CHICAGO | T.F. South heavyweight Corinthian McBridge had a whole week to think about it.
He had a whole week to steam and then a few minutes to calm himself down and get focused.
One week after being pinned for the 285-pound South Suburban Conference title by Eisenhower's Dion Wells, McBridge scored a 13-4 major decision over Wells in the championship match of the Class 3A Marist Regional on Saturday.
"I knew I had to be cool and remain calm," McBridge said. "All week, all I could think of was how he beat me, pinned me on my home mat (T.F. South).
"I knew I had to wrestle better and I worked on my moves, especially my underhook."
McBridge came out aggressively and actually scored a tree-point near fall at the end of the match.
"This is the third time I wrestled him and I know I will see him next week at sectionals," McBridge said. "Last week (at conference), I had beat him once and maybe I didn't focus enough. Today, I was focused."
The Rebels finished third as a team with 105 points. Sandburg won with 244 points and seven individual champions. Marist was second with 238. The top team advances to the Hinsdale South Team sectional on Feb. 19.
The top three wrestlers in each weight class advance to the Class 3A Shepard Sectional.
McBridge's teammate Joe Young won the 182-pound title, beating Marist's Ethan Benoit 5-3. Last year Benoit beat Young 9-3 to win the 182-pound regional title.
"I was a little nervous, to tell you the truth," Young said. "I was able to get some single-leg takedowns on him and stay aggressive. I knew I had to make the first move.
"Last year, he ankle-picked me and I didn't let him do that this year."
Both Young and McBridge won their first regional titles.
"This helps for seeding next week, but I know I will see Benoit again," Young said. "I am just pumped right now about winning."
The Rebels' Blake Tisza (138) and Austin Berryhill (160) both finished third in their respective weight classes and advanced.
Thornton's Kris Williams (113) and Sedric Ramey (145) also advanced.
Williams, who was a 3A champ at 106 last year, was ranked No. 2 at 113 by Illinois Matmen and faced No. 1 in Marist's Mark Duda.
Duda won 5-3 to hand Williams (13-1) his first loss.
"I really wanted to win this because everyone said we were the two best in the state," said Williams, who missed the first part of the season with a left ankle injury. "I think we both are.
"He came out and beat me, but I am sure we will meet again next week."
Thornwood got a second-place finish from D'wayne Franklin (195), who was pinned by Sandburg's Ricky Robertson, the top-ranked wrestler in that weight class.
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