New Mat Rivalry Brings Out The Best In Wildkit Girls

The Evanston-New Trier rivalry is still a new experience for the female wrestlers in both programs.

In a sport that’s still growing, most of the Wildkits and Trevians grapplers haven’t competed against each other until they reached high school, and many never even wrestled at all. That’s unlike other sports where swimmers, tennis players, soccer players and others may have developed what could be described as a “healthy hate” for the neighbors they’ve bumped heads with since grade school.

But when they look back at it 20 years from now, Evanston’s girls will realize that they made some history Thursday night at Beardsley Gymnasium.

The Wildkits outscored New Trier 42-36 for their first-ever dual meet triumph against the Trevians. The hosts scored five falls and two forfeit victories, evening the series at one apiece after New Trier’s 27-18 win a year ago.

On the boys side, New Trier dominated the Kits for a 54-24 Central Suburban League South division victory that featured just four ETHS wins.

One difference that has separated the two rivals in almost every sport head-to-head is the blue collar Evanston work ethic compared to their more affluent neighbors to the north. ETHS assistant coach Antonio Martinez, whose focus is on the girls squad this winter, thinks that’s what made the difference Thursday night.

“They really did just out-work New Trier tonight,” said Martinez. “It’s really important to them right now to do well against every school they meet. We have a lot of new girls this year and they all work really, really hard. Whatever deficiencies they might have in technique --- because they’re new --- they make up for with their hard work.

“It wasn’t like that last year. We have some leaders back from last year, like Aileen Trejo and Samantha Gipson, who are showing them what it takes and setting the example, and a senior like Fatima Gomez has really stepped up this year to help keep everyone accountable. It just seems like a different culture this year.”

Gomez, who was celebrated on Senior Night for both the girls and boys teams, clinched the team win by pinning Caroline Seidel in 50 seconds at 190 pounds. Also recording falls were Isabella Vernon (first period against Chloe Flannigan at 155), Atzi Brisette (third period against Maya Homma at 135), Michelle Manalo (third period against Isabelle Castro at 105), and Gipson (second period against Molly Zeidler at 125).

“We were missing a couple of girls tonight and I just hoped that the ones who filled in wouldn’t get pinned,” Martinez confessed. “Not only did they keep from being pinned, they WON.”

Vernon was in that category, after moving up to 155 pounds for this rivalry showdown. She improved to 11-1 on the season after fall, matching her win total of a year ago when she finished 11-14 as a freshman.

“Last year I was a lot heavier and I wrestled from 170 down to 155. Now I’ve cut down to 145 and that’s where I’m planning to stay,” Vernon vowed. “I was big and I wasn’t in wrestling shape as a freshman. It’s the first time I ever tried wrestling and it’s a very hard sport, You just have to try to get better every single day.

“I’m trying to be more coachable and listening to the coaches more this year. I’m trying to be the one out there on the mat who’s taking the shots and determines what will happen. That girl I wrestled today was strong but you could tell she didn’t have as much experience. If I see her later on, I’ll have some work to do to beat her again. I definitely could have been better in my match.

“It still feels like a rivalry with New Trier even though it’s new. It just comes down to what you do against them on the mat, that’s what matters.”

Head coach Rudy Salinas is still trying to piece together a consistent lineup that right now is top-heavy with success at 285 pounds, 215, 190 and 175. The Kits got a boost when his son, junior Rodrigo Salinas, returned to the lineup last week after being sidelined for an entire year with a knee injury.

The family wasn’t sure just how long the youngest Salinas son would have to be in rehab mode, but he’s back now at 165 and has won all four of his matches to date.

Thursday, he scored a major decision (10-1) over New Trier’s George Kaup and his other three wins have all come via falls.

Evanston’s other winners against New Trier were heavyweight Jeremy Marshall, who held on for an 8-6 triumph over Cooper Kemnitz; freshman Brooks Tyler, with a second period pin against Chris Bailester at 215; and Diego Lopez, with a technical fall (25-6) versus Logan Stave at 175.

“Rodrigo was already practicing live and he finally got the OK to go,” said Coach Salinas. “Now, he just needs to work on his timing and on his flow out there. He had to work really hard tonight because that kid (Kaup) wasn’t giving him anything and he took zero shots. So for Rodrigo to get three takedowns (one in each period) was impressive.

“Having him back gives us another solid weight class. I think our top five guys can beat anyone. I think Rodrigo has to re-establish his expectations and he can’t try to be more than he needs to be. He has to be smart and he has to be patient. It’s been tough all along for him, having to just watch his teammates out there. Tonight he had to give it all he had out there.

“His goals are still high and I think his mindset is fine. He just has to make sure he listens to his body.”

“I feel good now, and I’m really excited to get back on the mat,” said Rodrigo Salinas. “I just need to clean up some timing stuff. Now that I’ve got live matches I’m getting better every week. I get great competition in our practice room from Art (Bytyqi) and Diego (Lopez) and my brother (assistant coach Rafael Salinas).

“I need more and more competition so I can keep stacking the days to get better for the end of the season. I’m not focusing on the wins and losses, just on getting better and getting ready for the State run (postseason competition). I’m going to build up and build up to go for that state title.”