The boys’ wrestling team is focused on sending as many wrestlers as possible to state. One player that stands out is junior, Max Bowen, who won the SPC championship at 182 pounds.
“It is good to see someone like Max Bowen make a strong finish at the end of the season,” head coach, Terrence Kubski said.
“Winning that felt pretty good,” Bowen said. “I’m excited to continue my season and see where it takes me from here.”
Coach Kubski in his third year as head coach is proud of the ways his boys are fighting through and the way they are ready to step up when needed.
“We have a core group of kids who work hard and build a family atmosphere,” Kubski said. “When faced with adversity, the kids have stepped up well, especially sophomore Neil Lemke, Anthony Minnito, and Antonio Montoya as freshmen stepping up into the varsity lineup.”
With a young team, the Wildcats are looking to use this year as a building year and to see their young players make progress. Even with a young team that is in a developmental year, the guys still have an optimistic view and expect themselves to go far in the postseason.
“I want to qualify for state this year,” Bowen said.
“I want to make it to sectionals and qualify for state,” Mena said. “And if not, I want to give it my all on the mat for every match.”
It won’t be easy for the wildcats to achieve their goals because they will have to wrestle their way through a competitive SPC conference.
“Our area is tough because of schools like Plainfield North and Minooka,” Kubski said. “But we embrace competition because it makes us better.”
Although the wrestlers all compete individually, the team brotherhood that they have built beginning in the offseason is an aspect the team prides itself on.
“We have a strong bond through support and helping each other out with new moves,” Montoya said.
“Our bond grows during warmups, waking up early to get to school, and riding the bus to and from school,” senior Lucas Mena said.
The off-season opportunities that the coaches offered to the kids enabled the athletes to get in work to improve and learn from others before the season started.
“We lift in the offseason and offer open mats to those interested in trying out or getting some extra work in,” Kubski said.
With the end of the season coming up the wildcats are doing their best to remain focused and finish strong in regionals this Saturday.
“The season is long and it’s a physical sport so staying focused through the end of the season and staying focused on goals is a challenge that I know we can overcome,” Kubski said.
Wrestling is not only physically challenging to the athletes.
“Wrestling is about life skills and seeing the kids become adults whether it be maturing or growth in the classroom,” Kubski said.