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Friday, February 20, 2004 10:54 AM CST
McGilliard vies for Charleston first
BY RICK DAWSON, Staff Writer
CHARLESTON -- When he wants to find a model of persistence, Lew Hankenson points to Andy McGilliard.
Although he won't accept any credit for McGilliard's emergence as a wrestler, Hankenson helped with the Charleston senior's training in junior high and watched him go from an energetic newcomer to a school record-setter to a two-time state qualifier.
"I think we saw a good work ethic and a determination early that is one of the fundamental attributes of a successful wrestler," Hankenson said. "It's one of those sports where you don't have to have extremely great athletic abiltity to become a champion wrestler. Hard work and determination can play a bigger role than athletic ability."
McGilliard is to meet the winner of today's preliminary-round match in the 112-pound division between Rockton Hononegah's Joe Mattis and Chicago St. Rita's Adam Canty at the IHSA Class AA individual state wrestling finals in Champaign.
Hankenson, a member of the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Hall of Fame who now works as an assistant at Charleston and trains a younger generation of Trojan wrestlers, watched McGilliard progress rapidly from junior high to the prep ranks.
"I think he really started turning the corner his sophomore year when Tony (Cirinccione) and Paul (Chandler) took charge of the program and he's continued it with the other coaches," Hankenson said. "He's one of those kids that as a freshman or sophomore decided this was going to be his sport and this would be a year-round thing for him."
McGilliard used offseason tournaments and travel to find competition that would allow him to refine his skills.
Over the past three years, he led the Trojans in takedowns and might have done so his freshman year if not for injuries. At the same time, he won 10 of the 15 regular-season tournaments he entered, more than any wrestler in Charleston history.
He was also the first Charleston wrestler to win the Urbana Tournament twice, the first to win three regional titles and only the third since Clay French and Steve Hankenson, Lew's son, to become a sectional champion.
"He's become the best takedown wrestler we've ever had," Hankenson said. "He adopted that as his strategy in most matches. And he's gotten much better this year in getting away. That was an area we thought was a little weak for him and we hope it'll be a strength for him in the state tournament this weekend."
McGilliard's style differs dramatically from Steve Hankenson, a former University of Illinois co-captain and most valuable wrestler who compiled an 80-40 career mark in college.
Lew Hankenson's view is unique. Many of the school records McGilliard has erased belonged to his son. But Hankenson's admiration for McGilliard's accomplishments, and desire for them to continue to grow, is exceptional.
"Steve liked to take a wrestler down, keep him down and try to pin him whereas Andy tries to excel in other ways," Lew Hankenson said. "He's probably the best wrestler we've ever had on his feet. I think records are meant to be broken and I don't know if Steve or any of the other wrestlers with high marks served as motivators for Andy. But I hope that Andy serves as a motivator for wrestlers to come.
"But it's certainly pleasing to see someone who has worked as hard as he has reach this level. Sometimes young people work hard to reach goals and something comes up to prevent them from getting there. It's nice to see Andy in a position to possibly be our third place-winner, maybe even our first champion."
Contact Rick Dawson at rdawson@jg-tc.com.
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