Guerin’s Sullivan picks up where he left off on mat
BY ROB VALENTIN Contributor November 28, 2011 3:16PM
Guerin Prep's Alex Sullivan (top) wrestles Ridgewood's James Lee in the semifinals of the 182-pound weight class. | Tamara Bell~Sun Times Media
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Updated: January 3, 2012 8:11AM
When Guerin Prep’s Alex Sullivan’s 2010-11 season came to an end with a loss in sectionals, he didn’t spend any time sulking.
Sullivan got right back in the weight room, and also spent lots of time in wrestling academies.
“I started right when I lost in the sectional match to (Grayslake Central’s) Joey Valdivia,” Sullivan said. “I did some offseason stuff at Next Level Wrestling.”
That hard work paid off on Saturday, as Sullivan dominated the 182-pound weight class at the Guerin Prep Gator Classic, pinning each of his three opponents en route to winning the title.
The senior started by pinning Palatine’s Antonio McBean 35 seconds into the second round. Sullivan made even quicker work of Ridgewood’s James Lee, pinning him just 28 seconds into the second round. That put Sullivan up against Uplift’s Terryan Bradylay in the championship match.
“When I had the time to watch (Bradylay’s) matches, I saw that he didn’t really shoot a lot. It was duck-unders and throw-bys,” Sullivan said. “He just went upper body. I got a nice low ankle pick on him, took him down and from there he just kind of gave up.”
Sullivan won his weight class in the Gator Classic as a sophomore, and placed second last season after losing to Uplift’s Michael Tate. Sullivan played football in the fall, which has put him at a little bit of a disadvantage to start the wrestling campaign. But he’s confident he’ll get stronger and faster as the season goes on. He’s also trying to reach an impressive milestone and get to State.
“At this point, sometimes I fell like I’m out of position,” he said. “And when I shoot, I’m not as fast as I want to be right now. I need 25 or 26 more wins to get 100 wins for my wrestling career. We’re in the Walther Lutheran Regional, and it doesn’t have too much competition, but I’m not going to underestimate anyone.”
Guerin is competing in IHSA Class 1A this season after wrestling at the Class 2A level last season.
The Gators’ David Connelly placed third at 220 in the tourney. Connelly had a bye in the first round but lost to Uplift’s Daviyone Lewis 3-1 in the semifinals. Connelly was able to bounce back in the third-place match by pinning Palatine’s Sergio Hernandez 39 seconds into the match.
“I was kind of angry that I lost a chance to go the championship, so I was motivated to get third place,” Connelly said. “It was a tough victory. I did an underhook to a single and worked my way from there. He was fighting it, and then I got his arm and hooked him. I felt like I had to get the stick (then) and not give him a second life because it might come back to bite me.”
Connelly is concerned about just one thing this season.
“My goal is just to make it to State. Plain and simple,” he said. “I need to work on my shots and getting quicker.”
Guerin’s other third-place finisher at the tourney was Juan Reyes. He lost to Elmwood Park’s Ruden Bahena via pin in the semifinals, but bounced back to defeat Airelle Hernandez in the third-place match, pinning her at 1:55 of the first round.
“I got a little nervous, especially wrestling a girl. Girls always have a lot of muscle in their legs,” said Reyes, who’s focused on improving every day this season. “I want to get better, get stronger and learn more moves.”
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