CROWN POINT | The Duneland Athletic Conference wrestling championship will come down to next weekend's conference meet after Times No. 1 Crown Point edged out No. 2 Portage 31-24 at Saturday's Crown Point Super Duals.
The Bulldogs went 3-0 as a team, notching victories over No. 5 Lowell (56-21) and Rensselaer (81-0).
"We opened up with the win against Portage, and that was big for us," coach Scott Vlink said. "We had to have that win against Portage."
C.P., Portage and Merrillville are now tied atop the conference with one loss each. The team that finishes best in the conference tournament will take home the trophy.
The decisive match between the 'Dogs and Indians was at 220, where Steven Potoski earned a minor decision over Portage's Travis Williams, 3-1.
Portage led at that point with three classes to go.
"We were in the Crown Point match. 220 is a big match for us, a swing match," Indians coach Leroy Vega said. "We win that match and we're up by 10 with two to go and that changes the momentum."
Potoski won the same match in overtime at the Traicoff Invite earlier in the season.
"You've got to find a way to win. You've got to want it more," Vega said. "Crown Point wanted it more than we did today and they won. You've got to hand it to them."
Heavyweight Quentin Klingberg, wrestling for only the second time since suffering a concussion, had a big day for Crown Point. The senior tallied two pins and a forfeit win.
"It feels real good," Klingberg said. "My team kept me driving (while I was out), at all the practices they've had my back the whole time."
Julian Torres's 6-4 win over Crown Point's Trevor Burlison at 132 was a high point for the Indians.
"It would've been nice to lock up the conference today, but we just didn't get the job done," Vega said. "We'll have to see what happens next week."
Portage won its other two matchups 41-31 over Times No. 5 Lowell and 72-12 over Rensselaer. The Red Devils bested the Bombers 42-31.
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