by Sean Martyn
This weekend, junior Nuntreae Jackson and senior Brian Hanik head downstate to the Assembly Hall at the University of Illinois in Champaign to compete in the IHSA State Finals Tournament. Over the past several months of the wrestling season, both Jackson and Hanik have been tirelessly working and training for this opportunity to represent Brother Rice in the state tournament. Last year senior Brian Hanik placed third overall in the Catholic League Blue Championship and competed downstate as well, so he has been in this high-pressure situation before. Junior Nuntreae Jackson also feels ready for Champaign because he has been a varsity wrestler for a few years now.
Nuntreae answered questions about his wrestling experiences before he departed for the tournament on Thursday morning with Brian Hanik and their coaches.
What have you done to prepare yourself for this moment to go downstate?
I have been working all my life to prepare for this – getting up early for morning runs and staying late for afternoon workouts.
You’re wrestling in a lower weight class this year; what have been the challenges you’ve had to overcome this season? How do they compare to the challenges you’ll face downstate?
I have had to keep my weight down, eat right, and work harder. I have been working hard so the challenges downstate should be easy.
What has been going through your mind the last few days?
Just to wrestle my style and go over a lot of things that I need to get better at.
What do you think you will need to do to “up your game” when you are downstate?
Be in better shape, wrestle calmly, and stay collected.
How much would winning downstate mean to you, Nuntreae?
Everything – just because of how hard I had to work this year.
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