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CHAMPAIGN – The last minute of Tommy Curran’s championship match against Moline’s Noah Tapia was a frenzy of the two 145-pounders searching for a winning takedown.
And even though he wasn’t in the best position, Curran said he was able to find a way to score the two points and hold on for a 3-1 win for a Class 3A state championship Saturday at the University of Illinois’ State Farm Center.
“It’s crazy. I’ve put in a lot of hard work in my whole life,” Curran said. “I’m just grateful for this moment.”
Curran was one of a school-record seven medalists for the Barbs, including Bradley Gillum, who took second at 182 pounds. Danny Aranda was fourth at 120, Danny Curran was fifth at 132, Damien Lopez was third at 152, Bryson Buhk was third at 195 and Gavin Engh was sixth at 220.
Tommy Curran said it was amazing to be part of a record-setting team that felt like family, including his twin brother on the squad.
“I’m looking up there, and I see my brothers with me,” Curran said. “Even though they’re not blood – well not all of them, I’ve got one blood brother – but they’re all my brothers, and it’s really good to have them there.”
[ Photos: Class 1-2-3A wrestlers compete for the state title Saturday night ]
The match was tied at 1 going into the final minute of the third period. Both wrestlers got each other wrapped up, and Curran said he was in a tough position. But Curran ended up finding a way to avoid the takedown and score his own.
After taking second two years ago at the last IHSA tournament and last summer at the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association tournament, DeKalb coach Sam Hiatt said he was glad to see the breakthrough for Curran.
“He found a way to win there at the end,” Hiatt said. “That was as exciting, close as it gets match at the end there. He found a way.”
Hiatt said at the same time he’s happy for Curran, his heart aches for Gillum.
Gillum was a runner-up last year and said he was battling a stomach bug all weekend.
“It didn’t go as planned. I got sick the first day,” Gillum said. “I was throwing up a lot. I had some stomach bug that’s been going around. I didn’t feel 100%, but I had to give it my all.”
He forced overtime against Libertyville’s Josh Knudten, but suffered a late takedown after almost scoring his own toward the end of regulation.
“Bradley wrestled hard,” Hiatt said. “He’s had a great career here at the high school. He was a state champ last year and a two-time runner-up. He’s had an incredible career here, and I’m proud of him.”
Lopez took third for the Barbs after beating Glenbrook South’s Will Collins, 5-2, in his closer.
He said the third-place finish wasn’t what he wanted, but after a semifinal loss he’s glad he finished as high as he could. And he said doing it as part of a tight team made it even better.
“This team is amazing,” Lopez said “I don’t know what I’d be doing right now if it weren’t for this team. My teammates, I consider them my brothers. We’ve been through so much together. I’m excited to see, those of us who wrestle at college, what we can do with other teams.”
Buhk topped Chicago Mount Carmel’s Elliot Lewis, 7-3, to take third at 220.
He said he’s looking forward to Tuesday, when the Barbs face Conant in the Class 3A South Elgin Team Sectional as they eye a team state title.
“We love each other, and we’re just a family,” Buhk said. “It’s awesome. It’s an awesome feeling. Best team in the state, and next week we’re going to go win state together.”
Hiatt said the team feels good heading into the team tournament and that he’s proud of each of his wrestlers, regardless of how they finished the season.
“It feels good,” Hiatt said. “I’m proud of every one of them. We wrestled hard every time we took the mat. Even the matches that didn’t come up the way we wanted to, we put it out there. All the kids should hold their heads up high.”