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Hinsdale Central’s Allen caps undefeated season with state title
Hinsdale Central's Brian Allen takes down Neuqua Valley's Andrew Geers during the 3A 285-pound championship bout at the IHSA State wrestling tournament at Assembly Hall in Champaign on Saturday. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media
Updated: February 18, 2013 4:42PM
CHAMPAIGN — Jack Allen’s state championship medal from 2011 is framed and hanging in the basement of his parents’ house in Hinsdale.
John and Leslie Allen will have to make room for another trophy.
Jack’s younger brother Brian earned a state title of his own when the Hinsdale Central junior beat Neuqua Valley senior Andrew Geers 4-2 to win the 285-pound Class 3A title Saturday night at Assembly Hall.
All of the points in the title showdown came in the first period. Allen scored two takedowns and Geers answered each with an escape.
“I was a little nervous going into the third period,” Allen said. “I knew I didn’t get my points (earlier).”
Geers, whose last loss came a year ago at state in the third place match against Allen, 6-0, finished his senior season 40-1.
The Allen brothers are the only state wrestling champions in school history. Brian (48-0) broke his older brother’s school record for wins in a season and will have plenty of opportunities to take aim at Jack’s career mark. Jack has 143 victories and Brian capped his junior year with 131.
Brian has the opportunity to something Jack was unable to do — win a second state title.
“I can come back to do something if I work hard,” Allen said. “I’m looking forward to doing it next year.”
For the second time in school history, the Red Devils put two wrestlers in the finals. Belleville West senior Mech Spraggins (48-1) defeated sophomore Juwan Edmond (41-10) in the 138 final, 7-2.
Edmond scored both of his points in the second period, but Spraggins scored three points in the final period.
A year ago, Spraggins placed fourth and Edmond was fifth at 126.
“It was not hard to keep up with him,” Edmond said. “I couldn’t get my arms around his legs. This was really a learning experience. I’ll be ready and come back next year to win state.”
