It’s time for Ruffino to prove he’s ready to medal

By Craig Brueske

The month of February carries different meanings for people.

As an NFL fan, it means one thing — the Super Bowl. And as a Green Bay Packers fan, this weekend’s Super Bowl clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers carries a little extra personal meaning.

Later this month, baseball fans will celebrate the first day that pitchers and catchers report for spring training.

For avid movie watchers, I’m pretty sure Feb. 27 is circled on their calendars, as it’s the night of the 83rd annual Academy Awards.

For lovers, there’s Valentine’s Day. For animal lovers, there’s Groundhog’s Day.

It’s also Black History Month.

Two of our most famous presidents – Abraham Lincoln (12th) George Washington (22nd) – were born in February.

For Illinois high school wrestling fans, there’s no other month like February.

A total of 42 individuals will be crowned state champions in three classes this month at the University of Illinois’ Assembly Hall in Champaign.

One of the leading area hopefuls is St. Charles East junior Nick Ruffino, who enters Saturday’s Glenbard North regional tournament as the state’s No. 4 ranked Class 3A wrestler at 130 pounds by IllinoisMatmen.com.

Ruffino, who qualified for the state tournament at 125 pounds as a freshman, gave eventual state champion Joey Gosinski of Glenbard North a major scare in last year’s regional title match before dropping an 8-6 decision.

However, a not-so-funny thing happened to Ruffino during last year’s sectional.

He didn’t make it out to state.

“I was devastated,” recalled Ruffino. “I lost to a kid I shouldn’t have lost to. It was disappointing for me, wrestling as long as I’ve been wrestling. It just wasn’t my match.”

So he went to work.

“At that point, I knew I had to train harder,” said Ruffino.

Last spring, he received a confidence boost when he captured the 135-pound freestyle state championship and qualified for nationals in Fargo, N.D.

“It was a great experience,” said Ruffino. “Before nationals, I spent one week training at the University of Illinois. I won my first four matches at nationals before losing to the top-ranked kid in the nation from Minnesota. I was unable to wrestle my last match because I got a crack above my eye and had to get seven stitches.”

The national exposure provided a needed shot in the arm for Ruffino.

“It made me a better wrestler,” he said. “It also gave me confidence knowing that if I could hold my own against the best kids in the nation, I should do even better against the guys in my state.”

He’s done just that this season.

Ruffino, who owns an impressive three-year varsity record of 94-21, will bring a 34-2 mark into this weekend’s regional tournament.

The three-time Upstate Eight Conference champion (twice at 130; once at 125) owns a pair of victories over Conant’s Mitch Alexander, a 5-4 decision over Hinsdale Central’s Ernest Battaglia, and a 7-2 win over Lake Park’s Matt Adcock in the conference title match.

The lone blemishes are a 4-3 loss to No. 3-ranked Jimmy Nehls of Downers Grove North in the title match at the Palatine Invite, and a third-period fall at the hands of No. 1-ranked Gosinski in the quarterfinals of the Conant Feutz Classic.

After that late November match, which at one point was tied in the third period, Ruffino received some advice from longtime Panthers coach Mark Hahn.

“He told me I needed to be in better shape,” said Ruffino. “He wants me to push Joey (Gosinski). He wants to see a great match, and he’ll get it.”

The rematch will likely take place Saturday at Glenbard North.

“I think beating Gosinski would push me to believe that no one is going to beat me,” said Ruffino.

If he makes it out of regionals (top three will advance), Ruffino will likely be tested by Gosinski, Nehls, Battaglia, Adcock, Naperville North’s Max Obreicht, and West Aurora’s Miguel Venecia at the Downers Grove North sectional Feb. 11-12.

It won’t be easy.

“Our sectional is one of the toughest in the state,” said Saints coach Steve Smerz. “It doesn’t seem to change. We haven’t been out west in a long time.

“But at the same time, it’s not supposed to be easy.”

Ruffino wouldn’t want it any other way.

“Nothing in life is easy,” said Ruffino, who spent his first two seasons practicing with eventual 112-pound state champion Brandon Rubino. “My mom always tells me to work hard now so you can play hard later.”

Sparring with Rubino (now at Nebraska) made Ruffino realize what areas he needed to improve.

“Practicing against Brandon boosted my confidence so much,” said Ruffino, who spends countless hours studying films of his matches. “He wrestled a different style from me. I’m more of a technique kind of wrestler but Brandon showed me how to work with strength.”

“Brandon simply out-worked his opponents,” said Smerz. “He was always training because he wanted to be in better shape than anybody else.”

Taught by his dad, who serves as a volunteer coach for the Saints, Ruffino also gathers inspiration from his mom, younger brother and sister.

“As much as my dad is all over me at times, I think my mom is worse,” said Ruffino, who admittedly hears his mom’s voice from the stands during matches. “She gives me so much confidence all of the time.”

Maybe it’s no coincidence that wrestling is all about heart in February.

“It comes down to mental toughness and finding a way to win close matches,” said Smerz. “I believe if Nick wrestles his best, he can beat anyone.”

Ruffino relishes his role as an underdog to Gosinski and Nehls.

“Joey was the state champion last year and Nehls finished third,” said Ruffino. “I wasn’t there. Now they’re both seniors and I’m a junior.

“But I’m not going there to hang with them. I’m going to surpass them.”