Notre Dame senior Josh Barzowski can trace the East Suburban Catholic wrestling title he won to a single quality.
“Confidence,” Barzowski said. “Last year, even though I made it downstate, I didn’t have the confidence I needed. This year, I have it.
“Without confidence I was too timid, I didn’t shoot and I would wrestle their style. Now that I’m confident, I go out and wrestle my style.”
Barzowski pinned Marist’s Scott Bauer on the title mat at 160 pounds at the conference championships, which were hosted on Jan. 27 by Carmel in Mundelein. Barzowski, a Park Ridge resident, improved to 32-3 by winning the first conference title of his career. He is currently ranked sixth in Illinois in Class 3A at 160 pounds by Illinois Matmen.
Barzowski went 33-9 at 152 pounds last season, and 1-2 at the state tournament. Notre Dame coach Augie Genovesi has seen the change in Barzowski.
“He didn’t believe in himself enough for a little while. It’s just mental maturity,” Genovesi said. “And now our younger guys see that confidence from him and they feed off of it.
“He’s a great kid and he’s probably one of the best athletes we’ve ever had. He can dunk a basketball, probably throw a baseball 85 miles an hour — he’s just a great athlete. But he’s an even better kid.”
Barzowski won by fall in his semifinal match before facing Bauer (22-14). Barzowski led 4-1 after one period, but Bauer earned a takedown to start the second.
Barzowski led 5-4 in the third and with Bauer pressing for a late takedown, Barzowski pinned him with four seconds left in the match.
More Top Picks Watches
“I came out aggressive like I wanted to and I kind of slipped, and he took me down,” Barzowski said. “I stayed calm, kept working my stuff and pushing him, and once I got to an outside carry, that was it. You just have to stay calm in those situations.”
Marist won the ESCC team title and Marian Catholic placed second. Notre Dame finished third and also got an individual title from Andy Poniatowski, who improved to 23-4 with a pin of Marist’s Frank Doyle on the title mat at 126 pounds.
Notre Dame’s Sam Grillo (170 pounds), Nick Prozanski (182) and Conor Flaherty (195) placed second. Teammates Vince Genualdi (113) and Augie Whittington (145) took third.
End of an era
After 35 years as either the co-head coach or head coach at Notre Dame, Genovesi is stepping down at season’s end. He plans to remain as an assistant coach with the program.
“It’s been fun but it was time to step back,” Genovesi said. “Our support from our athletic director, Mike Hennessey, has been great and the kids have been fantastic.
“If we don’t have the best wrestlers or the best athletes, we definitely have the best kids. It’s like a family. It’s a brotherhood.”
Gary Larsen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press