Danish Qureshi won the 120-pound championship at the Class 2A Hinsdale South Regional to help the Hornets earn their first regional championship since 2002.
Persistence is a reoccurring theme to his success as a Hinsdale South wrestler.
A family friend’s perseverance when Qureshi was in sixth grade eventually paid off. Phil Esposito, a wrestling coach at Eisenhower Jr. High in Darien, finally convinced Qureshi to give the sport a try.
“I didn’t want to wrestle,” Qureshi said. “(Esposito) kept telling me to come to open mat and I kept saying no. He asked one final time if I was ever going to come and I decided to go. I ended up falling in love with the sport.”
Those early days didn’t go well, Qureshi recalled, but he stayed with it. Just like his junior high coach, Qureshi wouldn’t quit trying.
“At first I was God-awful,” Qureshi said. “I was terrible. I was getting beat and beat and beat, but as the season went on I got a lot better.”
Qureshi has continued to make strides. He placed fourth at regionals as a sophomore and was one win away from advancing to sectionals, which he used as motivation.
“It was a really big bummer,” he said. “I was angry and sad. I’m glad I was able to work through it and get better. It’s very big. I’ve been working so hard all my years of wrestling and it just feels good to be a champ.”
Qureshi (23-6) made the big leap this season, scoring a 11-0 major decision over Chris Cline of Lindblom in the regional semifinals, then a 12-5 win over Gabriel Palos of Solorio in the region final on Feb. 6.
“He’s hands down one of the hardest workers in our room,” Hinsdale South coach Kevin Formanski said. “For him to be able to break through is pretty special. He’s truly one of our better guys and he deserves it.
“He understands what he’s good at and he just hits it. I would have no doubt that his opponents know it’s coming, but the way he sets up and the way he finishes it is just phenomenal.”
Qureshi is inspired by teammate Josh King, who won the Class 3A state championship at 220 pounds last season and is the favorite to win the 285-pound title at 2A this season.
“Danish is a great kid,” King said. “He’s hard working, perseverant and never gives up. I’ve really seen him progress that last couple years. I really believe he has the opportunity and talent to make it downstate.”
Qureshi went out for gymnastics for two seasons at Hinsdale South, but gave it up to focus on wrestling. His dedication has a positive impact on his teammates.
“He pushes me in the room,” sophomore 132-pounder Tyler Sally said. “Even when I’m down he just keeps it coming and makes me work harder. He has a lot of heart and works so hard. He’s just a good teammate.”
Hinsdale South also got first-place efforts from freshman Keenan Stewart (126), Sally, junior Zach Zarubin (182) and King (285). Second-place finishers were freshman Renwick Williams (106), senior Ernest Inglam (152) and junior Bailey Zvonik (195). Third-place finishers who advanced to sectionals were sophomore Julian Kinsey (145), senior Mitch Mendel (160) and freshman Steve Farina (220).
Ken Ryan is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
