Wrestling: Deerfield’s Bess earns medal at state meet
by curt herron Contributor February 21, 2012 6:12PM
Deerfield's Artie Bess (right) tries to fight off Mount Carmel's David Denne during the 220-pound third-place match in Champaign. Bess won the bout 3-1. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 24, 2012 8:28AM
A wrestler can be proud when he knows that the only two people who beat him ended up competing for a state title.
Such was the case for Deerfield High School’s Artie Bess, who closed out his season with a third-place showing at 220 pounds in the IHSA Class 3A state finals, held in Champaign on Saturday.
The Warriors senior finished with a 40-2 mark, his only losses coming to eventual champion Josh Marchok of Schaumburg and to runner-up Mike Swider of Wheaton North.
“This feeling is awesome,” Bess said. “Just going out there and giving it my all really paid off. I had a great coaching staff behind me, and they really pushed me through everything and put me in situations that I’d see down here (at State).”
A year ago, Bess lost in the 215-pound quarterfinals, and then in the wrestlebacks (in overtime), to fall one win shy of a state medal.
“After going 2-2 here last year, I knew what I had to do in order to place this year,” he said. “I feel really good about my performance this year. Maybe I could have done a little better in the semifinals, but I gave it my all.”
Bess turned in the best finish by a Deerfield wrestler since 1973, when Dean Sherman was the runner-up at 119. In addition, Bess became the first Warrior to place in a weight class higher than 171 at the state tournament.
Only three others from Deerfield have earned medals at State (top-six) in the last 37 years.
In his opener, Bess beat Plainfield Central’s Greg Cameron 12-0, and followed that up with a 5-1 quarterfinal victory over Marist’s Tom Howell.
Bess saw his state title hopes get dashed in Friday’s semifinals, as he fell 7-3 to Marchok, who went on to capture his second straight championship.
In the wrestlebacks, Bess edged Grant’s Quinton Quarles 2-1 in overtime, and then beat Mount Carmel’s David Denne 3-1 to take third place.
Meanwhile, things didn’t go as well for Deerfield senior Lenny Bloom (145), who went 2-2 in Champaign and fell one win shy of earning a medal.
After beating Plainfield North’s Steve Myers 11-5 in his opener, Bloom fell to eventual champion Kevin Moylan of Stagg 10-1 in the quarterfinals.
Bloom defeated Naperville North’s Nick McDonnell 6-4, but then lost 7-2 to Minooka’s Corbett Oughton, concluding his season at 40-3.
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