Horcher makes mark as 1 of D-C's best ever

Dundee-Crown senior wrestler Ryan Horcher's favorite baseball player is New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle.

"I've seen old baseball films of him," said Horcher. "He played the game the way it was supposed to be played. He played hard all of the time."

Horcher knows a thing or two about playing the game the right way as well, whether it's in an athletic setting or in the classroom.

A 3-time Class AA state qualifier and a young man of equal high-standing with his academics, Horcher will close out his D-C wrestling career this weekend at Assembly Hall in Champaign, putting the finishing touches on one of the program's all-time greats.

"I have nothing but the highest respect for Ryan and his family," said D-C hall of fame coach Al Zinke. "He's a solid citizen. He's a top-notch kid. I don't think you can describe him any better than that. He's a consummate 3-sport athlete. Ryan is a phenomenal person. How do you beat what he's done here?"

All Horcher has done is qualify for the state finals three times (freshman, junior and senior years) and win a pair of sectional titles. Not too bad for someone who described himself as a, "weasely 103-pounder," when he was a freshman.

His three state finals appearances put him in elite company in terms of D-C's storied program. David Silva, Tim Hayes and Brad Fiorito qualified for state three times. Only Fiorito has more sectional titles (3).

"That's a distinguished group," said Zinke, "a very distinguished group."

His victory in the semifinals at the Naperville North sectional last weekend made Horcher the third winningest wrestler in program history, trailing only Silva and Fiorito. Horcher, 34-5 this year at 152 pounds, has a career mark of 136-23.

"I'd like to say so," said Horcher when asked if he considers himself one of the program's all-time greats.

"But we had a bunch of great wrestlers here that may not be as well-known like the Tim Hayes', the Larrys (Kaifesh; D-C's only state wrestling champion) or the Brad Fioritos. All four years I've been there. Every dual meet, even when I was sick, I'd be there. Hopefully I can look back and say I'm one of the all-time greats and tell my grandkids that if I can do it, you can do it."

Horcher, who sports a 4.56 grade-point average, said being a part of the D-C wrestling program has made a profound impact on him.

"It means a lot," said Horcher. "Our program has been a great program throughout the years. You have the coaching of Al. It's a good thing to call myself a Dundee-Crown wrestler. I basically learned through hard work comes success and discipline. Everything the coaches tell us isn't just about wrestling, but it's about how you act and make decisions in life. Life is hard. They don't like to say they are preparing us for wrestling here. They are preparing us for life."

Zinke, in particular, holds a special place for Horcher.

"I have my parents to help me, but to have an outside figure put things in perspective has been a good helping tool to help get us prepared for what is coming," said Horcher. "He's helped quite a bit. There have been times throughout high school where I've had stress going on with wrestling and school and other outside things and he's a guy who will just sit in his office and take time and talk to you. He'll give you his number if you ever need a ride. He helps you out with your life. He's always like an out for you."

And the famed rigorous D-C wrestling training schedule is something Horcher continues to welcome to this day.

"I'm a bigger and stronger and better person for going through this program," said Horcher. "It's definitely all been worth it. Anybody that goes into our program, you will end up a better person. It takes willpower. But you want to be there. The ones that stick around end up being real good people. Coach brings it up in practice about wrestlers who have come from nothing and are now successful people. That brightens our eyes. If you bring that mental aspect and discipline in wrestling outside of school, that's what we are all trying to do."

Horcher comes from a family wrestling background. His older brother, Scott, was a standout for D-C and is now a sophomore on the University of Dayton football team. His dad, Scott, Sr., wrestled at Dundee High School and started both the Junior Golden Eagles and Junior Chargers youth programs. Scott's uncle, Bill, was a state wrestling qualifier for Dundee.

"The fact that he's been doing it so long has helped him," said Zinke. "I don't think we've got anybody in the program who has been wrestling as long as he has."

"He's been wrestling since he was like 2," said D-C senior 189-pounder and fellow state qualifier Mike Lukowski. "I ask him for pointers on technique. He has so much experience with wrestling. I remember when he was a freshman he was this little, skinny 103-pound kid and now he's so bigger. It's cool to watch how he's grown up."

That long-term experience is something Horcher feels is beneficial beyond an individual standpoint.

"My experience has helped me out tremendously, especially when it comes to big-time matches," said Horcher. "I can also help the younger guys on the team with my experience and give them that advice. My experience allows me to think back and see what can I do here and what am I going to do here. I'm not only helping myself, but I'm helping others."

Horcher also got a boost watching his older brother wrestle at D-C.

"I'd watch Scott go through practice," said Horcher. "Eighth-grade year I didn't want to be in middle school. I wanted to be in high school and I wanted to be in that program. Now I see Scott taking what he's learned and using on the football field at Dayton. That's when you realize this is for real and this will help me later on in life."

Horcher enjoys the individualism of the sport when he's on the mat.

"It's one of those things where you feel you are in control and there are no outside forces distracting you," said Horcher. "It's like being in a dreamland. In life there are things that you will regret. In wrestling there is that chance to leave it all out there and have no regrets and feel good about it."

And to think wrestling isn't even Horcher's favorite sport. He's a baseball guy through and through. And he didn't even start full-time for Fred Bencriscutto's D-C squad last year.

"I was playing behind an all-state shortstop Elliot Soto (Creighton; drafted by the Minnesota Twins)," said Horcher. "I still got to play. I knew what my position was on the team and was ready to fulfill it. Now this year I'm ready to take it head on and help lead the team and see how far we can take it. I love baseball. Wrestling is a big part of my life, but I fall head over heels for baseball. I love watching it, playing it and listening to it. I love it."

Horcher, who also played football at D-C, said he's in the process of investigating playing baseball in college. He said he received an official visit invitation from Eastern Illinois University.

Which means his wrestling career likely comes to an end this weekend.

"It's a definite possibility," said Horcher, who would like to study education or business marketing in college. "Unless some school comes out and offers me something, it's 100 percent the end of wrestling"

That potential finality has Horcher really doing some soul searching about his trip to Champaign this weekend.

"It makes the last trip to state very special," said Horcher. "It will probably be the last time I lace up the wrestling shoes and put on the knee pads and pull up the singlet. It's the last time giving it your best against the greats in the state. There will be time to rest later. I'm going to go hard all the time and leave it all out there."

Just like he's done the last 4 years.