Oswego East Co-Student Athlete of the Week

Wrestling is a grueling trial of strength, speed, intelligence, and will. To the untrained eye, wrestling matches can seem like a lot of wasted gesturing, or dancing, between two opponents. But to the experienced fan, each of these small maneuvers takes a great deal of patience and planning, setting up a future move to execute at the exact right moment. Junior Andrew Okayama has all of the physical attributes that make a successful wrestler, as well as the mental make-up to succeed at a high level, which has earned him this week’s Oswego East co-student athlete of the week.

Wrestling at 152lbs puts Andrew in a category with some of the toughest wrestlers in the state. Traditionally, the middle weights are where you find the student-athletes who possess both enormous strength and incredible speed that make differentiating between the superior wrestlers incredibly tough. Through hard work, Andrew has earned a ranking as high as 10th in the state, besting some of the best wrestlers in the state.

Andrew’s commitment to the sport is what has driven him to find so much success this year. His mother, Ms. Jessie Livingston, understands how her son’s hard work has led to his success. “Andrew is self-driven,” says Jessie. She continues by adding, “[Andrew] decides what he wants to accomplish and he does it.” Assistant wrestling coach Mr. Jordan Smith has seen how Andrew’s commitment has allowed him to grow and continue learning on an everyday basis. “[Andrew knows how to manipulate his opponent to move into a favorable position,” says Jordan. He goes on to add, “Andrew’s biggest strength is his work ethic is very high, and is the first one in the room for practice and the last one to leave.” His Physical Education Excel teacher, Mr. Pat Molinari, echoes these statements by describing Andrew as a, “Diligent and hard-working young man.”

Andrew’s success on the mat is evident by not only the volume of wins, but the manner in which he earns those victories. He finished the season as a sectional qualifier with an overall record of 28-4, displaying his intellect and skill with a high volume of takedowns. This season also marked the 3rd time in a row Andrew has won conference, and will have an opportunity to capture his fourth title next winter. Although Andrew fell short of his goal of placing in the top 6 in the state this season, his work over the spring, summer, and fall will surely see him improve and put him in a great position to make his way downstate.

As far as his future, Andrew would love an opportunity to attend the University of Illinois and wrestle. “[Andrew] is smart and very coachable, and has the raw talent and ability to quickly pick up strategy that he should do well at the collegiate level.” Andrew is unsure of his future major, but is already taking college level classes such as advanced placement (AP) U.S. History, Engineering, and has found a great deal of success in the Business classes offered at OE.

Andrew’s growth from freshmen to junior year has given him the maturity to see his future and plan out steps to achieving his goals. Ms. Livingston said, “[Andrew] has learned responsibility and success are just as important in the classroom as they are on the mat. I have watched him appreciate teachers and staff that has helped him succeed as well as work hard on his own.”

As a junior leader, the wolves’ varsity wrestling team will be relying heavily on Andrew’s success and leadership next winter as they compete for a conference title in a tough Prairie conference. Hopefully Andrew takes the lessons learned from this season and applies them to next year, which if history repeats itself, he undoubtedly will. For those future wolves looking to compete at the high school level in any endeavor, Andrew says, “Keep pushing for success, and continue driving for your goals.” Congratulations on a conference championship Andrew, and we look forward to seeing your improvement and success as a senior.