Saint Patrick wrestlers Joe Fagiano and Brian Rategan each earned trips to the Illinois High School Association’s State Individual Wrestling Finals. Wrestling in the Franklin Park/Northlake (Leyden) Sectional, Fagiano won the sectional championship in the 215-pound division, while Rategan placed second at 171 pounds to win his berth downstate. Fagiano and Rategan will compete this weekend at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Assembly Hall. Preliminary round matches will begin at 9:00am on Friday February 17.

Fagiano rolled through the sectional, running his record to 41-2 with three decisive victories. In the quarterfinals Fagiano pinned Chris Sysko of Northside College Prep at 1:48. Fagiano then defeated Mark Corsello of Maine South by technical fall at 4:32 in the semi-finals. Fagiano was up 17-1 on Corsello when that match was stopped. In the sectional championship match Fagiano squared off against Mitch Ibarra of Lake Park. Ibarra came into the match with a record of 28-4, but he was no match for Fagiano, who soundly thrashed him. Fagiano built a 12-1 lead after two periods on his way to a 16-3 major decision.

Rategan’s trip through the sectional was more dramatic than Fagiano’s. Rategan scored major decisions in his first two matches, defeating Andy Dunn of Maine West by a score of 19-5, then shutting out Brendan McAleer of Notre Dame, 9-0. In the semifinals Rategan faced John Hilliard of Proviso East. One week earlier Hilliard had prevailed over Rategan 10-9 in a hard-fought match in the semi-finals of the Oak Park (Fenwick) Regional. Rategan would not be denied this time, scoring the first takedown of the match, then escaping to start the second period for a 3-0 lead. Hilliard took Rategan down in the second, but he was able to escape and they headed to the third period with Rategan on top 4-2. Hilliard started the third period down and escaped to make it 4-3, but Rategan held on for the decision to earn a spot in the championship match and a trip downstate. In the championship match Rategan took on Billy Barnhisel of Fenwick. Barnhisel came into the match ranked ninth in the state with a record of 24-4. Rategan fought a valiant battle against Barnhisel, taking a 4-3 lead into the third period before Barnhisel scored an escape and a takedown to win a 6-4 decision and the sectional title.

Brian Ridley narrowly missed being the third Shamrock to earn a trip downstate, placing fourth at 130 pounds. Ridley defeated Adam Schammert of Leyden 14-9 in his opening match, but lost a 3-1 decision to the eventual sectional champion Sam Campbell of New Trier in his second match. Ridley held a 1-0 lead in the third period, but Campbell was able to escape and take Ridley down for the win. In the wrestle backs, Ridley turned the tables on Frank Guenthner of Oak Park River-Forest. Trailing 3-2 at the start of the third period, Ridley was able to escape from the bottom and score a takedown. Guenthner escaped and Ridley moved on with a 5-4 decision. With a trip downstate on the line, Ridley faced Pat Hanlon of Fenwick for third place. Hanlon scored a first period takedown, then escaped early in the second period and held on for a 3-0 decision over Ridley.

Nick Luburich was the fourth Shamrock to wrestle in the sectionals. Luburich started strong, pinning Jessie Santiago of Gordon Tech. in 14 seconds in his first match. In his second round match Luburich was eliminated, dropping a 6-0 decision to Gage Szablewski of Lake Park.