Weighty matters to settle
Those oversized luxury SUV's have nothing on the duo of Josh Marchok and Chris Johnson.
Marchok and Johnson, with the combination of speed, power and cunning, have run nearly all of the big boys off the test track this season - and they look to continue when the race begins on the floor inside Assembly Hall in Champaign this weekend.
The Mid-Suburban League champions both came into their own last year, becoming a major force in their respective weight classes.
Since late November, neither has looked back in advance of their most important weekend of the season.
Schaumburg sophomore Marchok, in particular, made a huge impression in his rookie season last winter, surprising the field to win a regional title, then one week later advancing out of a rugged Leyden sectional to earn a trip downstate for Saxons coach Matt Gruszka at 189 pounds.
"It's so rare to have a freshman come in at one of the upper weights, and have the type of success that he did against physically stronger opponents," said Gruszka, "but I am not that surprised when you get to know what type of kid Josh is."
Gruszka suggests Marchok's ability to handle the mental grind of competing against juniors and seniors was all possible because Marchok is a bright, highly-motivated student-athlete who started at middle linebacker in the fall.
"Our football coach (Mark Stilling) told me that (Josh) would see a formation that didn't look right, or he didn't like," Gruszka said, "and quickly call it to the attention of the coaching staff, showing a sense of leadership, way beyond his years.
"But he's still a kid at heart," added Gruszka, who said that moments after recording a pin in his state qualifier match last weekend over South Elgin star Jake Randich, Marchok would say to his coach that he thought with the pin he now took over the team lead.
"We didn't get a big smile, or (wow) I am so excited, just, I think I lead the team now," laughed Gruszka.
For the record, Marchok (37-2) has 23 pins on the season (60 takedowns), but it's not about statistics for the humble 215-pounder.
With his terrific speed, a great low single and superb mat awareness, Marchok has barely touched the surface of what Gruszka believes will be a terrific college career - likely as a heavyweight when he eventually grows into his big frame.
"I am really fortunate to have a great coaching staff, and some terrific partners in the room to challenge and push me each day, and I hope that I am doing the same for them," says Marchok, of seniors Danny Malik (171) and Jon LaManna (189) - who are also in Champaign this weekend.
Marchok, who was part of the Cadet Greco team during the off-season and eventually qualified in freestyle and Greco in Fargo, spent little time viewing the state brackets the day after his championship run at the Glenbard North sectional. Instead, he put in a long workout with plenty of cardio, in preparation for the tournament.
"With Danny, Jon and I working each other over in the room all of us should be prepared for six minutes of wrestling, which is what (you) should be ready to (do) at the state tournament," says Marchok, who at one time was rated No. 1 in the state, while never falling below the No. 3 spot in the polls.
"Josh is so tough on the (legs) and perhaps the biggest difference (with) him from last year is that he has matured as a wrestler, both physically and mentally," Gruszka said, "and this weekend, if all goes well, he's capable of just about anything."
Chris JohnsonJosh Marchok says if he and Chris Johnson were to compete, it would be a great match between two of the best upper-weight giants in the area this season.The junior from Wheeling could very well be a regular opponent of Marchok next season, as it would appear a natural progression to 215 for his final year with the Wildcats.Johnson will likely remember the 2009 postseason as more of a storybook ending when the then-sophomore helped the Wildcats complete a huge comeback at the Dundee-Crown regional to overcome MSL rival Hoffman Estates for the team title.Johnson captured a series of barn-burners during the afternoon and evening sessions, the last coming in the third-place match when he won 11-6 to help his club earn valuable points in its quest for the crown."Chris kind of came of age at the regional tournament, and he did it wrestling at 215 pounds, when he weighed 184," said Wheeling assistant J.P. Akouri, to whom Johnson credits his success - along with three-year star and 2009 medalist Danny Vargas (now at Elmhurst College)."Danny was my mentor all last season, and he would constantly be in my ear telling me things and taking a real interest in my growth as a wrestler and teammate," said Johnson, who won 30 matches last year."You have to remember that Chris hasn't wrestled very long, especially when you compare him to most of the guys (in) his bracket at the state tournament," began Akouri, a state medalist at 189 in 2004."But (Chris) is like a sponge, always wanting to learn, and having a sharp mind, that is capable of learning a move a day before a match or tournament, then going out and hitting that move like he's known it forever."Now Johnson is a superb 39-3 overall record, No. 5 in the state, and 2 victories away from likely facing the No. 1 guy in the nation in two-time state champion Lee Munster of Grant."Chris is just a great kid, and someone who has grown leaps and bounds in just one season because of his work ethic, his strength, conditioning, and a warrior attitude, which has been instilled upon him by J.P.," said Wheeling coach Neal Weiner, "who deserves a lot of credit for (Chris') success."Johnson state opener is against No. 11 Jon White (West Chicago, 39-5), while Marchok takes on Luke Miller (33-10) of Libertyville, who he majored earlier in a quad.The sophomore opened the season by finishing second at Conant's Feutz Invitational to Ben Brooks (Oak Park) after handing No. 1 Dan Kiebler (Leyden) his only loss of the season in the quarterfinals (8-4). Marchok earned championship belts at Fenton, Lake Park and the Saxons' regional.True20001351Schaumburg's Josh Marchok, back, has emerged as a force at 215 pounds.Daniel White | Staff PhotographerTrue