Before this season, Carmel wrestlers Anthony Swindell and Michael Tortorice got new coaches when their older brothers joined the Corsairs’ staff.
On Saturday night, both Swindell and Tortorice concluded their all-in-the-family season by earning Class 2A all-state medals at the state meet in Champaign.
Tortorice, a 113-pound junior, pinned East St. Louis senior Chris Tucker in the second period of his third-place match Saturday night.
“It was my first time going down [to the state meet]. I was a bit nervous, facing state champions or past placers,” Tortorice said. “Once I hit my second match, I was fine.”
Losing an 18-8 major decision to eventual state champion Jabari Moody of Rich Central in the semifinals didn’t faze Tortorice. He attacked his consolation bracket matches with a ferocious style honed in the Carmel practice room this season.
In 2012-13, Tortorice’s older brother, Devin, won a Class 2A third-place trophy in the 132-pound weight class. That season, Michael Tortorice wrestled as a 106-pound freshman at Wauconda. He decided to transfer to Carmel, forced to sit out the 2013-14 season due to IHSA transfer rules.
Michael Tortorice stayed in shape that season by practicing with the Corsairs and working out at Poeta Training Center in Lake Forest.
“It helped me out a lot. I was able to practice with some of the best guys in the state,” Michael Tortorice said, adding that he sparred with Prairie Ridge junior Travis Piotrowski, this year’s third-place finisher at 120 pounds.
Michael Tortorice was allowed to compete for the Corsairs to start the 2014-15 season.
“I jumped right in,” he said.
In the practice room with him was coach Devin Tortorice.
Swindell, a 145-pound senior, said Devin Tortorice was a frequent sparring partner of his.
“I worked with him almost every day. He pushed me harder,” Swindell said.
Like Devin Tortorice, Anthony Swindell’s older brother Frankie Swindell joined the Carmel coaching staff before the season. A Class 3A state qualifier for Carmel at 145 pounds in 2009-10, Frankie Swindell (and Devin Tortorice) provided counsel for Anthony Swindell during meets, assisting with strategy and tactics for how best to attack an opponent.
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“What is he vulnerable with? They had great insights on what to do. I put my faith in them and they taught me what to do,” Anthony Swindell said. “They were in my corner.”
And they were on the mat Saturday when Anthony Swindell clinched a medal. A 3-2 victory over Riverside-Brookfield senior Jonathan Szdlo in the wrestleback quarterfinals ensured Swindell at least a sixth-place finish. That’s what he got, losing to Carbondale sophomore Cameron Caffey in the fifth-place match.
In 1980-81, Anthony Swindell’s father, Frank, competed in the state tournament for Carmel. He was in the State Farm Center on Saturday to witness one son earn a state medal while the other acted as coach.
Not far from the Swindells were the Tortorices. Father Dominick and mother Christy watched son Michael win a medal with Devin by his side.
Two families, all-in at the beginning and sharing success at the conclusion, defined the 2014-15 wrestling season at Carmel.
“I ran into the stands and gave my family a hug,” Michael Tortorice said of his reaction after the third-place match. “It was motivating, having my brother in my corner.”
Jon Kerr is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.