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player ready...Notre Dame wrestling coach Augie Genovesi didn’t expect Dons senior Tom Simon to qualify for the state tournament.
However, Simon, who wrestled only 10 varsity matches last season, earned his way to Champaign by finishing fourth at 220 pounds at the Class 3A Conant Sectional. He secured his first trip to the state tournament with a 3-2 win over Schaumburg senior John Serio in the consolation semifinals.
“He was the last guy we thought would go at the beginning of the season,” Genovesi said. “He was too inexperienced.”
Simon’s dedication to the weight room contributed to his standout senior season. Genovesi said he would open the school on Sundays to let Simon work out. In the fall, Simon was an all-East Suburban Catholic center for the Dons. He plans to play football at Augustana in Rock Island.
“He was a butterball up until he found the weight room last spring,” Genovesi said. “He spent almost every day in the spring and summer in the weight room. He transferred all of his weight around. He really tightened everything up. He’s now put together like a brick house.”
Genovesi said there were a lot of nervous moments at the sectional. Except for his 20-10 loss to Oak Park-River Forest senior Allen Stallings in the semifinals, Simon (32-14) was in close matches. His other four matches were each decided by two points or less.
“He makes it exciting for fans, but it can be a nightmare for us coaches,” Genovesi joked. “But it was good to see that he was in almost every match.”
Simon earned the 16th seed and is scheduled to wrestle top-seeded Plainfield South senior Eric Johnson (44-0) on Thursday, Feb. 18.
Senior Jake Barzowski (40-1) and junior Josh Barzowski (32-7) were the other two Dons who advanced to the state tournament. Jake Barzowski took third at 138, and his brother placed second at 152.
Matt Harness co-hosts a golf podcast called Teeing Off. Find it on Twitter (@Teeing__Off) or at www.facebook.com/teeingoffpodcast and on iTunes.
Twitter: @harnesspreps