Braves’ Wrestlers Follow Different Paths to Victory

of Lake Forest charted very different courses for their wrestling careers, but both stood atop the victory platform as champions at the 38^th AnnualInvitational Wrestling Tournament Saturday. 

Karkazis, an eighth grader who won the gold medal in the 112-pound weight class, began wrestling as a second grader in Highland Park’s Little Giant program. He immediately sought out as soon as he entered Deer Path as a fifth grader. 

Agins, also an eighth grader and the 119-pound champion, came to Deer Path thinking about a basketball career in fifth grade. But by sixth grade, he was on the wrestling team and is now one of the team’s leaders along with Karkazis. 

“I wanted to play basketball but I wasn’t that good,” said Agins, whose father suggested he try wrestling. 

Taking to the sport immediately, Karkazis relishes the individual achievement wrestling delivers. He approaches each match not only with zeal, but thorough preparation which has led to a 15-1 record this season and 33-1 a year ago. 

“I like the winning part of it,” said Karkazis. “I want to dominate my opponent. I try to know what they want to do, anticipate it and counter by making them do what I want to do.” 

Karkazis easily ruled all three opponents Saturday, winning his first match with a technical fall — the referee stopped the bout after Karkazis amassed a 16-1 lead — and quickly pinning the final two foes. 

“I felt the first 10 seconds I would win,” said Karkazis about his championship win over Highland’s Sal Pots in 2:21. “I didn’t know I would pin him, but I knew I would beat him.” 

When Karkazis is not wrestling his match, he spends his time near the mat as an enthusiastic cheerleader for his teammates. He shouted encouragement to Agins minutes after he earned his own gold medal. 

“I really wanted him to win,” said Karkazis about Agins' championship match against Bryce Kapitzky of Lake Zurich North, a state qualifier a year ago. 

Agins, who easily disposed of his first three opponents either by lopsided decisions or a pin, entered the title match with some apprehension.

“Coach (Troemel) told me he (Kapitzky) would be quick and fast,” said Agins, describing his taller and rangier opponent. “He (Troemel) told me to grab his arm (from the bottom of the referee’s position), anticipate his moves and I would beat him.” 

Agins took Troemel’s advice and dominated the match early while Karkazis delayed the 112-pound medal ceremony while he encouraged, cheered and coached his teammate. Once Agins was on his way to the medal platform, Karkazis went as well. 

“I was apprehensive because he went to state last year,” said Agins of Kapitzky, who quickly pinned his first three foes. “Once I was ahead 7-1, I knew I would beat him.” 

While Karkazis’ coaching prowess was in evidence Saturday, Agins and other eighth graders like Corey Knudsen, who brushed off a semifinal loss to Kapitzky to earn a third place medal in the 119-pound division, spent part of their time mentoring the younger wrestlers. Troemel has built a program over 24 years at Deer Path that depends on teammates helping teammates. 

“We’ve become friends and the little kids look up to you,” Knudsen said about his experience. 

“He helps out all the little guys,” added Karkazis about Knudsen. “He will work with them and show them some new moves.”