The end of his high school wrestling career is near, but defending state champion Nathan Traxler isn’t ready to start reflecting on it.
“That will hit me eventually, but I’m excited for right now, focused on my goals and not what it will feel like afterwards,” the Marmion senior said. “I’m focused on getting that second state title and excited about getting as many state titles as we can for our team so we can celebrate that together.”
Nine Marmion wrestlers will compete at this weekend’s Class 3A individual state finals in Champaign, and Traxler heads downstate as defending Class 3A champion at 182 pounds.
Defending state champs have targets on their backs throughout the season, especially when they’re top-ranked, as Traxler (44-2) is by IllinoisMatmen.com.
“From of the beginning of the year, that’s what I told (Traxler) and he has embraced the role,” Marmion coach Don Reynolds said. “In the preseason, I remember him saying, ‘I don’t want to run from anybody and I think 182 is tougher, so I want to wrestle 182.’ He has the mentality that he wants to wrestle the best and beat the best.”
Traxler won his second straight sectional title Saturday at Batavia, with a 6-4 decision over Willowbrook’s Jack Jessen.
Jessen is ranked second by Illinois Matmen. He beat third-ranked Patrick Brucki of Sandburg to get to Traxler and all three likely will have a say in who wins a state title on Saturday.
“I knew Jessen was a tough wrestler, really strong, but I thought I had better technique,” Traxler said. “So I figured I’d wrestle the best I could and come out on top. It was a good experience to feel out the competition like that before the state meet.”
Joining Traxler from Marmion will be fellow sectional champion Trace Carello (152) and a pair of sectional runners-up in Anthony Cheloni (132) and AJ Jaffe (138). Trevor Chumbley (113), Jake Polka (126) and Nate Jimenez (160) placed third at Batavia, while Brad Gross (145) and Matt Ferraro (170) took fourth.
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Cheloni squared off with two-time state champion Rudy Yates of Sandburg in the sectional final, dropping a 5-4 decision. Yates beat Cheloni by major decision earlier this season but the Cadets’ senior is peaking with the postseason upon him.
“When (Cheloni) gives it his all, he’s probably the one kid in the whole state that you don’t want to wrestle in the postseason,” Reynolds said. “He’s so dangerous that he can catch you and pin you from just about any position. He gives good wrestlers fits.”
Marmion’s nine state qualifiers in 3A this year are second only behind defending team state champion Oak Park-River Forest, which advanced 11 wrestlers to Champaign.
The Cadets might have surpassed Oak Park, but injuries took starters Mikey Callahan, Sean McKenna and returning state champion Riley DeMoss out of their postseason roster.
Still, they’ll bring a lineup ready to do some damage in Champaign.
“We have a bunch of guys wrestling real well right now,” Reynolds said. “Guys are wrestling with confidence.
“Jaffe knows he can beat the best kids in the state if he doesn’t come out flat, Cheloni always gets hot once the postseason starts, and (Carello) is wrestling well.”
Gary Larsen is a freelance writer for The Beacon-News.
State tournament
Where: State Farm Center, Champaign
When: Thursday, 1 p.m. (preliminaries, beginning with Class 1A). Friday, 8:30 a.m. (quarterfinals, beginning with 1A, followed by first-round wrestlebacks), 7 p.m. (semifinals). Saturday, 9 a.m. (quarterfinal and semifinal wrestlebacks), 1 p.m. (third- and fifth-place matches), 5:30 p.m. (Grand March, followed by championship matches).
Local qualifiers
Class 3A
113 — Trevor Chumbley, Marmion, 31-13; Luke Pradel, Oswego, 21-12; Phillip Sims, Metea Valley, 26-10. 120 — Gannon Hughes, Oswego, 40-8; Isaac Jacquez, West Aurora, 30-4. 126 — Jake Polka, Marmion, 25-7. 132 — Anthony Cheloni, Marmion, 38-7. 138 — AJ Jaffe, Marmion, 39-6. 145 — Brad Gross, Marmion, 26-9. 152 — Trace Carello, Marmion, 35-6. 160 — Nate Jimenez, Marmion, 34-11. 170 — Matt Ferraro, Marmion, 21-8; Josh Torres, Oswego, 40-6. 182 — Nathan Traxler, Marmion, 42-2; Bryce Shewan, Yorkville, 41-6. 195 — Dylan Ervin, Metea Valley, 38-3; Max Ihry, Waubonsie Valley, 23-3. 220 — Dylan Uzumecki, Batavia, 40-3.
Class 1A
113 — Nico Nunez, Plano, 34-7. 120 — Jake Krotz, Plano, 21-11. 138 — Myles Mendoza, Plano, 17-10. 160 — Zach Tomac, Plano, 22-2. 220 — Nick Dahlke, Plano, 20-18. 285 — Tommy Brown, Plano, 33-6.