Wrestling: Lake Zurich’s Hoff nabs medal at State

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Scott Hoff of the Bears (left) battles Hersey's Hunter Rollins in the 160-pound fifth-place match at State. | Rob Dicker~Sun-Times Media

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Updated: March 24, 2012 8:48AM

It was late on Saturday, at the end of the grueling, three-day state wrestling tournament.

Lake Zurich wrestling coach Dan Strickler had just watched one of his seniors, Scott Hoff, wrestle five tough matches in less than 48 hours.

After his final match, Strickler stopped Hoff — the Bears captain — in a tunnel at Champaign’s Assembly Hall. He delivered a message to his 160-pounder.

“I said, ‘The team has been built in large part because of you. There are no more matches to wrestle. I’m incredibly proud of you,’ ” said Strickler, in his 19th season as Lake Zurich coach. 

During his first, and last, experience in the state tournament, Hoff didn’t shy away from the bright lights of the grand stage, proving he was worthy of being part of the action.

Backed by his teammates, each of whom made the trip, Hoff (39-10) claimed a sixth-place medal.

A key win came in the wrestleback quarterfinals. Hoff was trailing Naperville Central’s Tom Mitrenga 5-2 heading into the third period, and yet Strickler said that Hoff had his opponent right where he wanted him. 

“That’s typical for (Hoff),” Strickler said. “The third period belongs to him.”

He was right, as Hoff scored an escape during the period and a takedown in the final 30 seconds for the decisive points. The final decision was 8-7, ensuring Hoff a state medal. 

The result made the multitude of after-practice wind sprints and push-ups very much worth it. 

“It was do or die. He was holding a lead and Scott continued to push,” Strickler said. “We pride ourselves in being in better shape than the other guy — he’ll quit on energy. We wrestle until the very end.”

Hoff had two more matches on Saturday, dropping the fifth-place match to Hersey’s Hunter Rollins 9-0. Over the three days, Hoff lost more matches (3) than he won (2), but because of the two victories, he became the first Bear to place at the state tournament since Anthony Pace (152) finished sixth in 2010. 

Hoff’s legacy?

“He’s one of those guys who came through the junior high school,” Strickler said. “He set a goal to get into the state tournament, and he achieved that goal. He finished up really well.”

Recap: Lake Zurich’s other State qualifier, Sean Lynch, did not win a match at the state tournament. 

The sophomore had a tough draw, losing to eventual state runner-up Tim Corse of St. Rita 6-4 in the preliminary round. Lynch (22-8) then dropped a 12-10 decision to fifth-place winner Skyler Procasky of Belleville East on Friday. 

Expect more Champaign trips for Lynch in the years to come. 

“I expect him to bring home some medals. That would be the logical progression,” Strickler said. “He qualified to go down, and that was awesome. There’s something about the Illinois state tournament that is unique in itself. It’s kind of electric.”

Lynch will be a cornerstone for the 2012-13 Bears, who will lose Hoff, Matt Mueller (145), Zeke Honegger (152) and Adam Cantwell (220) to graduation. Don’t expect much drop-off, though. 

“It was a wonderful, fun year being with those guys. They are respectful and good people,” Strickler said. “There are guys champing at the bit to take those spots.”