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Wrestling: McHenry coach Jake Guardalabene steps down after 15 years with program

McHenry's wrestling head coach Jake Guardalabene on Thursday, December 9, 2021 at Jacobs High School in Algonquin.

McHenry coach Jake Guardalabene stepped down at the end of the season after spending 15 years with the program, six as its leader.

Guardalabene said he wanted to spend more time with his family and knew heading into this past season that this would be his last.

“It was difficult,” Guardalabene said. “But I put 15 years into wrestling at McHenry. It was difficult, but it’s the right choice to make.”

Guardalabene was hired as the head coach in 2016 after longtime coach Will Gaddy resigned. He had been an assistant with the program for seven seasons before becoming the associate head coach in 2015.

The Warriors finished second in the Fox Valley Conference this past season with a 21-1 dual record.

“It was a fun run,” Guardalabene said. “My goal when I started was to leave the program just as good as I found it and I think I did that. It’s been awesome.”

Michal Dwojak

Michal Dwojak

Michal covers the Chicago Bears for Shaw Local and also serves as the company's sports enterprise reporter. He previously covered the CCL/ESCC for Friday Night Drive and other prep sports for the Northwest Herald. Michal previously served as the sports editor for the Glenview Lantern, Northbook Tower and Malibu Surfside News.