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player ready...The Mundelein wrestling rebuilding project is going just fine, thank you, and with three of their top wrestlers all slated to return next year, the Mustangs expect continued success.
Junior Dane Durlacher and sophomores Reese Durlacher and Logan Kvien form the young core of the Mustangs and were 85-17 combined entering the Lake County Invitational on Friday.
Kvien, who competes at 170 pounds, finished the regular season 27-10 after winning 14 matches as a freshman. His jump in his second varsity season is an especially pleasing sign for Mundelein (14-9).
“To have anyone come into your starting lineup at the middle weights and make a solid contribution as a freshman is really something, but he’s taken a giant step forward this year to become one of the better 170-pounders in the area,” Mustangs coach Roy Seeger said. “(Logan) continues to impress with his calm demeanor, calm and lowkey approach and the composure of a veteran. It’s a tremendous attribute to have, not only in wrestling but in life.”
Kvien stumbled at the Lake Park Invite in December but recovered to place sixth at the Berman Holiday Classic at Palatine after a strong showing in the consolation bracket. He finished fifth at the 26-team Sycamore Invitational on Jan. 7.
Kvien joined the varsity team two weeks into his freshman season and bounced between 145 and 152 pounds, helping out wherever the Mustangs needed.
“It was a little bit of an adjustment going from wrestling in eighth grade at the (Mundelein Wrestling Club) for yourself to being part of a high school team where it’s all about the team, then yourself,” Kvien said. “I liked the challenge right from the start.”
Kvien is a three-sport athlete at Mundelein. He’s a running back and a linebacker on the football team and plays lacrosse in the spring.
Offseason football and wrestling camps kept Kvien busy, and he said the cross-training for both sports made him physically and mentally stronger for the day-to-day grind on the mat.
“I did a lot of lifting during the offseason and kind of changed my style a little bit after not doing very much last year from on top,” Kvien said.
That technical change has led to 12 pins, and Seeger said Kvien is able to rally from behind because of his strength and poise.
Kvien credited training partners D.J. Preston and Geo Albavera and the continued encouragement of the coaching staff for positioning him to make a playoff run.
“I’ve got two great partners, so it’s never easy in the room, but that’s the way I like it to be,” Kvien said. “If I continue to work hard and stay healthy, maybe I can get myself into sectionals and see what happens when I get there.”
“Logan is a very analytical type of kid,” Seeger added. “He absorbs what he takes in, then goes out there and tries to put it to use.”
Michael Garofola is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press