Deerfield Wrestlers Tie Record, Send 6 Wrestlers To State Finals

DEERFIELD, IL — Six wrestlers from Deerfield High School are headed to the state championship individual meet this week.

At last week's Class 2A sectional finals, two Warrior wrestlers were champions in their weight classes. They will be joined by two third-place finishers and a pair who came in fourth.

The top four finishers at each sectional meet qualify for the state finals, which takes place Thursday through Saturday at the State Farm Arena in Champaign.

Sophomore Kai Neumark (39-2) won the sectional championship in the 106-pound weight class, defeating Amador Castro of Crystal Lake South High School.

In the 195-pound division, senior Cody Goodman (50-1) was victorious over Niall Schoenfelder of Antioch.

Junior Lucas Wittkamp (39-8) defeated Jayson Weidman of Grayslake Central to take third place in the 120-pound division, while sophomore Braeden Wittkamp (35-14) beat Anas Hirsi of Mather in the 160-pound division's third place match.

Sophomore Lucio Morgan (39-12) fell to Charlie Greun of Cary-Grove to finish in fourth place in the 132-pound weight class, and sophomore Ben Shvartsman (33-12) dropped his third-place match against Sean Crump of Niles Notre Dame.

Deerfield's six qualifiers ties a record set in 2016, according to Coach Marc Pechter.

"We probably would have had seven if Rory Perlow, unfortunately, didn't break his wrist," Pechter said. "But unfortunately that didn't work out."

The junior suffered a broken wrist during a sectional semifinal match in the 126-pound weight class. He attempted to keep competing with a wrapped wrist, but an X-Ray showed a hairline fracture and Perlow was unable to continue.

The 2019-20 season is the first for Deerfield after moving from Class 3A to Class 2A, which includes smaller schools.

"During the season, we still kept a 3A schedule," Pechter said. "We still kept pretty much the same schedule. And though our conference didn't change, we still wanted to wrestle a really tough scheduled in 3A."

Earlier:
Deerfield Wrestling Wins 12th Conference Championship
DHS Wrestlers Win Medals In 3 Weight Classes At State Final
Deerfield High School Wrestlers Complete 'Decade Of Dominance' In CSL North
DHS Wrestling Takes 4th Place At State Championships

Goodman, the lone senior among the Warriors headed downstate, was earlier selected as the outstanding wrestler in the CSL North Division and has committed to wrestle at the University of Illinois.

According to the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association rankings, Goodman is the top-ranked wrestler in the state in his weight division, with his only loss coming against against Apollo Gothard of Lemont, who is the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the 220-pound division.

Last month, the DHS Wrestling team won the CSL North for the 12th consecutive year, with three conference champions and 11 members of the team named to the all-conference squad.

The team sectional final is set for 6 p.m. on Feb. 25 at Fenton Community High School in Bensonville. The 24-3 Warriors, ranked No. 7 as a team by the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association, are set to face off against top-ranked Marian Central Catholic High School, who are undefeated on the season.