Wrestlers Compete at IHSA State Finals
February 18, 2008

Three Saint Patrick wrestlers competed in the Illinois High School Association Class AA Wrestling Individual Championships. George Vitzileos, Alex Ortiz and Joe Romano all traveled to Champaign to wrestle at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Assembly Hall. Seniors Vitzileos and Romano both won their first bout before dropping their second. Ortiz, a sophomore, lost his first match downstate.

Vitzileos, making his second trip downstate, met Zach Ochs of Mahomet-Seymour in his first match on Friday. Vitzileos got out to a 5-0 lead early, taking Ochs down early and turning him to his back for three near fall points. Vitzileos made it 6-0 when he started the second period in the down position, and he was able to escape. Ochs started down and was able to escape to start the third period, but he was never able to take Vitzileos down. Each wrestler was penalized a point for stalling, making the final tally 7-2 in favor of Vitzileos. In his second match, Vitzileos faced Mike Albanese of Naperville North. Albanese took the early 5-0 lead, scoring a takedown and three near fall points in the first period. Vitzileos started the second period down, and he escaped. Albanese then took Vitzileos down and pinned him at 3:11.

Romano drew Kevin White of Sandburg for his first match. Romano scored two takedowns, but White escaped twice and was awarded a penalty point to make the score 4-3 after one period. Starting in the down position, White escaped to tie the match. White then took Romano down, and Romano escaped to make it 6-5 after two. Romano started down and escaped to tie the match at six, and neither wrestler was able to score again in regulation time, sending the bout to overtime. Twenty seconds into the overtime period, Romano was able to take White down and pin him. Romano faced Kevin Logsdon of Rockford in his second match. Romano scored the first points of the match with a takedown in the first. Logsdon escaped to make it 2-1. Logsdon started the second period in the down position and escaped to tie the match. Logsdon then was awarded a penalty point and took Romano down for a 5-2 lead after two periods. Romano took Logsdon down in the third period, but he ran out of time as Logsdon advanced with a 6-4 victory.

Ortiz faced Wauconda’s Steve Carlson in his first bout. Ortiz was never able to get going as Carlson scored six takedowns on his way to a 13-4 decision. Only a sophomore, Ortiz has a bright future ahead of him. Ortiz finished the season with 35 victories; the most wins by a sophomore on the varsity level in Saint Patrick wrestling history.

In addition to having three wrestlers that qualified for state, the 2007-08 season was a success for the entire Saint Patrick wrestling program. The Shamrocks posted a 23-10 record in dual meets, and placed second in the East Suburban Catholic Conference. Eight Shamrocks topped the 30 victory plateau this season: Vitzileos (42-6), Romano (39-12), Joe Rau (37-8), Ortiz (35-14), Anthony Sciaccotta (33-12), Matt Ortega (33-13), Jimmy DiNino (33-16) and Robert Peters (30-17). Vitzileos and Romano etched their names in the Shamrock wrestling record book as well: Vitzileos set the school record for wins by fall in a season with 29, while Romano set the school mark for takedowns in a season with 204, easily topping the previous record of 170.