Record-Breaking Season For Elmhurst Titans Wrestling Academy

ELMHURST, IL – The Elmhurst Titans Wrestling Academy 2024-25 season is in the books and what a season it was. The state championships just wrapped up recently in Peoria. Out of the team's 6 state qualifiers, it came home with two state finalists, and its first-ever state champion in Noah Blust.

ETWA Season records broken:

-Most state qualifiers, 6
-Most state placers, 2
-Most state finalists, 2
-And we had our first state champion

Here's coach Gary Walker's rundown on each qualifier:

Niko Tatic: Nico is young and got his first taste at competing at state. He lost to the wrestler who took 2nd and another who placed 7th. But Niko’s feel for the sport is rare and I guarantee he will not only return to state, but stand on the podium. Niko is also the happiest, most social kid you will ever meet and a ton of fun to coach, but when the whistle blows, watch out.

Richard Molina: Richard is the most mature 5th grader you will encounter, and like Nico he was a first-time state qualifier this season. Richard has been with us for four years and it has been great to help him grow as a wrestler and as a competitor, mentally and emotionally. The coaches have an inside joke about Richard where we tell each other, "You know he's only in 5th grade?" We know next season he will take another jump in his development and continue to love to compete.

Brenner Dolvig: What a pure joy it is to have coached this tough kid over the past five years. He is a true wrestler. This is his 2nd year qualifying for state and he gets the toughest draws every single tournament, and state was no exception; his two losses were to the state champ and the wrestler who took 4th. And Brenner’s loss to the kid who took 4th was in double-ot. If Brenner wins that match, he’s on the podium. Brenner literally gives everything he has every single match he wrestles. As a 7th grader this season, we have him for one more year before he’s on the mats for York.

Stevie Gryglas: Now this is a crazy story! Due to our awesome relationship with the Elmhurst Eagles, Stevie’s football teammates and coaches got him to come out for wrestling (and he came out late). He's in 8th grade and we always take a long-term view with our wrestlers, so we took him slow and competing in actual tournaments were not even on the table. As the season progressed, he fell more in love with wrestling; it helps that he’s extremely coachable, very strong, and comes from a great family. Stevie went to two tournaments before entering regionals. Next thing you know he took 3rd at sectionals and qualified for state! Stevie’s learning curve is very steep. York is getting a good one here as he will continue to develop.

Liam Larma: Liam is our program’s first ever two-time state finalist and he’s been with us for the past 6 seasons. Loyalty is a great quality to have. We know he fell short, but Liam used last year’s loss to propel him into the wrestler he is now compared to then, and it’s a HUGE difference. Liam will do the same moving forward and I can’t wait to see him on the podium in the future, but this time it will be in Champaign. Liam, it’s been beyond a pleasure to be with you for all of the matches you have wrestled in your life (and to walk with you in the Grand March in back to back years is a memory I will have forever) and we will be there for the next four years.

Noah Blust: Noah is our program’s first ever state champion. Simply amazing and the fact that this is only Noah’s 2nd year wrestling makes his achievement even more impressive. Noah’s path to the state championship was not a smooth one, but he remained coachable throughout the season and continued to develop and improve. His run at state was one of pure dominance: pin, 5-0 win, pin in the semis, and 14-3 in the finals. Like Liam and Stevie, we will have a front row seat to his continued development as he will move onto York. Nothing Noah accomplishes will surprise me. He is only going to get stronger and become a better technician.

The following coaches made all of this possible: Rob Martinelli (club founder), Steve Congenie, Chris Conversa, Nick Curcio, Joey Fornaro, Tom Helton, Anuj Maniar, Mondo Martinelli, Tom Price, Lance Skinkys, Nick Stoyas, Marco Tatic, and Isaiah Unger.