As a freshman wrestling for Mount Carmel, Evan Stanley is finding plenty of success against upperclassmen at 132 pounds. He’s also used to competing with older kids.
Namely, his sisters.
Leia and Haven Stanley were both high school athletes at Lowell in Indiana. Haven is currently playing softball at McLennan Community College in Texas.
“I didn’t have any older brothers or any older cousins that were boys,” Evan said. “I just had two older sisters who beat up on me a lot. They made me tougher.”
Stanley’s toughness has been on full display throughout his rookie season for the Caravan. On Saturday, he won the Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional title, improving his record to 33-5.
Stanley advanced to the state meet, set for Thursday through Saturday at the State Farm Center in Champaign.
Mount Carmel coach Alex Tsirtsis has been impressed with how Stanley has handled things as a freshman.
“There’s the pressure of watching these tournaments your whole life and now you’re finally in that spotlight,” Tsirtsis said. “You just have to push that aside and wrestle your style.
“He’s done a good job with that. He’s a really hard-working kid. He’s been wrestling his whole life, and he’s got an excellent skill set.”
Stanley has made wrestling his year-round passion.
“I started wrestling when I was 4 years old,” he said. “I was really hyper. My parents threw me into wrestling because it seemed like I would like it.
“I’ve never taken a year off. I’ve never taken a full month off unless it was because of a surgery or broken bone. It’s been private practices, working out, making this everything I do, and I love it.”
Speaking of broken bones, Stanley is hoping to have a bit of a reunion with someone who caused one a long time ago.
St. Charles East star Ben Davino, an Ohio State recruit who will be attempting to become a four-time state champion, heads into the state meet as the huge favorite in Stanley’s bracket.
“A wrestler I’m hoping to meet, maybe be on the opposite side of him at state finals, he broke my collarbone when I was 7 or 8 years old,” Stanley said of Davino. “It’s been a long time since we’ve wrestled.
“That was my last broken bone. Left collarbone. It’s still raised a little bit. It’s never been the same.”
Seeing the success attained by Davino, not to mention several of his Mount Carmel teammates, is a motivator for Stanley.
Neither Stanley nor his coach are satisfied with just winning, as evidenced by Stanley running several laps just moments after his 7-2 win over Marist’s Ethan Sonne in the sectional championship match.
“Whenever I feel like I underperform, that’s when I work more,” he said. “Even if it’s after a win, like (Saturday), I was running after.
“I’m trying to be the best version of myself, on and off the mat. So, I push myself through everything. I expect a lot from myself throughout life and throughout wrestling.”
Mount Carmel’s veteran wrestlers, including 175-pound sectional champion Colin Kelly, appreciate Stanley’s work ethic.
“It’s awesome to get guys who come in young and show they have such a great love for the sport,” Kelly said. “Seeing him work every day so hard in the practice room, it just comes out on the mat.”
This weekend will be Stanley’s first time at the state finals — in Illinois, at least.
“Growing up, I was always going to Indiana state,” he said. “But since middle school, I’ve factored in going to Mount Carmel, so I’ve paid attention to the Illinois tournament.
“Going down there and competing is something I’m really looking forward to.”
