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Name: Jameson Garcia
School: Marmion
Sport: Wrestling, junior
Why he was selected: Garcia won the Class 3A 113-pound title at the IHSA state tournament Feb. 19. Garcia won his second career title. He won the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association tournament at 106 pounds last year. Chronicle sports reporter Jacob Bartelson caught up with Garcia to rehash his tournament and look ahead. Garcia was voted by readers as the Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Don McCue Chevrolet in St. Charles.
Bartelson: Now that you’ve had a couple days to let the tournament marinate and reflect, what else comes to mind?
Garcia: It was definitely a very cool experience, something that I was definitely looking forward to the whole year. Ever since last year, it’s something that you want to repeat and do again because it’s such a great feeling and you feel accomplished. But, for me, I’m always looking toward the next goal and the next thing. I’m never really satisfied because I know I can get better and improve at things.
Bartelson: Beyond team duals, what’s in store for you once that’s all done? Take some time off or jumping into other things before too long?
Garcia: I’ll probably take a little break and then start getting back into it pretty soon. It’s kind of hard for me to stay away for too long, but definitely going into freestyle and Greco, my two favorite styles [I’m looking forward to]. [The] Fargo [tournament], the duals for freestyle, that’s all something that I look forward to and plan this summer.
Bartelson: You kind of alluded to it already, but the clock resets, right? The goals reset. You have two titles underneath your belt. What’s next for you?
Garcia: I’ve always wanted to win a title as a team [at the state dual tournament]. Obviously, we have to get there first, but that’d be something that ... it’d just be a cool experience to experience a thing where we all win together. Besides that, definitely going out there and winning a Fargo title. That’d be something that would be out of this world.