MORTON — Perseverance through trials and a dedication to the craft has a pair of Morton wrestlers progressing toward big goals.
Morton juniors Alex Ford and Drew Greenwood each won individual titles Saturday to lead the host Potters to a metro-area best third-place finish at the Bob and Liz Schnarr Invitational.
Ford suffered a concussion, followed by a dislocated shoulder and tendonitis early in the season before getting on track.
“I really haven’t had a break,” said Ford, who despite the rough physical start raised his record to 16-0 with a 5-1 decision in the semifinals Saturday and a second-period pin in the finals. “Just being around everybody has gotten me where I am now.”
In the 182-pound final, Ford fought through a scoreless first period against Ben Aranda of Putnam County/Hall before opening the second with a quick escape. He scored a takedown with 20 seconds left in the period, then secured the pin at the 3:48 mark.
“Just the motivation of being with my teammates and pushing for them,” Ford said of what drove him to the championship.
With a month left before the postseason, the push now begins toward the goal of advancing to the individual state tournament.
“I just have to keep working harder and push beyond what I think I can do,” Ford said of the drive toward Champaign on the third weekend in February.
Greenwood also has visions of reaching state, as well as getting to at least the 25-win plateau to stay on course for 100 career wins.
“He’s progressing forward,” Morton coach Josh Prichard said of the Potter 132-pounder. “He’s worked hard and he’s dedicated to the sport of wrestling. He’s wrestled for a long time and it’s starting to show off a little.”
Greenwood rode out Eric Davis-Smith of Joliet in the final 30 seconds for a 5-4 win in the semifinals, before improving to 18-7 on the season with a 4-3 decision against LaSalle-Peru’s Vince Washkowiak.
In the finals, Greenwood was taken down in the first period but tied the match at 2-2 with a second-period takedown.
In the third period, Greenwood allowed Washkowiak an escape early. He then worked for a match-winning takedown before getting it with 30 seconds left in the match.
“(Prichard) agreed with me that I should let him go and see if I could get a takedown and it paid off,” Greenwood said. “At first I took a few sloppy shots, but I corrected that. A high crotch didn't work and I took a sweep single, my favorite shot, and I got it in.”
The tournament titles were the first of the season for both wrestlers.
“This is definitely a highlight,” Greenwood said. “Mainly, the whole year in generally (has been a highlight). I've had a ton of fun and have been working my butt off. And I feel like it’s finally paying off.”
Stan Morris can be reached at 686-3214 or smorris@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @stanmorrispjs