CRYSTAL LAKE – Cayden Parks sat in the corner of Crystal Lake Central’s gym Saturday afternoon trying to catch his breath after what just happened.

An ice pack around his elbow served as a reminder of the battle he had just gone through in his 190-pound title match at the Class 2A Crystal Lake Central Regional. But in the end, how he got to that moment didn’t matter.

All that mattered was that he won.

[ Photos: IHSA 2A Crystal Lake Central Wrestling Regional ]

“Postseason is the type of stuff you live for,” Parks said. “I just have to fight with everything I’ve got. I want to wrestle as long as possible.”

Parks was one of three individual champions Saturday who helped the Tigers take second in the regional with 160 points. Yorkville Christian won with 190, Plano (110) took third, Morris finished fourth (103) and Prairie Ridge (97) placed fifth. Burlington Central (94), Crystal Lake South and Kaneland (75) rounded out the team scoring.

The top-three placers from each weight class advanced to the Class 2A Sycamore Sectional on Saturday, Feb. 10.

Parks picked up the win at 190 against Plano’s Prince Amakiri after falling behind 4-1. He took a 7-4 lead in the second period on a turnaround and controlled the match until he suffered an injury around the elbow.

Despite the possibility of ending the match and moving on to sectionals next week, Parks battled on and held on to pick up the 12-11 win.

“I just want to give it all I got every time I go out there on the mat,” Parks said. ”Go out there and do what I can to win every match.”

Crystal Lake Central’s Alessio Pezella (150) and Tommy McNeil (215) each won their respective weights while Brett Campagna (144) and Tyler Porter (165) each took second. Payton Ramsey (120) also qualified for sectionals with a third-place finish.

“Postseason is the type of stuff you live for. I just have to fight with everything I’ve got. I want to wrestle as long as possible.”

—  Cayden Parks, Crystal Lake Central junior

Pezella wanted to help the Tigers win the team regional title but was also excited to move on to sectionals with a regional win.

“It sets you off on a positive note,” Pezella said. “You’re able to go to sectionals up, still undefeated in the postseason.”

PR’s Mikey Meade started the postseason with a chip on his shoulder. After making the state tournament as a freshman, he just missed out on the chance last season.

He worked hard all offseason to make sure he’d get back to state and won the 126-pound bracket to start off on the right foot. The Wolves had four more sectional qualifiers who took second: Jake Lowitzki (113), Xander York (157), John Fallaw (215) and Walter Pollack (285).

Lowitzki fell to Yorkville Christian’s Aiden Larsen in a matchup of top-five wrestlers, according to Illinois Matmen rankings.

While Meade was proud to pick up a regional win, he didn’t work all offseason just to make it to sectionals.

“Next thing is sectionals,” Meade said. “That’s all I got.”

Burlington Central’s Austin Lee wanted to make up for lost time after missing a couple months of the season because of mono. He worked hard once he got back with the mindset of making it to the state meet.

Lee led a pair of Rockets’ regional wins when he captured the 138-pound title while John Chavez joined him, taking 165. Jackson Merlett (106) and Doug Phillips (132) each took second.

Lee pushed the pace in his title match to make sure he’d win the regional crown. He credited that aggressive approach to what’s helped him thus far and what will work on his journey to state.

“It just shows and pays off right here,” Lee said. “Getting that win.”

South’s Caden Casimino comeback to the sport he competed in his entire life felt complete Saturday. Casimino took a break from wrestling after his freshman season to focus on football but returned to wrestling for one last ride before playing collegiate football.

Casimino ran out to a quick 2-0 lead at 175 before he won the title by fall, his second of the tournament. He joined Andy Burburija, who took 285 by medical forfeit and stayed undefeated with a 29-0 record, in winning titles for South. Dominic Ariola finished third and advanced at 215.

Although it took some time to get back in the swing of things early in the year, Casimino showed just how much wrestling can be like riding a bike.

“It’s going well,” he joked. “I’m glad I did it.”

Class 2A Crystal Lake Central Regional Placers (Top-3 advance to sectional tournament)

106

First: Owen Sater, Morris

Second: Jackson Marlett, Burlington Central

Third: Shane Downs, Plano

113

First: Aiden Larsen, Yorkville Christian

Second: Jake Lowitzki, Prairie Ridge

Third: Brock Claypool, Morris

120

First: Kamron Scholl, Kaneland

Second: Brandon Anderson, Morris

Third: Payton Ramsey, Crystal Lake Central

126

First: Mikey Meade, Prairie Ridge

Second: Alex Gochis, Kaneland

Third: Tristan Gleason, Yorkville Christian

132

First: Ty Edwards, Yorkville Christian

Second: Doug Phillips, Burlington Central

Third: Carter Skoff, Morris

138

First: Austin Lee, Burlington Central

Second: Antoine Gilford, Plano

Third: Grason Johnson, Yorkville Christian

144

First: Tyler Semlar, Morris

Second: Brett Campagna, Crystal Lake Central

Third: Trevion Gilford, Plano

150

First: Alessio Pezzella, Crystal Lake Central

Second: Caiden Ronning, Plano

Third: John Isaac Gray, Yorkville Christian

157

First: Robby Nelson, Yorkville Christian

Second: Xander York, Prairie Ridge

Third: Luis Ballesteros, Plano

165

First: Johan Chavez, Burlington Central

Second: Tyler Porter, Crystal Lake Central

Third: Timmy Young, Plano

175

First: Caden Casimino, Crystal Lake South

Second: Jackson Allen, Yorkville Christian

Third: Apollo Gochis, Plano

190

First: Cayden Park, Crystal Lake Central

Second: Prince Amakiri, Plano

Third: KC Brichta Bachar

215

First: Tommy McNeil, Crystal Lake Central

Second: John Fallaw, Prairie Ridge

Third: Dominic Ariola, Crystal Lake South

285

First: Andy Burburija, Crystal Lake South

Second: Walter Pollack, Prairie Ridge

Third: Garrett Tunnell, Yorkville Christian