BLOOMINGTON — Marmion’s Ashton Hobson had very little time to worry about his usual spot in the wrestling rotation.
With the coaching staff looking to optimize the lineup for Saturday’s final match against Rockton Hononegah, the junior standout didn’t flinch at moving up a weight class for the Cadets.
“I found out pretty much on the spot, but I was ready to go out there and score points,” Hobson said after the excitement of competing at 157 pounds. “The whole team just rallied together.”
Hobson put things together, delivering a pin in the first period of Max Aranki to ignite Marmion to a 42-31 victory in the Class 3A dual team state championship match at Grossinger Motors Arena.
It was the first team state title in program history for the Cadets (21-2).
The Class 3A championship match started at 150 pounds, Hobson’s usual weight class. Junior Zach Stewart, who finished second in the state at 144, registered a win by technical fall.
Junior Demetrios Carrera, a transfer from South Elgin, clinched the title at 132 with a 6-3 decision over state champ Rocco Cassioppi. Carrera lost 7-1 to Cassioppi in the individual quarterfinals.
Hobson (34-6), meanwhile, completed a superb run after taking third last weekend in the individual state meet. He added wins by technical fall in preliminary wins over Schaumburg and Hersey.
“Last week was great by getting third, but I really wanted to focus on the team,” Hobson said. “My favorite part is the family aspect, and that’s what this was all about. I wanted to be part of that.”
Two years ago as a freshman, Hobson dealt with a series of hand injuries and missed much of the season. He returned for the state dual, with Marmion losing 28-24 to St. Charles East in the final.
“Finishing first is so much better,” he said. “I just felt great the whole season. It’s long and intense, but even when I started to feel fatigued or worn by practice, I just stayed focused.”
Last season as a sophomore, Hobson (39-11) finished sixth at 144. He was a cut above at 150 or 157, however, during the Cadets’ journey to the state championship.
“You could just see with his sophomore year,” Stewart said of Hobson. “He was just really starting to get into it and become what he is now.
“The energy we had at the start was just unmatched. Once one of us does something that exceeds expectations, it just snowballs from there.”
Marmion coach Anthony Cirrincione said Hobson has excelled at fusing together the physical and mental demands of the sport.
“He’s matured and become one of the leaders of the team,” Cirrincione said. “He has taken on the role of wanting that pressure and those expectations on him.
“He made the transition with his mental approach, and he just believes now. Confidence is everything in wrestling.”
Six of the 14 Marmion’s wrestlers Saturday night are juniors, headed by two-time state champion Nicholas Garcia, who won by pin at 126. And Hobson is part of that elite company.
Joey Favia, a junior 215-pounder, praised Hobson’s contributions. And the Cadets’ chemistry.
“We have a great brotherhood and we are rolling together in the room,” Favia said. “Ashton’s a real student of the game, and he works hard and puts in all the time.”
Hobson, who lives in Aurora, took up the sport at age 5. It came at the encouragement of his father, who was a high school wrestler. And that carries over to his teammates.
“Our class has some real hammers,” Hobson said. “I think the difference for me this year was I really pushed myself every day, with my reps and my training partners.”
Outgoing and personable, Hobson sought not just to fit in but to lead the pack.
“I got my competitive side from my parents, who always pushed me to be great,” he said. “What I love the most about the sport is how it has helped me grow as a person and be more complete.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
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