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Prep Sports

Focus turns to individual goals for Lemont wrestling

By SCOTT SCHMID

Lemont coach John St. Clair (left) instructs senior Chris Giatras (right) during practice last week. (Matthew Piechalak)

With numbers down, the opportunity for Lemont to match its recent team success on the wrestling mats this winter is out of the question.

But that doesn't mean the Indians are approaching the final month of competition any differently.

"The way I run the room and prepare the kids doesn't change at all," said Lemont coach John St. Clair. "We will push just as hard as last year. There is no let-up. Just because we are not having as much team success, we want them to get as much individual success as they can have."

After finishing third in Class 2A in 2009-10 and fourth the next year, Lemont had 10 state qualifiers last winter and seven state place finishers, six of which were seniors. Hit hard by graduation, along with the early season injury bug, the Indians have been forced to forfeit three or four weights in every dual meet this time around.

Three state qualifiers did return for the squad, but that number was cut down by one after sophomore Jimmy Brennan had season-ending shoulder surgery.

Headlining the group is 182-pound senior Chris Giatras, who is coming off an exceptional football season as the Indians' top running back. Giatras is ranked No. 1 in his weight class in Class 2A by illinoismatmen.com and has just one loss on the season.

"No doubt about it, Chris is a special kid," said the coach. "Someone like him doesn't come around too often. He has either been starting full time or part time since freshman year. He was a part of the team that took third place in state and he was a part of the team that was fourth in state.

"He learned from the seniors last year how to be a leader and he has taken on that role. He is making sure kids are doing things the right way and leading by example. And he is kind of embarrassed just being a qualifier and a placer, he wants to be on top of the podium."

Senior Mike Devitt qualified for state at 220 a year ago and is wrestling at that weight again. Fellow seniors Vince Lietza, Jason Walsh and Mike Frogner are also contributing for the Indians.

"We've won a couple of duals and we've had decent showings at a couple of very good tournaments," St. Clair said. "We are not going places and coming in last. The guys that we do have are working hard and competing which is nice. One thing I can say about this group is regardless of wins and losses, they practice as hard as any group I've had."

The next step for Lemont is the South Suburban Conference meet on Saturday. The Class 2A Tinley Park regional will follow on Saturday, Feb. 2.

"The conference meet is a tune-up for the next week," St. Clair said. "Come regional time, it's win or go home."