Arlis misses perfection
By KEVIN DRULEY
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kdruley@kcchronicle.com
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| Batavia's Logan Arlis wrestles Providence's Edwin Cooper in the 112-pound championship match during the IHSA Class 3A wrestling state tournament Saturday in Champaign. Arlis lost the decision, 6-3. (Travis Haughton – Shaw Suburban Media) |
CHAMPAIGN – Walk it off and wash it off. That's the best Logan Arlis could do after realizing he wouldn't be perfect.
The salve that soothed Batavia's junior 112-pounder after seeing his unbeaten season end Saturday included a trip to the Bulldogs' cheering section and a shower. By then, he could come to grips with knowing that 42-1 was pretty good, too.
"When I was reaching for my goals, I fell a little short," Arlis said. "But that just makes me want it even more. I've still got another year. I want it even more now, so I'm just going to keep working."
Arlis hadn't lost since this time last year, in a preliminary match at the IHSA state tournament at the University of Illinois' Assembly Hall. His return downstate ultimately ended the same way, as Providence sophomore Edwin Cooper scored a 6-3 decision for the Class 3A title.
Striking selectively, Cooper (38-1) remained in a tight stance throughout the match, hardly allowing Arlis any room to maneuver. Arlis registered the first points on a takedown 26 seconds into the second period, but Cooper recovered to control the tempo the rest of the way.
"It's hard to open him up," Arlis said. "I wrestled him way too tentatively."
Arlis' bid to become Batavia's first state champion in 51 years of wrestling came with his family firmly in his corner – his father, Tom, the Bulldogs' coach, literally so.
Arlis' mother and siblings – both Illinois students – were on hand, too. Calling Illinois his "dream school," Arlis said he'd like to follow in their footsteps soon. His brother, Clint, is a 157-pound wrestler for the Illini.
West Aurora senior 189-pounder Mario Gonzalez will wear the orange and blue next year. On Saturday, he steeled Illinois' decision to recruit him with a state championship at 189 pounds.
Gonzalez (43-1) controlled his match against De La Salle's Clayton Kendall nearly throughout, registering a 7-2 decision. Gonzalez, who took third in state as a junior, slapped his hands together after the match before rushing to embrace Blackhawks coaches.
"I was a lot more excited on the inside than I showed," Gonzalez said. "Definitely a lot of relief."
Each of the three other Chronicle-area semifinal qualifiers lost in that round before rallying to place in wrestlebacks.
After falling to unbeaten eventual state champion Elias Larson of Marian, 10-3, St. Charles East senior 152-pounder Daniel Mercadante climbed back to finish third. Edging Hersey's Demetrios Mitchell in the consolation semifinals, he reached the third-place match with unquestioned confidence.
Taking the first few seconds to size up opponent A.J. Knoll of Lincoln-Way East, Mercadante immediately noticed he could be successful with his shots. Being quick and staying aggressive made the difference in a 3-2 victory, aching and asthma aside.
"I just knew that I was going to win," Mercadante said. "There was no way I was going to lose the last match of my high school career."
What proved to be Mercadante's fourth-to-last match as a Saint again tested his toughness. He held on to win Friday's quarterfinal against Neuqua Valley's Alex Cizek, 5-4, despite suffering an asthma attack during the match that prompted a precautionary visit to the hospital.
Mercadante (44-4) experimented with his inhaler on Saturday by holding his oxygen in for longer than usual. Wheezing later from his fourth successive 6-minute match of the tournament, he had no complaints.
"My goal was just to place, and I ended up placing in the top three," Mercadante, said. "It means the world."
Fellow first-time qualifier Eddie Greco (36-5) of Marmion struggled to feel as upbeat about taking fifth at 103 pounds.
"I'm happy about placing," he said, "but the end result is not what I wanted."
At 171 pounds, returning state qualifier Danny Watson took third to finish the season at 43-2. The senior's high school career ended with a flurry, as he withheld a charge from Machesney Park's Sterling Hecox in the final 10 seconds to win the third-place match, 5-4.
"I've been ranked behind those kids all season," Watson said. "Everyone thought they were better. I proved them wrong and finished strong."
