February 6 marked the end of the dual meet season for the Maine West varsity grapplers, as they were beaten by the Niles North Vikings 32‑15. The conference loss gave the varsity wrestlers a 1‑6 record in the Central Suburban League Conference and a 3‑9 record.

Against Niles North the Warriors got off to a fine start, taking a 10‑2 lead after three bouts. It all started when Fred Gano '73 battled his 98‑pound opponent to a 2‑2 tie. At 105 pounds Bruce Beam '71 picked up five team points as he won on a forfeit. Then at 112 pounds Ken Gustafson '71 won 7‑0.

Niles North went on to win the next four matches, before Warrior Gary Klein '71 pinned his 145‑pound opponent. The Vikes then won the last four decisions, plus winning the meet. The final score was Niles North 32, Maine West 15.

Bruce Beam for the second year in a row was the only Warrior to go on to sectionals at West Leyden. Beam took first place honors at 105 pounds by defeating Steve Leibovitz of Maine East 12‑6 for the championship.

At 112 pounds Ken Gustafson took third place, but it wasn't enough to advance to sectionals as he needed at least a second.

On February 19 and 20 Warrior Bruce Beam and Coach Dick Carlini traveled to West Leyden for the sectionals. At 105 pounds Beam won his first two bouts. The first one he won 2‑0, and in the second he recorded a 5‑0 shutout. However, in his third match he ran into some tough competition, as he lost 2‑0 in overtime to Sycamore's Jim Burrows.

Beam then wrestled for second place and won 7‑0. The second place finish qualifies him for state competition, which will take place tonight and tomorrow afternoon in Champaign‑Urbana.