Warrior Wrestlers Seek Team Glory

Sending competitors to the State Meet is nothing new for the wrestling team but the Warriors have something else in mind when they compete in the Stevenson Regional at 9 a.m. Saturday. They want a team title.

Wrestling, unlike other sports, separates team and individual competition after the Regionals. The top three individual competitors advance to the Sectional at Barrington Feb. 10 and 11 with the first four there going to the State Meet a week later in Champaign.

A year ago, got to the State Finals but as a team the Warriors were done after the initial post season round. A victory at the Regional keeps the season alive for everyone with a chance to compete for the team title.

Team competition starts after the State Meet on Feb. 21 and everyone is looking for the opportunity to keep the season going beyond the individual state meet.

“Everyone has to do their part,” Zach Perbohner (182) said. “If you’re losing you have to make sure you don’t get pinned. If you’re winning you have to go for a pin or a tech,” he added referring to a victory so lopsided the referee stops the match and the team gets bonus points.

A wrestler who secures a pin or a technical fall contributes more points to the team total than he will with a close decision.

, is taking team competition very seriously like the rest of the Warriors. Deerfield is 24-2 for the season in dual meets.

“We all have to leave everything on the mat,” Christian Hoogheem said. “Everyone has to fight for points. That’s the only way to beat Barrington.”

The Broncos handed Deerfield one of its two dual meet losses this year, 33-30. They are one of the eight other teams the Warriors face Saturday at the Stevenson Regional.

Coach Marc Pechter must balance the motivations going with individual competition against what it takes for a team victory. “We need as many bonus points as we can get,” he said. “We are a very good dual meet team.”

When the Regional finals roll around, the third place match will be for the right to advance to Sectionals while the title competition has no bearing on who continues as individuals but could make the difference in a team victory. The Warriors understand.

“This is a very good group,” Pechter said. “They have won the (Central Suburban) League four years in a row. They know what they have to do to get the job done. This is their year.”

The Warriors understand their roles, particularly against Barrington. They have wrestled the Broncos before and know what to expect.

“Everyone is accountable because everyone is part of the team,” Tyler Pohn (170) said. “I lost 6-9 (against Barrington). I’ve watched the tapes. I know what to do if I see him again.”

Seniors like Pohn, Perbohner and Christian Hoogheem know their role to maximize team points whether the match is not going well or if they have a victory by points within their grasp.

“If it’s close you have to go for the takedown for the win,” Christian Hoogheem said. “You have to stay on top and try to make a move for a pin.”