Full Harper Results
RIVER GROVE, Ill. – The Harper College wrestling team competed at the 26th Art Kraft Memorial Open all day Saturday at Triton College. Ten Hawks wrestlers were placewinners, highlighted by second place finishes from Zach McCullough (Elgin, Ill. /Elgin), Jimmy Knapp, Cory Pych (/South Elgin), John Makey (Grayslake, Ill. /Grayslake Central ) and Dominic Gallo (Palatine, Ill. /Fremd).
Harper had 14 wrestlers entered in the open competition that featured wrestlers from Davenport, Ellsworth CC, Elmhurst College, Grand Valley State University, Lincoln College, Middle Tennesee State University, Minnesota West CC, Muskegon CC, Purdue University, and Triton College.
McCullough continued his strong sophomore campaign with pinfall wins over Charlie Hang (Grand Valley) and Alex Rader (Lincoln College) to reach the championship match at 125 pounds. Tepra Wright of Ellsworth CC got the best of the sophomore in the title match, winning by fall in 1:06.
Knapp won three matches – by fall in 29 seconds, 10-3 decision, and 16-0 technical fall – to reach the finals at 141 pounds. Ellsworth's Bobby Alexander pinned Knapp in the finals, and he settled for second place.
At 149 pounds, Pych reached the finals with wins in two tough matches. The sophomore bested Lincoln's Jeff Fresch, 3-0, and Muskegon's Adam Kehr, 6-4. In an exciting championship match, Pych was defeated narrowly, 4-3, by Triton College's Mike Malles.
Makey was impressive in his first two matches at 165 pounds to reach the title match. The freshman won by fall late in the match at the 6:31 mark against Davenport's Austin Vannatter and then defeated Muskegon's Jessie Regalado 13-6. Makey squared off with Ellsworth's Matthew Rodriguez-Kirkland with first place on the line and lost 6-1.
At 174 pounds, Gallo had his highest showing of the season with the second place finish. He topped Ellsworth's Marcus Deren, 6-0, and then reached the championship with a medical forfeit win over Joe Laurie. In the finals, Gallo was pinned at the 1:27 mark by Jordan Gundrum of Ellsworth.
In a deep field at 133 pounds, the Hawks' Ian Mullen (McHenry, Ill. /McHenry West) placed third by posting a 4-1 record. At the same weight class, Antoine Bess (Chicago, Ill. /Fenton ) was 3-2 and placed fourth, while Duke Bogicevic (Belgrade, Serbia /Larkin) was 2-2 and placed sixth.
Howard Olson (DeKalb, Ill. /DeKalb) had a strong day at 149 pounds, posting a 3-2 mark to take fifth place. Finally, Logan Nesselrodt (Bourbonnais, Ill. /Bradley-Bourbonnais ) placed fifth at 184 pounds.
Harper will return to the mats on Dec. 29 and 30 for the Midlands Wrestling Championship at Northwestern University in Evanston.
