Cary-Grove's Nelson hoping for yet another trip to Champaign

What a whirlwind sports season for Josh Nelson.

The Cary-Grove senior, who last season advanced into the Class 3A state wrestling tournament, also found himself on another big stage this past fall when he was a key player on the Class 6A state championship football team that defeated Providence Catholic 34-17 last November.

Perhaps one more trip to Champaign next month would qualify Nelson as the unofficial travel agent from Cary-Grove for the Champaign-Urbana Visitors Bureau.

Nelson would like nothing more.

After a late start to his final wrestling season under head coach Dan Cysewski, Nelson (18-4), finds himself nearly 100 percent fit and ready to go for day No. 1 of the Fox Valley Conference tournament at Grayslake Central, and as one of the favorites at 145 pounds.

"I basically was about one month behind when I finally got back into the room," said Nelson, who was a starting corner for a defense that shut out 6 opponents for the season.

"(That) run to our championship was so much fun (making) my late start (back) to wrestling that much more memorable," added Nelson, who said the hardest part about getting back was the extra work to regain the fitness and conditioning, which is vital to success on the mats.

"There is a maturity about Josh that many athletes lack," says Cysewski.

"He is a great example of how someone can improve year in, and year out, to become a state qualifier, and a great example, through his work ethic, for others to follow."

Cysewski is impressed on how his best wrestler stays even tempered, and says a quick glance at the 4-year veteran will never allow others to know if things are going good, or bad.

Take this weekend, for example.

When asked who his competition would be, Nelson answered.

"So much depends on who moves up (or down), and whoever (does) will be my competition."

"Josh does not panic, it's another thing to like so much about him," offered Cysewski.

Nelson, second at the FVC last winter to Toby MacDonald of Prairie Ridge, went on to win a regional title, before earning his ticket to Champaign following a third-place finish at the Barrington sectional.

One week later, the luck of the draw fell the wrong way, as Nelson opened against state runner-up Donny Simpson, before being eliminated in the back-draw by eventual third-place medalist Mark Marinovich of Marian Catholic.

"Yeah, that was a pretty tough draw, but just being in Assembly Hall was a great experience, and this year, I will do whatever I have to, to get back downstate," Nelson said.

Nelson says this season his improvement has come on his feet, where he's getting plenty more takedowns after, what he thought, was a year that he was far too defensive for his own good.

"My goals this year have to be to win a conference, regional and sectional title, it's the only way to be this time of the year," he said.