CHAMPAIGN — Marmion junior Nicholas Garcia checked off another box on his personal list.
The signage crews tasked with making the city signs in Bartlett also are going back to work.
“I was raised around champions,” Garcia said. “I’ve been around it my whole life.
“My older brother was in state championships. I just felt it wasn’t a matter of if but really when.”
When was Saturday at the State Farm Center as Garcia won his second straight title with a 14-1 major decision at 126 pounds over Marist’s Michael Esteban in the Class 3A individual state meet.
Garcia joined older brother Jameson, a sophomore wrestler at Harvard, as a two-time state champ. A custom-made street sign in their native Bartlett honors the brothers’ achievements.
Last winter as a sophomore, Nicholas Garcia beat St. Charles East’s Dom Munaretto 4-2 at 113 pounds for the state title. It was a big win against Munaretto, the defending state champion.
This time, Garcia (25-1) used two early takedowns to dominate Esteban.
“It was much less stressful this time,” Garcia said. “I was confident going into this match and the state series in general. I feel like now more than ever I’ve come into that next level of wrestling.
“I feel like I can see things in the same way that my coaches do.”
Garcia was the top finisher among 11 state qualifiers for the Cadets.
Junior Zach Stewart wanted to match Garcia as a two-time state champion, but his final ended in stunning manner against Fremd’s Evan Gosz at 144 pounds.
Early in the second period, Stewart (33-3) had Gosz in the air for an advantageous position when Stewart got caught on his back for the fall.
Sophomore Preston Morrison (37-12, 106), juniors Demetrios Carrera (46-7, 132) and Ashton Hobson (30-6,150) and senior Mateusz Nycz (45-6, heavyweight) each took third for Marmion.
Now, Garcia has positioned himself to join Johnny Jimenez as the only wrestlers in program history with three state championships.
“This year, it was crazy how I didn’t feel the nerves,” Garcia said. “I believe I’m just better.”
Another leap forward
Munaretto, a junior, emphatically erased the sting of last year’s close loss to Garcia. He captured his second state title with a win by technical fall over Schaumburg’s Brady Phelps at 120.
“You have to reflect on what happened,” Munaretto said. “It’s hard at first, but doing that helps you improve. If you don’t learn from those losses, you’re bound to fail again.”
Munaretto (47-3) improved his career record to 152-4.
“I’ve been in the state title match three times, so I’m a bit of a veteran,” he said. “The joy of getting on these stages, performing for the crowd and showing what I could do is a great honor.”
Four to the floor for Foxes
Yorkville qualified six wrestlers and came home with four state medalists.
Seniors Jack Ferguson and Ryder Janeczko led the way. Ferguson (51-3) took third at 157, while Janeczko (38-7) did the same at 175.
Senior Luke Zook (48-5), a three-time state medalist, finished fourth at 175. Sophomore Van Rosauer (45-10) ended up fourth at 150.
In Class 2A, Yorkville Christian senior Aiden Larsen finished fifth at 120. Sandwich sophomore Cooper Corder (37-7) fought off an illness to finish fifth at 144. It was his second straight state medal.
Quick learner
Elgin senior Fabian Ramirez went out in style with a victory by major decision over Naperville Central’s Henry Rydwelski in the Class 3A fifth-place match at 175.
Ramirez (29-4) didn’t take up the sport until the start of his sophomore year.
“I’ve only been wrestling for three years, going up against kids who’ve been doing it their whole lives,” he said. “If anything, I’m a sign that anybody can be good at it.
“All it takes is hard work and dedication. I’ve always had that mentality of wanting to get better.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.