It’s the second day of 2017, and sophomore Eli Pokorney was the only athlete in Chesterton’s weight room.
He was there with assistant coach Alex Boatright, finishing a Monday morning practice within “jammers,” a workout done by driving weights up at a 45-degree angle from a slightly crouched stance.
“Thirty seconds … go,” Boatright said as Pokorney pumped the machine holding two 45-pound weights toward the ceiling.
Pokorney took small rests between three 30-second sets, then switched the 45-pound weights for 35s and went for a full minute to complete the workout.
It was a grueling end to a demanding practice following a holiday weekend. But mornings like this are how Pokorney handled a major change in weight classes between his freshman and sophomore seasons.
He went 32-10 last year while wrestling at 170 pounds. But Pokorney knew he wouldn’t be staying at 170 the following season, but the next two weight classes were occupied by junior Lucas Davison (182) and senior Andrew Davison (195).
“At the end of the last season, Eli had a plan to get as big as he possibly could,” Boatright said. “And all of his time was spent doing that.”
Pokorney said he lifted weights about four times every week to go with his rigorous wrestling training. As a result, he’s up to 215 pounds this winter. The 6-foot-4 Pokorney also has grown four inches.
“If I could, I’d lift here with the coaches,” Pokorney said. “Sometimes that was twice a week. And I have a gym at my house. My dad is really big into lifting.”
That’s been a major part of Pokorney’s development: being surrounded by people who fostered this growth.
“It was my parents, first off,” he said. “They want what’s best for me, and they know if I go wrestle or go lift weights it’s going to make me better.”
They were right, too. Those offseason workouts have helped Pokorney post a 20-1 record at 220 this winter. While the people around Pokorney have all contributed, Boatright pointed out the sophomore has a personal passion.
“He’s very internally motivated,” Boatright said of Pokorney. “He wants to be a multiple-time state champion and he wants to be a Division I wrestler.”
Portage wins Al Smith Invite: Portage didn’t have its full lineup at the end of 2016, but still finished first last week at the 32-team Al Smith Invitational in Mishawaka.
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With the roster affected by injuries and the still unresolved transfer saga of the Moran brothers, Portage coach Leroy Vega said his team had to rely on some inexperienced wrestlers.
“Every school is going to be like that,” Vega said of the depleted roster. “We just wanted to see what we could do to keep improving.”
Vega praised the efforts of junior Jacob Bondon, who was called up from the JV to wrestle at 182.
“To be unseeded and place eighth out of 32 guys is pretty good,” Vega said of Bondon. “I tell our guys all the time, you have to train and be ready because you never know when we’re going to call on you.”
Region roll call: Hobart junior Tylor Triana (120) and Portage juniors Kris Rumph (138) and Kasper McIntosh (145) took titles at the Al Smith Invite. Junior Lucas Davison (182), senior Andrew Davison (195) and Pokorney 220 also finished first for Chesterton.
Dave Melton is a freelance writer for the Post-Tribune.
Top 5
With last week’s rankings in parentheses
1. Portage (1)
2. Chesterton (2)
3. Hobart (3)
4. Merrillville (4)
5. Lowell (5)
Wrestler of the Week: Griffith sophomore Cole Cervantes went undefeated at Saturday’s Griffith Super Duals while splitting time at 138 and 145 pounds.