Wrestling: Neuqua’s Andrew Geers places second at state
BY CURT HERRON For Sun-Times Media February 16, 2013 10:42PM
Neuqua Valley's Andrew Geers locks up Hinsdale Central's Brian Allen during 3A 285-pound championship bout at the IHSA State wrestling tournament at Assembly Hall in Champaign on Saturday. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 16, 2013 11:23PM
CHAMPAIGN — Andrew Geers had no apologies about how he performed in the championship match of Saturday’s IHSA Class 3A tournament in Champaign.
The Neuqua Valley senior was paired against Hinsdale Central’s Brian Allen in a much-anticipated clash of heavyweights.
In a rematch of last year’s third-place match at the same weight, Geers hoped to turn the tables on the talented Red Devils junior.
But there’s a reason that Allen had posted a 47-0 record this season, including the fact that he hadn’t been taken down all season.
That posed a big problem for Geers, who had won all 40 of his matches heading into the clash of titans at the Assembly Hall.
Allen jumped out to a 4-2 advantage after one period and then maintained that lead the rest of the way to capture a 4-2 victory.
“He’s a great wrestler so I just wrestled my match since that was the best that I could do,” Geers said.
“He deserved the title and I’m glad that I’m standing where I am. I’m really proud of my season. I had a great weekend and peaked when I was supposed to and I felt that I did my very best.
Geers had outscored his first three opponents by a 20-1 margin before running into Allen in the finals.
He was hoping to join Matthew Collum (2004) and Chris Spangler (2006) as the Wildcats’ only state champs.
Breon Hoosier (29-8) became Metea Valley’s first placer after settling for a sixth-place finish at 170.
“This is a really great accomplishment,” Hoosier said. “Our bracket was stacked so I’m happy to be able to place here. It means that all of the hard work in the offseason and during the season paid off.”
Another of the three area seniors who competed on Saturday saw his hopes for a medal get dashed.
Naperville Central’s Luke Roth (36-3) lost a two-point decision in the wrestlebacks to fall a win short of placing at 220.
