After having limited success at Morton, Al Perez transferred to Brother Rice for his senior year without big expectations for wrestling.
Now, he’s a Catholic League champion.
Perez beat Mount Carmel’s Nam Doan 5-0 in the 138-pound championship match at Saturday’s Catholic League Meet.
“I never in a million years thought I would win this many matches this year and win a Catholic League championship,” Perez said. “It’s insane.
“It just feels great. All the work I put in over the offseason and in general has paid off.”
With Perez’s younger brother, Gabe, starting high school last fall, the family decided Gabe should go to Brother Rice. Al chose to join him.
Gabe, a freshman, finished third at 195 in the Catholic League Meet.
“My brother’s the reason it happened,” Al said. “We really wanted him to succeed, and we felt like he wouldn’t have the same opportunities at a public school that he would at Brother Rice. So, he came here and I transferred in to be with him.
“It’s amazing wrestling at Brother Rice. The brotherhood we’ve built is insane. It’s the best time I’ve had.”
Brother Rice coach Jan Murzyn said the Perez brothers have been huge additions.
“Al and his brother live the sport of wrestling,” Murzyn said. “Saturdays and Sundays, they’re looking for places to go do takedowns. They’re pushing everyone in the room.
“It’s been a lot of fun to watch.”
Al Perez (21-5) said he never made it out of the regional and did not win a ton of matches at Morton. But this season, he’s ranked No. 8 in Class 2A by the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association.
He also has had the chance to watch Gabe compile a 20-8 record.
Or at least hear about his wins.
“It’s actually crazy,” Al said. “I kind of don’t like watching his matches because I get too nervous. I have to turn my head. But it’s great to see him win.”
Heading into the state series, Al has a new belief about how far he can go.
“Now that this happened, I have high expectations,” he said. “Very high. I have to keep my mind straight. I have to not worry about who I’m going against, what school, if the guy is ranked or any of that.”
Charming third time: Top-ranked heavyweight Ryan Boersma won his third Catholic League title and first at Mount Carmel with a 9-1 victory over Fenwick’s Jimmy Liston.
Boersma (29-2), a Missouri recruit, won two league championships at Providence and then transferred before his junior season. The meet was canceled last season, costing him a chance to be a four-time champion.
Boersma also won the Lawless Award as the Catholic League’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.
“I’m very honored and humbled,” Boersma said. “It’s such a great award, and I’m thankful to be counted among the greats at Mount Carmel and in the Catholic League.”
The Caravan (327.5 points) rolled to the team title over Marmion (295.5) behind seven champions, rebounding after dropping duals the previous two days, 30-29 to Marist and 31-29 to Crown Point, Indiana.
Mount Carmel fell from No. 1 to No. 3 in 3A behind DeKalb and Marist.
Making history: Lincoln-Way East upset Lockport on Jan. 20, forcing a 33-33 tie in the dual meet and winning on tiebreaker criteria to capture the program’s first SouthWest Suburban Blue championship.
Senior heavyweight Alex Knaperek earned a nail-biting 5-3 win over Cody Silzer in the final match to secure the title as the Griffins (19-0) completed a perfect regular season and rose to No. 5 in the state rankings.
“It’s a good stepping point for us as a program,” Lincoln-Way East coach Kevin Rockett said. “The kids have worked hard for it, and it took a full team effort for us to win that dual.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
