Sports
Deerfield Wrestling Puts Up Strong Showing at State Final
The wrestling program for Deerfield High School put up a strong showing this weekend at the IHSA individual state wrestling tournament.
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – It was a good weekend for the Deerfield wrestling program at the State Farm Center in Champaign. This week, six Deerfield wrestlers competed at this year’s IHSA state wrestling final.
The six state qualifiers were, Kai Neumark (106), Lucas Wittkamp (120), Lucio Morgan (132), Ben Shvartsman (145), Braden Wittkamp (160), and Cody Goodman (195). Last year, Goodman placed third at the state tournament. Goodman, was the only senior competing.
Neumark, Morgan, and Shvartsman made it to the blood round, which placed them within one match of placing at the state tournament.
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Ben Shvartsman in action and a winner by Fall in Consolation Round 1! @dhs_wrestlingIL pic.twitter.com/nJWqTvba6F
— Deerfield Athletics (@DHS__Athletics) February 21, 2020
Find out what's happening in Deerfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Morgan fell short in the blood round, while Neumark and Shvartsman came up victorious and ended up placing in the tournament. Neumark finished in 6th place, while Shvartsman finished up in 5th place.
Shvartsman’s match in the blood round was incredibly compelling, as he scored the points required at the last minute to come up with the exciting victory to place.
Kai Neumark with a quick pin! He's earned All-State honors! #DWN #ihsawrestling #illinoiswrestling #IWCOA @DHS__Athletics
— Deerfield Wrestling (@dhs_wrestlingIL) February 22, 2020
“This team really is like a second family to me,” said Zach Kehlert, a member of the Deerfield Wrestling team, “I think the same sentiment is held by all of us, when our teammates do well down at state, we all do well,”
For the Deerfield Wrestling program, the six state qualifiers tied a school record. With all but one returning next year, the future remains bright for the program.
“I can’t wait to come back next year and win this,” said Morgan, “we have unfinished business.“
At the time of this writing, the state final match for Cody Goodman had not yet taken place. Results of that will be uploaded as soon as possible.
Jake Leahy is a 2017 Deerfield High School graduate, Bannockburn school board member, volunteer freelance Patch reporter, and principal of Ladders LLC