By Mark Gregory
Editorial Director
@Hear_The_Beard
mark@buglenewspapers.com
A season ago when then freshman DJ Hamiti won his first state championship, he did so for Joliet Catholic Academy, who had not had a state wrestling champion since Pat Mudron in 1967.
This year, Hamiti set out to win a title for himself – and he did just that.
Hamiti defeated Brody Norman of Washington 3-0 in the 126 pound, Class 2A championship match to claim his second state title in as many years and become the first two-time wrestling champion in Joliet Catholic history.
The final match was the only match all weekend in which Hamiti was challenged.
“I feel like this one is rewarding to me because I am the first one to two-peat at JCA and because I had to work for it,” Hamiti said. “I like this one more because I had to earn it. With the other ones, it was just go out there and get out, but this win was more rewarding.
“It is always a challenge, but I knew that if I kept wrestling the way I have in the last few weeks, I would be OK.”
Hamiti (42-4) opened the tournament with a 15-0 technical fall over Manny Wallace of Hinsdale South) in 1 minute, 51 seconds. He then went on to pin Danny McPherson of Antioch in 2:39 and earn a second tech fall over Caine Tyus of Bethalto Civic Memorial 18-3 in 3:33.
When he faced Norman for the second time in as many weeks, he knew what he had to do.
“I feel like it was just going out there and taking care of business, because taking an L was not an option,” Hamiti said. “This sets me up for the next two years, but I have to keep grinding in the gym and in the practice room. I can’t stop now.”
Not only is Hamiti looking into his own future, but that of the program as well – a future where there are more medalists and champions form JCA.
“I am trying to set up the program to do bigger and better things even after I am gone,” he said. “I don’t want this just to be with me, I want it to continue on with next generations of wrestlers at Joliet Catholic.”
The Hilltoppers did have a second qualifier, as Jack Finnegan joined Hamiti at University of Illinois’ State Farm Center.
At 120 pounds, Finnegan (40-12) defeated Alex Barbarise of Antioch 3-1 to open the tournament, but then dropped his next two matches.
He lost 8-3 to Oak Forest’s Anthony Schickel and 5-2 to Jace Sparks of Prairie Ridge.
In Class 3A, Joliet Central’s Damaris Stanley (40-8) lost to Sean Kelly of Maine South 4-1 to open the 220-pound tournament. H 41-7 won by decision over Damaris Stanley (Joliet (Central)) 40-8 (Dec 4-1)
He then pinned George Western from St. Rita in 1:23, but was eliminated in a 3-2 loss to Brian Morel of Fremd.
In the same weight class, Minooka’s Jake Shipla (26-11) lost his only two matches.
He was pinned in 2:287 by Evanston’s Ramin Abraham in the opener and lost 5-3 to Marmion Academy’s Jack Bazukas in the second match.