Fox Lake celebrates hometown Olympian, proud wrestling tradition

Not everyone from Fox Lake will be able to fly down to Rio de Janeiro this summer to cheer on Grant High School graduate Daniel Dennis as he grapples for Olympic gold.

So his hometown gave him a send-off Sunday that blended patriotism with high school spirit, while also honoring the Grant Bulldogs' rich wrestling tradition.

"It's exciting. A guy works his whole life to do something and it's right down the street from your house. How can you not come out?" said resident Pat Ferruzza, as she stood along the Grand Avenue parade route holding an American flag.

Several coaches who helped build the powerhouse wrestling program at Grant were on hand for the ceremony commemorating Daniel Dennis Day in Fox Lake, including John Welter, Fred Loffredo, Don Rowden and Dennis' high school coach, Grant Assistant Principal Ryan Geist.

It's a tradition that Fox Lake Mayor Donny Schmitt alluded to when he said "I'm proud to say I'm a Grant alumni. I'm even prouder to say I'm a Grant wrestling alumni."

"This whole community is just a huge wrestling community," added Village Trustee Jeffrey Jensen, another former Grant wrestler.

Dennis, who was a two-time All-American at the University of Iowa, called the scene Sunday "surreal."

"I never thought that this turnout would have happened," he said.

He called the program at Grant amazing, saying, "I had the best coaches I could have ever asked for."

Geist remembered Dennis as a "rambunctious" kid who was crazy about wrestling. He reminded the crowd of the hard work Dennis invested during a career that began with a 14-12 freshman record and now has him among six American freestyle wrestlers heading to Rio for the Summer Games.

"He didn't come out of the gates as a success," he said.

Dennis' mother, Jane, rode in the parade in the back of the beater truck that succeeded a similar vehicle in which Dennis actually lived for a time.

"The support that he received has been absolute fantastic," she said. "I just wish his dad (Tim) was here to see all of this. He was one of Daniel's biggest supporters in wrestling and we know that he is smiling from up above."

Although Dennis moved out of town after graduating from Grant in 2005, he was never truly away from the community. Geist recalled how Dennis drove from California to Fox Lake to help out at a wrestling camp.

"The kid got on his motorcycle ... and drove straight through from California to Illinois. I believe he stopped to sleep on the side

of the road," Geist said. "He shows up to Grant High School, puts on one of the best practices I have ever seen and then, when I try to go shake his hand to say thank you and give him a few dollars for making that long trek, he refuses to take a cent."

Dennis is a role model for wrestlers like Grant senior Christian Kanzler, who said of Dennis' technique, "He is super stingy with his defense, so it's really hard for people to score."

As he heads to Rio de Janeiro, his coaches and mentors will be watching and pulling for him.

"I'm hoping that there is another parade in August," Welter said. "That would really top things off."