Wrestling: New Trier captures conference championship

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New Trier's Colin Kenyon, top, wrestles with Maine West's Tom Sunny in the 106 lb. weight class at the Central Suburban League conference tournament on Jan. 21, 2012, at Maine East High School in Park Ridge. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media

Updated: February 27, 2012 8:33AM

It just keeps getting better for New Trier on the wrestling mat.

After rolling through the CSL South regular season undefeated, the Trevians turned their attention to the rest of the conference at Maine East for the league meet.

Powered by six champions, the Trevians earned the overall league title with 259.5 points. CSL North champ Deerfield was second with 247.5.

“We thought we would be one of the top teams coming into the season, and I challenged the guys with that,” said New Trier coach Marc Tadelman, who’s in his fourth season with the program. “I challenged them to win eight weight classes. It seemed unreachable, but I legitimately thought we could do it. We came pretty close to accomplishing that goal. It was a great team effort.”

Saturday’s meet was the second season when the CSL crowned an overall tournament champion.

Colin Kenyon (106) and M.J. Pritchard (113) earned big wins, both by beating Deerfield opponents in the finals. Kenyon took down Josh Lieberman with a 10-0 decision, while Pritchard beat Keven Hoogheem 4-2.

Chris Alcock (120), Arash Ghafouri (126), Jack Conner (152) and Paul Papoutsis (160) all took titles. Alec McKenna (132) and Luke Hidder (170) both finished second. Scott Schwartz (182) and John Benson (220) captured third-place finishes in the 12-team tournament.

“It’s kind of a celebration right now, but I am trying to put it back into perspective,” Tadelman said. “It almost seems like the season is over after winning conference. But our main focus is to win that regional and send some individuals to the state tournament.”

The Trevians will compete in the Glenbrook South Regional on Feb. 4. Other CSL teams in the field include the host Titans and Glenbrook North. Loyola and five teams from the Mid-Suburban League also will compete.

“We are having a great year, and I don’t want to have a letdown,” Tadelman said. “We are trying to focus and keep up what we are doing. We don’t want to get complacent. In the past, New Trier has had a tradition of surprising people at the regional. Now, New Trier is supposed to win the regional, and I don’t want it to backfire.”

New Trier will compete against Deerfield and Maine West in a crossover meet on Friday.