Naperville North senior Zach Mally is a rare breed.
The 5-foot-8 Mally led the football team in tackles as a cornerback last season, an unusual accomplishment, and he may be poised to do something else noteworthy. He wants to compete in two sports — football and wrestling — at a Division II college.
“When I was in college, that was done in Division III, but in Division I or Division II, it is a rarity,” Naperville North wrestling coach Tom Champion said. “There’s some guys who can do it, but I can’t recall anybody at a skill position, as opposed to a lineman, doing it. That would make it even more rare.”
Mally, who has committed to Quincy for football, had two scholarship offers for football and none for wrestling. He committed thinking his wrestling career was over.
“After my visit at Quincy, they really showed a lot of love,” he said. “I like the school, and I like the tradition. I really felt like it was a fit for me.”
Mally, who will switch to offense and play receiver, wasn’t even aware before his visit that Quincy has a wrestling team.
“When I saw they had a wrestling team, I was like, ‘I might as well give it a shot,’” he said. “I emailed the wrestling coach, so I’m still waiting for a response back.
“The worst answer is I can’t. But if I get the chance, I’m definitely going to do both.”
Naperville North offensive lineman Austin Roush, who recently committed to North Central College, won’t be surprised if Mally pulls it off.
“He can definitely do that,” Roush said. “As an athlete, I can’t describe the right words for him.
“He’s a born leader. People just automatically follow behind him. He’s probably one of the smartest players I’ve seen.”
Champion has witnessed that in both sports.
“He’s a special athlete,” Champion said. “I watched him play football, and I was like 10 feet away for one of his pick sixes.
“I would never be able to do something like that. I don’t know how you see a football, catch it, avoid people, run it in for a touchdown, when it’s not even your job. Your job is to tackle the guy. How he was the No.1 tackler as a cornerback, I still don’t know.”
Mally is just as much an outlier in wrestling. The four-year starter and two-time state alternate is 28-5 at 144 pounds this season. Regionals are Feb. 8.
“Zach loves to coach the other guys on the team, so as soon as his match is over, the first thing he does is start coaching up the next guy,” Champion said. “He knows the strategy. He knows the technique. He knows the decisions.
“He’s fantastic on the bench, and I hope one day he gets the opportunity and chooses to be a coach at some level. He’d be really good at it.”
Mally said competing in football and wrestling has helped him excel in both. They are complementary in some ways.
“Wrestling, you’re the only man out there, so it’s just you versus someone else,” he said. “Having that type of mindset really helps on the football field because I have confidence to trust the team, trust myself.
“That was the biggest thing that I think I had on a lot of other people that don’t wrestle is my mindset. Getting ready for that match to go against one person really helps me focus in, especially when I was playing defense going against just that one receiver. It helps to stay calm, knowing that not every play is going to go my way, but it’s how I come back.”
Being overlooked due to his size fuels Mally’s drive to get through the grind.
“I still feel like I’ve got something to prove on the mat,” he said. “I love both sports equally, and I was not ready to give up on either one yet.”
Champion, who has nominated Mally for Naperville North’s Athlete of the Year award, is looking forward to what Mally can do in college.
“I hope he hits a growth spurt because he’s got some growth potential in his family,” Champion said. “He could be 20 pounds heavier.
“They may have physically a totally different person in two years. I’m really excited to watch him.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.