CHAMPAIGN — Documentary filmmaker Steve James brought his crew to the State Farm Center to capture the final individual matches for Oak Park-River Forest senior Kendale McCoy at 195 pounds at the state wrestling meet.
McCoy is one of several subjects James has focused his cameras on for an upcoming documentary on race and achievement at OPRF. For James, an Oak Park resident, the trip marked his first return to the building formerly known as Assembly Hall since he filmed basketball player Arthur Agee of Marshall at the 1991 Class AA basketball tournament in his award-winning documentary, “Hoop Dreams.”
James, who declined to comment on his project while it was in production, interviewed the parents of McCoy in the foyer at the State Farm Center for nearly 20 minutes after McCoy was eliminated. McCoy lost 4-1 to Rock Island’s Erick Cole in the first round of the consolation wrestlebacks.
McCoy’s parents, Tab and Patricia Washington, wore mics and were followed by a camera and sound operator while interacting with McCoy before and after his matches. The Washingtons could not have children of their own and are raising McCoy, a great nephew of Patricia’s.
“This will turn out to be something that will really enrich his life,” Tab Washington said of McCoy’s cooperation on the film project. “When he becomes a family man, a responsible adult and a responsible man, he’ll feel really good about how he did this. He has put it out there about going for your dreams.”
McCoy volunteered as one of several students to interview with James at the Oak Park Public Library before the school year as an audition for the documentary. Tab Washington said James’ cameras have followed McCoy during marching band practices and during the wrestling season. McCoy plays percussion. One of James’ camera operators even filmed McCoy during one of his 5 a.m. jogs to train for the wrestling season.
Keep an eye out
Junior Jaime Hernandez (29-7) reached the final at 138 pounds despite wrestling his last two matches with one eye. In the quarterfinal, Hernandez accidentally head-butted Montini sophomore Will Lewan when the two collided. Hernandez suffered a badly bruised left eye that had swollen shut afterward.
Hernandez beat Lewan 3-1 in the quarterfinal and defeated Reavis junior Jimmy McAuliffe 8-3 in the semifinal.
OPRF coach Paul Collins said he asked Hernandez if he needed to go to the hospital Friday night, but Hernandez refused fearing that he might be considered ineligible to compete Saturday by IHSA officials.
“He loves to compete,” Collins said.
Championship leaders
OPRF’s three state champions led all other schools in Class 3A. The most likely contenders for OPRF’s state dual-meet team championship crown, Sandburg and Marmion, had two state champions each. Marmion’s A.J. Jaffe beat Hernandez 4-2 in the 138 final.
OPRF at state
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How OPRF’s Class 3A state qualifiers finished:
106: Peter Ogunsanya (35-9), did not place
113: Bobby Campos (40-6), third place
120: Jason Renteria (19-0), first place
126: Anthony Madrigal (37-2), second place
132: Gabe Townsell (34-9), third place
138: Jaime Hernandez (29-7), second place
145: Michael Ordoñez (37-10), fifth place
160: Isaiah White (26-0), first place
170: Rolliann Sturkey (34-7), third place
195: Kendale McCoy (23-10), did not place
220: Allen Stallings (32-3), first place
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