Youth Serves Harlem Well in Winning Big Tournament

By Bob Balgemann, REPORTER

 Harlem’s Varsity Wrestling Team is off to a strong start, winning the 10-team Whitewater, Wis. Tournament and taking three of four dual matches to start the NIC-10 season. The Huskies came home with 10 place winners from Whitewater, five Freshmen and two Sophomores. There, they rang up 249.5 points to 236.5 for runner-up Kenosha Bradford. Janesville Craig was third, scoring 197 points.

Tournament champions were Freshman Chad Richards at 138 pounds; Freshman Cadence Hecox at 160; Senior Dalton Hambrock at 195; and Junior Josh Carter at 220. Cadence is the last in a long line of Hecox brothers who were standout wrestlers at Harlem, starting with Sterling who was fourth at State in 2009 and second in 2010. Sage was a State Champion in 2014, after taking fourth in 2013. Kailor finished third in 2015; Jenner was a State qualifier in 2015. Hambrock was a State qualifier last year. Taking second at Whitewater were Freshman Jevin Doke at 106 pounds and Sophomore John Hawkins at 182. Yet another Freshman, Joe Kucher, was third at 120 pounds as was Sophomore Preston Schuelke at 132.

Finishing fourth were Freshman Brandt Hixson at 145 pounds along with Devin Baldock at 285. In Conference action, Harlem defeated Guilford, 72-21, Auburn, 70-12 and Boylan, 75-4, while being edged by Belvidere North, 38-31.

The Huskies ran into some of the better wrestling programs in northern Illinois during the Plainfield North Duals. There, they went 1-3 against a large group of experienced Juniors and Seniors. They defeated Lincoln Way Central, 36-34, while losing to Hinsdale Central, 43-20; Willowbrook, 51-22; and Lincoln Way East, 50-21.