Wrestling: Neuqua’s Andrew Geers wins third UEC title
BY GARY LARSEN For Sun-Times Media January 19, 2013 7:58PM
Neuqua Valley's Connor Swier works to escape Geneva's Jake Boser at 182 pounds. | Mary Beth Nolan~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: January 21, 2013 4:47PM
There was no urgent need for Neuqua Valley senior Andrew Geers to shower after he won his third Upstate Eight Conference tournament title Saturday.
The Wildcats’ heavyweight barely worked up a sweat, pinning all three of his opponents in under a minute, capped by a pin of Batavia’s Mitchell Krusz just 54 seconds into their title match.
Geers also improved to 29-0 in posting his 24th pin of the season.
“I’ve always been a good top and bottom wrestler, and that’s what has gotten me downstate, but this year I’m taking more shots, moving and taking guys down,” Geers said. “For the next two weeks before regionals, I’ll work day-in and day-out with my coaches and get ready for state.”
Neuqua junior Connor Swier (26-2) won his first UEC title with a 5-1 decision over Geneva’s Jake Boser, for a Neuqua team that finished second in team points to St. Charles East, 230-154.
“The only point (Boser) scored was the one I gave him,” Swier said.
“He was a stalling machine, but my work on my feet has gotten so much better since last year. I’ve become an attacker. I’m still real comfortable on top but now I can break people so when I get on top, it’s all easier.”
Justin Killacky (120) also placed second for the Wildcats and Justin Klein (132) placed third.
Breon Hoosier (21-2) became the second UEC champ in Metea Valley’s three-year varsity history when he won 13-7 on the title mat at 170 over Lake Park’s Henry Stoever.
“I beat (Stoever) with a last-second takedown the last time we wrestled and there was talk about how he was going to come back and beat me,” Hoosier said. “I just stayed focused and didn’t let that happen. I felt like once I got a sweep single, I could finish it on him.”
Kenan Carter (138) placed second for the Mustangs, who also got thirds from Alex Toepfer (152) and Ahren Marmolejo (160).
Anthony Touchstone (25-6) brought home a title for Waubonsie Valley, beating top-seeded Wes Posholk (23-4) of St. Charles North on the title mat at 220. Second-seeded Touchstone was the only non-top seed in the tournament to win an individual title.
“I wrestled most of the people here, except (Posholk),” Touchstone said. “I watched him wrestle earlier today and all I saw him do were underhooks, so I just had to stay out of those and make sure I didn’t get tossed.”
Jimmy Davis (132) and Howard Beatty (145) finished second for the Warriors and Anthony Napolitano (195) placed third.
