-3.

“From a coaching standpoint, it's sometimes difficult to coach, because you don't know the kids' styles. Overall, the kids performed. We had 14 better matches than you usually see here,” Team Iowa coach Dan Knight said. “There were great matches all the way up and down. I just wish more were here to see it.”

Capezio’s and Ramos’ falls at 130 and 145 pounds, respectively, helped Team Illinois break open what had been a tight dual. Capezio gave up a good deal of length to four-time placewinner and 2007 champion Dillon Miner, as well as the first takedown, but came back to pin Miner in the third period after wearing him down.

“That’s always been a part of our matches,” Capezio said.

Then Ramos pinned New London’s Jeret Chiri in a battle of state champions. Chiri was probably six inches taller at least, but Ramos still found room to work inside and dominated the match after a first-period Chiri takedown.

“I think he wore down at the end of the first period, too. I just stayed in position and didn’t let him get in on shots. I just stuck with my gameplan,” Ramos said. “I felt we proved our point (against Iowa).“

Illinois turned a 12-9 deficit into a 31-16 lead through a five-match run between 130 and 152 pounds, and Iowa got some of that back, but not enough to overcome the visitors. Iowa did get the victory in the dual’s featured match, as Iowa City West’s Grant Gambrall — ranked fifth nationally — edged out No. 2 Jordan Blanton of Richmond-Burton, 1-0.

“I didn’t really have anything to prove to myself. I’d beaten him before (last summer, at the national tournament in Fargo, N.D.). I just wanted to get a quality win, and I wanted to show that the match I lost (to Chris Spangler, at the Clash, an opponent that Blanton had beaten at the Illinois state meet) was a fluke,” Gambrall said. “I wanted to show (the people who do national rankings) a litttle bit, too.“

[MslWrestler119]

“I didn’t really have anything to prove to myself. I’d beaten him before (last summer, at the national tournament in Fargo, N.D.). I just wanted to get a quality win, and I wanted to show that the match I lost (to Chris Spangler, at the Clash, an opponent that Blanton had beaten at the Illinois state meet) was a fluke,” Gambrall said. “I wanted to show (the people who do national rankings) a litttle bit, too.“[/quote]

A fluke? From what I remember Gambrall was getting dominated and then got stuck by Spangler. I don't think a 1-0 score (where no wrestler scores an offensive point) proves his match with Spangler was fluke.

[flashy_classy_Ahost]

Originally Posted by MslWrestler119

“I didn’t really have anything to prove to myself. I’d beaten him before (last summer, at the national tournament in Fargo, N.D.). I just wanted to get a quality win, and I wanted to show that the match I lost (to Chris Spangler, at the Clash, an opponent that Blanton had beaten at the Illinois state meet) was a fluke,” Gambrall said. “I wanted to show (the people who do national rankings) a litttle bit, too.“

It was at the Dvorak, not the Clash.

[Timesfreelanceguy]

Gambrall said the loss was in the Minnesota tournament. I prompted, The Clash? he said yeah. See, this is why I need to be at every big meet, no matter if I'm working it for my paper or not.
Shannon

[the voice of reason]

Gambrall did not say the Clash. The reporter added the Clash to Gambrall's reply.

Spangler certainly did not dominate the match at the Dvorak. There was no score in the first. In the second, Gambrall was attempting to turn Spanlger with a butcher when reversed. Gambrall escaped. In the third, Gambrall escapes to tie the match. Spangler gets a take down from a scramble with around a minute left. He has a arm turk and is over the head when the points are scored. He locks a cradle and is content to ride out for the win. Gambrall cannot break the cradle so back arches to attempt a roll through and Spangler stops the attempt, getting the fall.

Not domination by any means.

[Lockness]

Originally Posted by the voice of reason

Gambrall did not say the Clash. The reporter added the Clash to Gambrall's reply.

Spangler certainly did not dominate the match at the Dvorak. There was no score in the first. In the second, Gambrall was attempting to turn Spanlger with a butcher when reversed. Gambrall escaped. In the third, Gambrall escapes to tie the match. Spangler gets a take down from a scramble with around a minute left. He has a arm turk and is over the head when the points are scored. He locks a cradle and is content to ride out for the win. Gambrall cannot break the cradle so back arches to attempt a roll through and Spangler stops the attempt, getting the fall.

Not domination by any means.

Spangler was in control of the entire match, took him down in the third period, had a arm turk, overpowers Gambrall to lock up the cradle. He then doesn't look too content when he mans up on Gambrall and horses him over and pins him. I would have liked to see what you described though, I like to giggle when guys try to "back arch and roll through" an inside cradle. It's almost as good as trying to roll through a mills. Gambrall should work on his inside cradle defense, I believe Benefiel hammered him with it the year before.

[hound70]

"That post was ridiculous", as was quite possibly yours to follow. A match that was tied with a minute to go, and Spangler was "in control"?? Come on, give Spangler some credit. He's a much better wrestler than you're giving him credit for. When he's in control of matches, they're done by that point, or at the very least he's up by a comfortable margin. The voice of reason described it as it happened. Sorry.

Oh, and Grant doesn't post here, or anywhere else. Cute, though.

[Lockness]

Originally Posted by hound70

"That post was ridiculous", as was quite possibly yours to follow. A match that was tied with a minute to go, and Spangler was "in control"?? Come on, give Spangler some credit. He's a much better wrestler than you're giving him credit for. When he's in control of matches, they're done by that point, or at the very least he's up by a comfortable margin. The voice of reason described it as it happened. Sorry.

Oh, and Grant doesn't post here, or anywhere else. Cute, though.

I've seen the match a couple of times, I'm unbiased and objective. Spangler was in control, scored the only offensive points of the match, was controlling the pace and the ties. If you watch wrestling or have wrestled, you would know that a match can be won by just a couple of points, however one wrestler was dominant and in control.

It's on the site somewhere I believe, you should watch it, as you've obviously haven't seen it in a while and have forgot, Sorry.

After your post right there, at least I haven't cornered the market on ridiculous, your post was cute, though.

[Lockness]

Originally Posted by the voice of reason

Gambrall did not say the Clash. The reporter added the Clash to Gambrall's reply.

Spangler certainly did not dominate the match at the Dvorak. There was no score in the first. In the second, Gambrall was attempting to turn Spanlger with a butcher when reversed. Gambrall escaped. In the third, Gambrall escapes to tie the match. Spangler gets a take down from a scramble with around a minute left. He has a arm turk and is over the head when the points are scored. He locks a cradle and is content to ride out for the win. Gambrall cannot break the cradle so back arches to attempt a roll through and Spangler stops the attempt, getting the fall.

Not domination by any means.

Ok, after watching again, I missed the:

1. butcher
2. Scramble for a takedown(it was a single off a reshot)
3. Spangler being content to ride out for the win
4. the back arch roll through inside cradle defense

Thanks for the video post Mama Chase

[KEY Jaw]

Thanks for that last post Grant