The Catholic Central Shamrocks wrestling team traveled to DeKalb, Illinois, to compete in the prestigious Flavin Duals, which showcased eight of the top 10 teams in 3A and three of the top five teams in 2A. 

Dominating the Terry McCoy Pool

The Shamrocks began their campaign in the Terry McCoy Pool, where they faced Glenbard East, Barrington, and Illinois 3A #4-ranked Carl Sandburg. The Rocks displayed their depth and talent, winning each dual by a commanding margin of 12 matches to two. By sweeping the pool, the Shamrocks advanced to the elite "Champions Pool," reserved for the top teams from the tournament’s four pools.

Rising to the Challenge in the Champions Pool

In the Champions Pool, the Shamrocks faced 3A #2-ranked Marmion Academy, 2A #1-ranked Montini Catholic, and 2A #3-ranked IC Catholic Prep.

The Rocks kicked off the round with a statement victory over Marmion, winning 44-23. Key performances included Connor Bercume’s ‘25 thrilling upset of #2-ranked Favia and Cadon Waatti’s ‘27 dramatic third-period pin after trailing 10-0.

Next, the Shamrocks squared off against IC Catholic Prep, securing a 45-25 win. Highlights included:

• Bercume’s decisive 10-2 win over the #3-ranked wrestler.
• Ryan Totten’s ‘27 gritty 5-3 victory over #6 Judycki.
• Grayson Fuchs’s ‘27 dominant 19-4 technical fall over #4 Arnett.

The final dual against Montini Catholic provided the most dramatic moments of the tournament. Trailing 22-12 going into the 144-pound match, the Shamrocks mounted an incredible comeback:

• Fuchs ignited the rally with a fall at 144 lbs. 
• Alex Buskirk ‘26 followed with a commanding 15-0 technical fall at 150 lbs. 
• Braxten Roche ‘28 delivered the upset of the tournament, defeating Illinois’ #1-ranked Santino Tenuta 8-5.
• Caden Krueger ‘27 added a 5-3 victory over #7 Tack.
• Andrew White ‘25 sealed the 38-26 win with a first-period pin at 190 pounds.

Outstanding Individual Performances

Several Shamrocks wrestlers delivered perfect records during the tournament:

• Lee Krueger, Connor Bercume, Grayson Fuchs, and Braxton Roche all finished 6-0.  Fuchs secured a bonus in all six matches. 
• Andrew White went 5-0, recording five pins.
• Ryan Totten, Cadon Waatti, Caden Krueger, and Alex Buskirk each finished 5-1.  Totten knocked off 4 ranked wrestlers on the weekend. 

Coach Hancock’s Praise

Coach Mitch Hancock '00 expressed his pride in the team’s performance, stating, “Awesome performance today. These guys came into Illinois and knocked off the state’s best teams as everyone contributed in one way or another. This team is incredibly unselfish as we have guys bumping up weights to cover holes, with no questions asked. I’m incredibly proud of the progress our team has made. They’ve found an identity and are a close group that rallies behind each other.”

Next Up for the Shamrocks

The Shamrocks return to action on Saturday, January 4, as they host "Michigan’s Toughest Tournament," the Catholic Central Invitational. Wrestling begins at 9 a.m., and fans are encouraged to come out and support the team.

Congratulations to the Shamrocks on an incredible performance at the Flavin Duals!