Wrestling: Maine South’s Calkins returns to state meet stronger
BY MATT HARNESS mharness@pioneerlocal.com February 11, 2012 9:58PM
Carol Stream, 02/11/12--Maine South's Dan Brewster (left) wrestles with Maine West's Jake Korbecki in a 138-pound match during Saturday's IHSA 3A sectional at Glenbard North High School.| Jeff Krage~for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 17, 2012 9:48AM
Like many other athletes, Terry Calkins traces the start of his sports career to his brother.
In a twist, Calkins got going in wrestling because of his younger brother, Tommy.
“He kept telling me how much he liked it,” said Terry, who took up the sport early in elementary school. Calkins wrestled for the Maine Eagles before joining the Hawks as a freshman at Maine South.
Now a junior, Calkins (37-5) will wrestle this weekend at the state tournament for the second season in a row. He goes up against Harlem’s Zac Denny (27-5) in the first round at 120 pounds.
“I want to do some damage,” said Calkins, who went 0-1 in Champaign as a sophomore. “I want a positive record.
“I think it’s more of an accomplishment for me this year because my (sectional) bracket was tougher.”
At Glenbard North, Calkins took third place, beating West Chicago’s Tyler Svestka 9-8 in four extra periods. Calkins lost to Svestka in his opening match at the tournament and thought he was done for the day when the two were matched up again in the finals.
Calkins was all set to go home, but he found out there were no walkovers. After abandoning his singlet and stuffed on sugary snacks, Calkins didn’t believe he was in any shape to wrestle again.
“I was scared I was going to throw up,” he joked. “I ate a bunch of junk food.”
Calkins pulled it together to outlast Svestka in the marathon match.
“I am a lot better wrestler this year than I was last year,” said Calkins, the only Hawk to get out of the sectional. “Last year, I was mentally weak, and I wasn’t in the greatest shape.”
After losing to Svestka, Calkins won four in a row. His 7-5 win over Naperville Central’s Steven Splan earned him a trip back to the state tournament.
Seniors Tom Brewster (138) and Michael White (195) each went 1-2 at Glenbard North. Jomari Lanzi (106), Jimmy Kasch (113), Tony Mastrolonardo (126), Zach Taalman (160) and Nick Schaefer (285) all finished 0-2 at the sectional.
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