By Mike Clark
Even after five straight Public League titles and 26 overall, Lane’s Jeremiah Arroyo-McMullan doesn’t take anything for granted.
The Champions beat North Side rival Taft 46-20 for the city dual-team title at Curie on Jan. 16, extending the latest period of dominance for a program that has been the Public League’s gold standard.
“My team puts in so much work all year every year and we know what we could do,” said Arroyo-McMullan, a senior 106-pounder. “… This is just the result of all the work we put in over these years, and especially this year.
“We practice three hours a day and coach (Matt Yan) tells us all the time, ‘Success is only a result of all the work you put in all the time.’ So I don’t want to say it’s expected we’re going to win. But it’s expected we’re going to keep performing well.”
This Lane team has a different look than last year’s.
“We’re weirdly young and experienced,” Yan said, “where half of the lineup is seniors and then the other half is relatively inexperienced, like second-year guys, a couple third-year guys.”
The Champions have dealt with some injuries, most notably to senior Vernon Cole. A defending city champ at 165 and two-way football standout, Cole’s prep career is over because of a fractured hip.
Cole’s backup, junior Isaac Mendez, delivered a key win against Taft, scoring a takedown in the final 10 seconds for a 4-1 decision at 165.
“He showed the depth of our room,” Yan said. “He won his match here in the final despite not feeling very well.”
That followed another pivotal win for Lane at 157, where freshman Harrison Yankellow won an 11-2 major decision against an opponent who had previously defeated him.
Taft opened an 11-6 lead in the title match, which started at 120. The Eagles’ two-time defending Public League champ Bernardo Roque had a 17-1 technical fall at 126 and Yehor Shymko followed with a 48-second pin at 132.
Lane then won the next six matches to open a 31-11 lead. Joe Ciprut (144) and Jose Lagunas (175) scored pins, while Yankellow had a major and Angel Santana (138), Fenton Pratt (150) and Mendez won decisions.
Taft’s Dmyrtii Mykhniak ended the Lane run with a decision at 190, but Apolo Abney’s decision at 215 clinched the victory for the Champions.
Lane also had pins from Alexis Rodriguez (120), Arroyo-McMullan (106) and Jose Curiel (113). Taft’s Eligiah Pagan won by fall at 285.
“The very first (Public League title) was really exciting, and now you expect success,” Yan said. “So every single one of them is special because the kids have put in so much work. … And it’s never a given because Taft is always really tough. …
“So we do emphasize that this is important, but it’s not the one thing we’re looking for this year. We want to go to state and send guys there.”
Lane advanced with wins over Corliss (69-12) and Crane/Young (51-21), while Taft reached the final by beating Speer 74-6 and Ag. Science 59-12.
Ag. Science beat Crane/Young 48-31 for third place. In the other quarterfinals, Ag. Science knocked off Hancock 43-32 and Crane/Young beat UIC Prep 39-35.
Photos by Jim Vincent
Championship rounds
Day 1
