Seven Rebels  advance to  sectional meet

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Updated: March 10, 2012 8:28AM

In the weeks leading up to regionals, Ridgewood wrestling head coach Jared McCabe told his team that he and his staff would be training the team “like animals” the rest of the way in order to prepare them for postseason competition.

“We’ve done so much training and it’s (paying) off and they’re starting to believe it,” said McCabe. “Even if we’re losing in the third period, we’re still working. We start wearing our opponents down (in the second and third periods). The other kids are tired and we’re still going. We’ve got a gas tank on our backs. The third period is ‘Rebel period’ and we own it.”

That training certainly paid off for the Rebels in the Class 2A Notre Dame Regional on Feb. 4. The Rebels finished in second place with 133 points in the 11-team regional, behind only host-Notre Dame, who took first with 278 points.

“I felt that we were in better shape than all the other teams. The majority of our scoring came in the third period because we wore our opponents down,” said McCabe. “We advanced seven-of-nine wrestlers. This is great for our team, considering not one of our wrestlers had any experience prior to high school.

The coaches have been preaching all week about how upsets happen and records mean nothing at this point in the season. I don’t care what a kids’ record is or what he is ranked. Everyone needs to believe in themselves and dream big. If this happens then we will see everyone get through to the sectional tournament. I was very happy to get seven of nine wrestlers through to sectionals.”

Individually, senior Henry Meyers was one of the seven Rebels to advance to Sectionals in taking the top spot in the 132-pound weight class. Sophomore Sam Karim also finished first in the 126-pound weight class.

“Henry knew he would have a low-scoring match going into the finals. He believed in himself and he knows upsets happen. This was not an upset in my opinion,” said McCabe. “Henry is a hardworking young man who has the skill and talent to compete with anyone. Henry’s game plan was to only take good shots and limit the number of shots that he took. This way he would wear his opponent out and save energy for the third period.”

McCabe was impressed with Sam Karim’s performance.

“Sam Karim wrestled a great tournament,” said McCabe. “His confidence grew in each match. He knew he would have a challenge in the finals against Numan Karim, and he stepped up to that challenge. He beat Numan 9-4. Never was there a doubt that he would win. He took (him) down right from the start and never looked back.”

Also advancing for the Rebels were junior Joe Perez (3rd, 138 pounds), seniors Donato DiGiulio (2nd, 145 pounds), P.J. O’Connor (2nd, 160 pounds), James Lee (3rd, 182 pounds), and Rocco Fagiano (3rd, 285 pounds).

“These seven wrestlers worked their butts off this season and deserve to extend their season another week,” said McCabe. “We are going to continue to work hard in hopes of extending it one week further.”

Those seven individuals will now compete in the Grayslake Central Sectional on Feb. 11 for a chance to grapple in the state meet.

“I expect all the guys to continue to work hard and believe in themselves. They know and have seen upsets happen at sectionals,” said McCabe. “Wrestling is a mental sport and those that believe they can win, will win. My team is in great shape and ready to go the distance at any given match.”