Deerfield Wrestling Celebrates Record-Breaking Season

DEERFIELD, IL — Despite dealing with the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, including bi-weekly testing, the Deerfield High School varsity wrestling team can boast one of its most successful seasons ever.

"Deerfield wrestling had a record-breaking year in many ways but it definitely was not without its challenges," Deerfield coach Marc Pechter told Patch. " Early in the season, we were actually shut down for 10 days and then had to do some non-contact practices. We regrouped and went back to work and had a great run to the end of the season."

The Warriors, who finished the winter campaign with a record of 27-6, sent seven wrestlers to the state tournament. As a team, Deerfield finished second in the state, which was the school's highest finish ever.

Deerfield also won the Central Suburban League North championship for the 14th straight year.

Among the highlights on an individual basis, Ben Shvartsman was a state champion with a 50-0 record. Pechter said he broke the school pin record with 33 pins, previously held by Sage Heller (32 and 2nd in state in 2016).

Other accomplishments this season include:

• Won the entire CSL tournament (North and South) by over 70 points.
• 12 all-conference wrestlers (out of 14 weight classes)
• Ben Shvartsman was voted Outstanding Wrestlers in the North
• Won Regionals
• Won Sectionals
• 7 state qualifiers
• 6 placers (7th wrestler was top 8)
• Kai Neumark took 2nd in state (He avenged his state final loss when he wrestled the same kid in the quarterfinals of team state).
• Renzo Morgan 6th place
• Lucio Morgan 5th place
• Stamos Tsakiris 6th place
• Aiden Cohen 5th place
• Luke Reddy top 8
• Beat Rock Island, 42-34, in the quarterfinals
• Beat Mahomet Seymour, 40-18, in the semifinals
• Lost to Joliet Catholic, 39-33, in the finals