Patrick McGavin – Page 14

Naperville North's Kai Goodrick, left, has the upper hand against Rockford East's Malachi Cannon during a match in the 160-pound weight class at Glenbard West in Glen Ellyn on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022.

Kai Goodrick prefers to ‘slow it down’ on the mat. A gymnast, too, the Naperville North senior looks to stay in control.

January 20, 2023 at 3:04 p.m.

Kai Goodrick goes against the grain. For one thing, the Naperville North senior doesn't push the pace on the mat. "I am very unorthodox in that I like to wrestle...

West Aurora junior Ionicca Rivera celebrates her championship Saturday in the 170-pound weight class at the Batavia Invitational.

Iconic Ionicca: Following her sister, Ionicca Rivera relishes being a pioneer for West Aurora wrestling. ‘She never backs down.’

January 19, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.

Inspiration can come from a variety of places and from many different sources, but West Aurora junior Ionicca Rivera had the best personal frame of reference. Her older sister, Dyani,...

Marist's Keshaun Vaval (12) dribbles toward the lane against Brother Rice during a nonconference game in Chicago on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023.

Instant classic: Ahmad Henderson helps Brother Rice edge Marist. ‘Everybody wants to play in a game like this.’

January 18, 2023 at 12:34 p.m.

Living in the moment works well for Brother Rice's Ahmad Henderson. The Niagara-bound senior guard used that ability to his advantage in the fourth quarter Tuesday night against archrival Marist...

Hampshire senior Niko Skoulikaris has a 31-5 record this season wrestling at 170 pounds.

Similar but different: Identical twins Dimitri and Niko Skoulikaris strike winning balance for Hampshire. ‘Really great.’

January 16, 2023 at 12:31 p.m.

Hampshire senior Dimitri Skoulikaris doesn't have to look far to see his mirror image. Niko, Dimitri's identical twin brother, is his training partner and primary reference point. "Having someone who...

St. Charles East's Brody Murray, left, gets tangled up with Naperville Central's Ayden Lutes during the 160-pound match at the Wheaton Warrenville South Mega Duals in Wheaton on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021.

Patrick Z. McGavin’s Aurora, Elgin, Naperville wrestling rankings and wrestler of the week for Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023

January 16, 2023 at 11:14 a.m.

Top 10 With records through Sunday and previous rankings in parentheses. 1. Marmion 15-1 (1) Freshman Joey Favia takes title at 195 pounds, helps Cadets win Batavia's Clint Arlis invite....

Larkin's Darnell Wilder (13) finishes off a layup as Elgin's Maddox Hollian (24) defends during an Upstate Eight Conference game in Elgin on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023.

Into the Wilder: Darnell Wilder turns up defense as Larkin downs Elgin. And that’s not all. ‘I have to set the tone.’

January 14, 2023 at 12:19 a.m.

Senior guard Darnell Wilder has settled on his identity for Larkin. Even though the Royals have been searching this season for the best way to fuse the different pieces of...

Naperville Central's Nicolas Besteiro, right, works against Downers Grove North's Cael Brezina during a match at 220 pounds in Downers Grove on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023.

Nicolas Besteiro gave up soccer before Naperville Central won state. He’s pursuing titles in a different sport.

January 14, 2023 at 8:44 a.m.

Soccer was Naperville Central junior Nicolas Besteiro's primary sport when he was a kid. That was in Argentina, which recently won the World Cup. "It stayed that way until we...

Mount Carmel's Angelo Ciaravino (33) gets a piece of the ball as De La Salle's Richard Lindsey (21) takes a shot during a Catholic League crossover in Chicago on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023.

Best of times: Coming off an injury, Mount Carmel’s Grant Best doesn’t take anything for granted. ‘I felt like myself.’

January 11, 2023 at 12:48 p.m.

This was more like it for Mount Carmel's Grant Best. The sophomore guard's natural quickness, a huge staple of his game, had been compromised by a lingering hamstring injury he...

Wrestling at 120 pounds, freshman Zach Stewart is 23-4 and undefeated against Illinois competition for the undefeated Marmion.

Easy does it: Only a freshman, Marmion’s Zach Stewart gets better training against the best. ‘It’s not really that hard for me.’

January 10, 2023 at 2:11 p.m.

Marmion freshman Zach Stewart wrestles with a nervous intensity. Perspective colors his every action, and no moment is too great to lose his sense of control or wonder. Part of...

Marmion's Santino Scolaro, left, holds his ground against Naperville Central's Tommy Porter in the 138-pound championship match at the Class 3A Naperville Central Regional in Naperville on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022.

Patrick Z. McGavin’s Aurora, Elgin, Naperville wrestling rankings and wrestler of the week for Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023

January 10, 2023 at 12:35 p.m.

Top 10 With records through Monday and previous rankings in parentheses. 1. Marmion 15-0 (1) Senior Santino Scolaro is a stable presence for the Cadets at 145 pounds. 2. St....

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