Wrestling: Batavia freshman Mike Caliendo wins IWCOA state title

BATAVIA – Little rest followed Batavia freshman Mike Caliendo's varsity wrestling season.

Following a successful first season on the varsity squad that included a consolation semis appearance at sectionals, second place finish at regionals and 113-pound conference championship, Caliendo fought for more.

Caliendo went on to compete in the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association freshman/sophomore state tournament on March 10 and 11. He took first place at 126 pounds, beating Downers Grove North's Bradley Rosen 6-5 in the final.

Per Caliendo's account of the match, he was winning 5-2 in the third period. Caliendo got a takedown and into a scramble, but the ref didn't give him his two points – instead giving it to Rosen when he got on top. With the score tied and 20 seconds remaining, Caliendo got another shot where he held Rosen off the rest of the way.

Separate from the varsity season, Caliendo placed first at both regionals and sectionals to qualify for the IWCOA state tournament hosted at the Bank of Springfield Center.

"I was very confident going into it," Caliendo said. "I knew I was going to place high just because I was probably one of the only freshmen that was on varsity the whole year. I knew there were going to be some others, but I definitely had high expectations of myself at that tournament."

Caliendo had some brief history against Rosen, having seen him in the IWCOA sectional finals. Caliendo took him down in the first period in the sectional finals, where he wrestled conservatively the rest of the way. The next time, he knew what was expected.

"[Rosen] would play defensive throughout the whole first period," Caliendo said of the sectionals match. "His main goal seemed to be to turn me on top, tilt me. That was how he was scoring on all of these other kids throughout the tournament...my main goal was just to keep taking him down, and don't let him get on top."

According to the IWCOA official website, the state tournament is for freshman and sophomore wrestlers who did not qualify for the Illinois High School Association state tournament. Batavia's Andy Posledni was the Bulldogs' lone representative at IHSA state.

Three other Batavia representatives: Riley Woods, Adan Mendoza and Alex Richards also competed at IWCOA state. Following Caliendo, Woods competed the farthest of the rest, making it to the consolation third round before falling to Naperville Central's Ryan Silva in a 7-3 decision. Some Batavia freshman coaches accompanied as well.

As for Caliendo's next steps for next season, he will be wrestling freestyle for the Greco-Roman season over the summer in the summer before possibly bumping up his weight to 132 pounds. However, his weight class will be determined how much he grows from lifting.

"I was heading toward 132 [pounds], 126, maybe, if I can drop a little bit of weight, but I don't think that's gonna happen," Caliendo said.