Evergreen Park’s Jayden Cervantes just started wrestling as a sophomore last year, following in the footsteps of his brother, Adrian.
After a highly successful season on the junior varsity, Jayden has joined Adrian on Evergreen Park’s varsity. And Jayden began to thrive immediately.
“I came in here for my first year of varsity and there was a lot of pressure, but every time I walk onto the mat, I have expectations now,” Jayden said. “Last year, when Adrian was on varsity and I was on JV, that motivated me.
“Now that we’re on varsity together, it’s a big feeling.”
Jayden Cervantes continued his strong varsity debut by winning the 120-pound championship Saturday at the Raptor Invite hosted by Rich Township in Richton Park.
Adrian Cervantes, who is also a junior, was the runner-up at 126. Junior Chance Woods was a champion at 138 for Evergreen Park, which finished third in the team race with 148 team points behind Merrillville (273.5) and Romeoville (164.5).
Tinley Park’s Sebastian Sanderson at 215 was the other champion from the Southland.
Jayden Cervantes (16-1) beat Perspectives Leadership’s Donald Bunton Jr.
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9-5 and pinned Hillcrest’s Amari Brown in 1 minute, 47 seconds to reach the finals, where he put together another dominant match to top Rich Township’s Kyrin King 11-4.Evergreen Park coach Ron Zimmerman has been thrilled with Jayden Cervantes’ performances so far this season.
“Jayden did really well on JV last year but he was in the same weight class as Chance Woods, so he couldn’t really get in the lineup,” Zimmerman said. “Now, he’s doing an amazing job.
“That’s what happens when you work your butt off in the offseason and you fall in love with a sport that you might not have known that you’d love until you got involved with it.”
Indeed, Jayden did not expect wrestling to become his sport of choice. He played soccer his first two years of high school.
After his sophomore soccer season ended, he decided to give wrestling a shot. Adrian had started with the sport as a freshman.
“I saw him doing it and I regretted not doing it,” Jayden said. “It just looked fun. I started and I just had a feel for it.”
Adrian is sure glad to have his brother on board after at first failing to persuade him about how fun the sport is.
“I tried to talk him into it, but he liked soccer a lot more at the time,” Adrian said. “Eventually, he got convinced to join. He really likes it a lot. I’m glad he’s doing well and he’s enjoying it.”
Jayden is enjoying it so much that he gave up soccer this year.
“I was 26-1 on JV last year and having a feel for something, finally, made me want to put all my focus on wrestling,” Jayden said. “Everything is individual. Whether you win or lose, that’s on you.
“It’s a team sport, also, but when you’re on that mat, you’re on that mat by yourself and your decisions weigh into everything and decide everything.”
Zimmerman has seen the brothers’ bond grow even tighter as they spend their first season together as wrestling teammates.
“They help each other out in every aspect,” Zimmerman said. “They’re not like rival brothers. They help each other out in every aspect. They’re glued to each other.
“They’re two tough kids and they live together, so it’s wrestling all the time. They drive their mom nuts. But it’s great to have them together on the team.”
No one is happier about Jayden’s success than Adrian, who is also doing plenty of winning as he sports a 12-1 record.
“We encourage each other,” Adrian said. “I mean, sometimes, we talk smack when we get mad at each other but we’re brothers, so that’s going to happen. But we push each other to be better.”