Cooper Bode’s comeback pin starts off Sycamore’s 57-18 win over Kaneland

SYCAMORE – Cooper Bode said he’s working on his composure.

Thursday’s match against Kaneland’s Apollo Gochis gave the Sycamore 175-pounder a good test of that.

Bode led 3-0 in the first period, trailed 8-7 in the second and came away with a pin 49 seconds into the third period, starting the Spartans off toward a 57-18 win in Interstate 8 play on Thursday.

“I just didn’t freak out,” Bode said. “That’s something I’ve been working on this year, staying composed no matter what the score is. Just getting the next score, that’s really what it comes down to.”

Bode went up 4-0 after an escape in the second, but Gochis got a takedown followed by a four-point nearfall to take the lead.

Bode answered back with a takedown as time expired to take an 8-7 lead into the third. He got a quick takedown and then worked toward the pin.

“I wasn’t moving very well [in the second],” Bode said. “He took a good shot and I didn’t get my legs back. Did something stupid, tried to throw him and I ended up on my back. I fought out of it, stayed composed and came back in the third period.”

Sycamore came away with pins in the first five contested matches. Kaneland’s first victory didn’t come until the 10th match, with Alex Gochis taking down Jayden Dohogne 12 seconds into the overtime at 138 for the 16-14 win.

Dohogne was up 4-2 after the first but Gochis took a 10-6 lead into the third. Dohogne opened with an escape, takedown and four-point nearfall to take the lead, but Gochis answered back with an escape and takedown to tie things up.

Dohogne was close to an escape or reverse as time expired but couldn’t complete either before the buzzer, setting up Gochis' win.

“It was an intense match,” Kaneland coach Brennan Keifer said. “Those are two guys that can just go out there and absolutely push the pace. They’re relentless kids, they know how to work.”

The Spartans celebrated senior night for their three Class of 2025 wrestlers. Thomas Lind picked up a 14-2 win at 132 and Cole Klieser had a pin. Aiden Saam picked up a JV win for the Spartans.

“Thomas Lind has been a starter with us for four years, came out nervous because of the crowd but he finished the match and won,” Sycamore coach Randy Culton said. “Cole Klieser ... has been a three-year starter for us, exemplary. Once he figured out, hey I can win, he pinned his kid. Aiden Saam, a first-year wrestler, wrestled early and got a win.”

Sycamore’s Charlie Olson (113) handed Kaneland’s Angelina Gochis her first loss of the season. The reigning girls' state champion at 105 was 5-0 on the boys' side and still hasn’t lost on the girls.

Olson got the pin right at the first-period buzzer.

“He’s a tough kid. She’s seen better competition. I think she got caught,” Keifer said. “She made a silly mistake and she had to pay the price for it.”

Adam Carrick (190), Clyde Nott (215) and Collin Hughes (285) got pins for the Spartans. Carson West (106) and Tyler Lockhart (126) won by forfeit. Michael Olson (120) won by tech fall.

For Kaneland, Jack Gruber (144) had a pin, Colton Heltsley (157) had a tech fall and Caden Vanik (165) picked up a major decision.

“We were definitely a little sloppy today,” Keifer said. “We need to come out with a little more intensity. It’s the second half of the season, man. It’s January. We have to take it more serious. Our conditioning is good but our technique, we’re falling apart a little bit. We have to pick up the pace and start putting the pieces together.”