ROCKTON — Izaak “Chuck” Smith says his first love was always football, but he doesn’t mind settling for his close second when it comes to competing in the college ranks.
“It was always football, but my junior year I realized I wasn’t getting any taller or much bigger and that’s when I realized I should give this wrestling thing a shot,” Smith said Thursday after signing a letter-of-intent to attend UW-Whitewater and wrestle for the Warhawks. “The football chapter is closed in my life, but I think wrestling will be fun.”
Smith certainly had plenty of highlights at Hononegah, earning Beloit Daily News All-Area honors in both football as an offensive lineman and wrestling as a 6-foot-3, 215-pounder.
The senior was 35-13, captured the NIC-10 title at 215 and won a match against St. Charles East in the IHSA State Team Dual.
“My sophomore year we got fifth in the (NIC-10) and our coach (Tyler DeMoss) put together a summer program that instilled the idea in us that we could be at the top of the conference,” Smith said.
Helping him implement that plan was Smith.
“I’ve said it a million times, he’s our leader,” the coach said. “Since his sophomore year I think he’s been our main team captain. I always tell our young guys to watch guys like Chuck. He leads by example.”
DeMoss said Smith got to where he is today through hard work.
“Wrestling-wise he has gotten so much better the past four or five years,” the coach said. “I remember watching him in eighth grade thinking he was tough, but he had a long way to go. He has definitely put in the work. I’m excited to see what he can do in college at Whitewater.”
The Indians had an area-best nine wrestlers on the All-Area First Team after winning the NIC-10, qualifying eight wrestlers for state and qualifying for the IHSA State Team Duel event.
Smith said he was in contact with UW-Whitewater throughout his senior season.
“They made my decision pretty easy,” he said. “I was looking for a young team and their competitive wrestlers are all on the young side. I like the camaraderie on wrestling teams. They’re tight-knit and close. That’s what we had here at Hononegah and I’m hoping for in college.”
UW-Whitewater checked all his boxes.
“The academics are great,” he said. “The campus is nice. The athletic programs and facilities are awesome.There’s a lot to look forward to going there.”
Smith continues to work out with the Hononegah Wrestling Club.
‘We have the Club Cup Duals coming up in two weeks at Glenbard North with 16 teams there,” he said.
His goal before next wrestling season is ambitious. While he wrestled at 215 pounds and says he’s around 225 at the moment, he’d like to wrestle in college at 197.
“That’s my plan,” he said. “I’m going to put in the work over the summer and we’ll see where I’m at in the fall. I’d really like to break into the lineup as a freshman.”
Most Popular
Comments / 0