The Saint Patrick Shamrock wrestlers had an up and down weekend, winning two of four dual meets. The Shamrocks beat Saint Viator and Lemont, but lost to the fifth-ranked Redhawks of Marist and Argo.

On Friday afternoon the Shamrocks hosted an East Suburban Catholic Conference triangular meet with Marist and Saint Viator. Marist came into the meet ranked fifth in the state, and they got out to an early 11-0 lead after three matches. Steve DiNino got the Shamrocks on the board with a 4-1 decision at 135 lbs, and Matt Ortega scored a 7-0 decision at 145 lbs to make it 15-6 with eight matches remaining. Brian Rategan won an exciting match at 171 lbs. Rategan trailed 7-6 after one period, tied the match when he escaped to start the second period, then Rategan rode his opponent out through the third period to send the match to overtime. In overtime Rategan scored a takedown to win 9-7. Joe Fagiano recorded a technical fall at 215 lbs, dominating his opponent by a score of 18-3. Marist won the final three matches for a 47-14 victory.

In the nightcap, the Shamrocks took advantage of a shorthanded Saint Viator squad on their way to a 72-9 romp. Brian Ridley (130 lbs), Steve DiNino (135 lbs), Nick Luburich (160 lbs), and Marty LaBelle (189 lbs) all recorded pins, and the Lions forfeited eight weight classes as Saint Patrick took a 72-0 lead before dropping the final two matches.

On Saturday morning the Shamrocks traveled to Argo, where they faced Argo and Lemont in a triangular meet. Wrestling Lemont in the first meet, the Shamrocks fell behind 19-12 after seven matches, with pins by Luburich at 160 lbs and Jimmy Coduti at 140lbs accounting for the 12 points. Fagiano (215 lbs), George Vitzileos (275 lbs), Trent Koenig (103 lbs), Tony Okal (119 lbs) and Ridley all pinned their opponents, and Jimmy DiNino earned a 6-0 decision as Saint Patrick pulled away to a 45-25 victory.

In their final meet of the weekend, the Shamrocks took on Argo. Argo jumped out to a 12-0 lead with pins at 140 and 145 lbs. The next four matches would set the tone for the rest of the meet, as the Shamrocks were unable to pull out several close matches. Mario Dato lost 4-0 at 152 lbs, and then Luburich took a 2-1 lead into the third period, only to lose 6-2. Rategan won 3-0 at 189 lbs, but LaBelle dropped a 1-0 match that gave Argo a 21-3 advantage. Fagiano pinned Tim Janecek, the 11th ranked wrestler in the state at 215 lbs to make it 21-9. Vitzileos was tied at two heading into the third period, but lost a 4-2 decision at 275 lbs. Koenig made short work of his opponent at 103 lbs, scoring a pin at the 1:20 mark to pull the Shamrocks within 24-15 with five matches remaining. Argo won with a pin at 112 lbs, then took three more close decisions to put the match away. Okal took a 2-1 lead into the third period, but lost 4-2 at 119 lbs. Romano led 4-2 going into the third, only to lose 5-4 at 125 lbs, and Ridley had a 5-5 lead in the third, but lost 7-5 at 130 lbs. Steve DiNino pinned his opponent at 135 lbs to make the final score 39-21.

Several Shamrock wrestlers are off to great starts Fagiano is now 20-1, with his lone loss coming on a questionable disqualification, and he has defeated three ranked opponents at 215 lbs this season. Rategan has posted a stellar 19-5 record at 171 lbs, while freshman Jimmy DiNino is 14-8 at the varsity level.