Wrestling: Calkins emerges as top Hawk at Niles West Regional

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2/4/12 Skokie-Maine South's Tony Mastrolanardo competes against Niles Wests Tom Williams. Stacia Timonere/for Sun Times Media

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Updated: February 22, 2012 12:14PM

Maine South junior Terry Calkins is an accomplished veteran of IHSA postseason wrestling, and his demeanor and results reflect that experience.

The 120-pounder, who reached the Class 3A state tournament as a sophomore, looks well on his way to a return after his dominant performance at Saturday’s Niles West Regional, where he defeated Elk Grove’s Joe Hauser 12-3 in the title match.

Calkins (33-4) secured a major decision and a first-period pin in his first two matches and seemed to take the afternoon in stride.

“I’m happy with the performance and how the tournament went,” Calkins said. “Last year (during the postseason), there was a lot of pressure and I was nervous and all that stuff. This year, it’s not really too much of a deal.”

As for the sectional, which takes place this weekend at Glenbard North, don’t expect Calkins to lose sleep ahead of the event.

“I know the pressure. I’m used to it. I like it. It should be a good time,” Calkins said.

Calkins is one eight Hawks who advanced from the regional. Maine South (161.00) finished second behind Maine West (218.50).

Hawks head coach Craig Fallico said most of his wrestlers performed at or slightly above their seed, and he called it a good, but not great, afternoon.

“We did well, we wrestled to our seeds, every man, and we had four guys wrestle above their seed. So that’s a good day,” the coach said. “We have eight through. Coming in, I said that if we got seven or eight through, it would be a good day. If we got 10, it would be a great day. That’s how we feel about it.”

Calkins was the team’s only champion. But several Hawks were runners-up: junior Jomari Lanzi (106), senior Tony Mastrolonardo (126), senior Dan Brewster (138), sophomore Tom Brewster (145) and senior Michael White (195).

Maine South junior Zach Taalman (160) and senior Nick Schaefer (heavyweight) advanced as third-place finishers.

Freshman Jimmy Kasch (113), junior Mike Garvey (152), sophomore Tony Perrone (170) and junior Kevin Collins (220) all came in fourth.

Fallico said Calkins is the only Maine South wrestler expected to advance to state, but that doesn’t mean several others aren’t capable.

“Everyone else has to wrestle out of their minds,” he said. “I don’t think anybody will be picking them. But it doesn’t matter who picks them, it’s if they are picking themselves to advance.”

Maine East

Two Blue Devils advanced from Saturday’s Niles West Regional, becoming the program’s first two sectional qualifiers since 2008.

Juniors Aayush Shah (120 pounds) and Izzy Medina (126) each moved on after finishing third in their respective weight classes.

Shah (25-7) beat Maine West’s Shavin Ellickal 12-8 in the third-place match, while Medina (15-13) took a 14-2 major decision over Elk Grove’s Bart Broda in his third-place match.

That performance was all the more remarkable because Medina had been out for several weeks due to injury.

“He hasn’t wrestled since just after Christmas,” Maine East head coach Emiliano Hernandez said. “Monday (before the regional) was his first day back (in training). We were worried about his conditioning because if those matches went into overtime, we didn’t know what he was capable of doing. It’s nice that he built up a big lead.”

Hernandez knows his wrestlers will not be among the favorites at the sectional, but said neither would be holding anything back this weekend..

“(The sectional) is where you throw the kitchen sink,” he said. “Am I looking for them to do something? Yes, I’m looking for them to get as close to advancing (to state) as possible, so they can build on their experiences for next year.”

Maine East (46.00) finished eighth at the regional.