Wrestlers meet State goals

other competition to have success.”

Boys’ and girls’ wrestling sent multiple athletes to the state championship on Feb. 16. Seniors Noah Beltran, Angela Lee, and Danny Spandiary; junior Teddy Flores; and sophomores Luke Morrison and Tyler Fortis all qualified as individuals.

Both teams had markedly successful seasons leading up to State. The boys’ team won the Palatine Tournament, a first for the program. Also, Lee had placed first in every single one of her tournaments.

For sophomore Luke Morrison, the atmosphere at State was a new experience.

“The State Farm Center is a lot to take in,” Morrison said. “So many people were watching me, but once I stepped on that mat, it’s just another match.”

Other wrestlers took a different approach to the state tournament.

Medley Relay, 100 Freestyle, and 100 Breaststroke.

Seniors Zach Chapovalov and Popovic, junior Dominic Mazurek, and sophomore Dragos Cozma broke another school record during the State meet.

“The most memorable moment of the State meet was getting the 4x100 Freestyle school record,” Popovic said. “That was by far the hardest record to break and the most rewarding.”

They were joined at State by senior Bart Kubis and juniors Graham Arteta, Max Fedorenko, Caleb Lakin, and Sam Sacor.

Swimmers saw the meet as an emotional and exhilerating experience, wrapping up their successful season in a positive way.

“The state meet was an exciting blur,” Chapovalov said. “It came and went so fast, and I had the perfect end to my swimming career.”

At the state tourney, Flores earned an All-State title and took fourth place overall. He shared that the tournament was both a mental and physical challenge, focusing on the concentration required at the event.

“Since I’ve wrestled at big tournaments before, State wasn’t super overwhelming,” Flores added. “Of course there were nerves going into it, but I knew that I had to treat it like any

“The competition at State was nothing compared to what I’ve wrestled before,” senior Danny Spandiary said. “Every match I had was a battle ‘til the end. The difference between State and other meets was the vibe of the entire building — it was electric.”

After having competed at State, these wrestlers now know what it takes to succeed.

“[It’s important to] train consistently, but also keep a positive mindset,” senior Angela Lee said. “It’s about the trust and belief that you worked hard.”