Motivation carries Princeton’s Casey Etheridge to the awards stand

Casey Etheridge didn’t forget.

He made the 2024 state wrestling tournament and was the only wrestler of four from Princeton not to medal.

He made sure it didn’t happen again.

That motivation carried the Etheridge all to the awards podium at the IHSA Class 1A State Wrestling Tournament this year. The Princeton junior grappler made it through the “blood round,” taking his place on the podium with a fourth-place finish at 165 pounds, his first state medal in three years wrestling for the Tigers.

“Last year I was pretty disappointed that I wasn’t able to place because I came so close and wasn’t able to be on that podium,” he said. “But this year, I was happy I finished a lot stronger. I wasn’t exactly thrilled to be in fourth place, but I met my goal of placing, so I was happy with that.”

Along the way, Etheridge won the LeRoy and Dewitt invites, placed fourth at the PIT and was crowned as a regional champion. He sported a 48-6 record, named First-Team All-Three Rivers Conference.

For all of his accomplishments, Etheridge is the 2024-25 BCR Wrestler of the Year.

PHS coach Steve Amy wants to see Etheridge continue to be motivated to get all the way to the top of the podium next year.

“I think last year was very disappointing for him. To be that close and fall short is very hard. I think that for him though it was an eye-opening experience that told him that he is right there with the best guys in the state,” he said. “I know this year his goal was to make the medal stand and he accomplished that. I am very proud of how hard he has worked over the years to make that happen, but he is not done yet.

“Hopefully this season showed him just how close he was to being in the finals and winning it all. If he continues to work this offseason I have no doubt that with his talent he can be standing on the top of the podium next year.”

Walking into the PHS wrestling room with its newly installed wall of champions this year, featuring all of the past state medalists from yesteryear, was another source of motivation for Etheridge.

“It feels really good since this is the first year (Amy) did it and last year I didn’t place and it drove me a little further,” Etheridge said. “I realized I had an extra goal to get up there on the wall. It’s a good thing to have because it pushes you. I saw some of my friends up here and I was so close to being with my guys. I didn’t want to be close this year. I wanted to be up there.”

Etheridge had his work cut out to make it back to state. He dropped a 5-4 semifinal match at sectional and had to win one match in the “blood round.” He barely worked up a sweat winning with an 18-4 major decision to punch his ticket to State before falling 7-2 in the third-place match.

He said there is a sense of pressure leading into each match knowing if you lose you go home, but not when you’re out on the math.

“It shows how much you’re willing to fight to get a medal if you lose in the first round,” he said. “At sectionals, if you lose you’re not going to state. And if you lose at state, what did you work for if you’re not going for a medal? No one wants to end your season just going to state. You want to finish the season strong, place, be on top.”

Admittedly, he was pretty frustrated dropping his first match at state to Adam Haddad of Northridge 7-3. He bounced back to take three straight before falling to Haddad once again in the third-place match.

“The second day, I had a pretty quick match and kind of got my head going a little better,” he said “I gained some confidence and the coaches helped me get through that and I just kind of kept rolling. They told me to wrestle the way I wrestle in practice.”

Etheridge had a pretty good wrestling partner in 2023 PHS grad Augie Christiansen, a former state medalist and BCR Wrestler of the Year.

“It’s nice wrestling Augie, because he’s still really good and he’s technical with this stuff,” Etheridge said.

Etheridge reached a milestone this season by recording his 100th win for the Tigers, now standing at 111-32 for his career. He took a lot of pride in that accomplishment.

“Kind of shows you’re going in the right direction,” he said. “You’re able to produce your freshmen and sophomore years. Halfway through my junior year it was a nice accomplishment. Hopefully I can keep it going and maybe reach 150.”

Far from satisfied, Etheridge knows he’s got some work to do to get higher on the awards stand with an eye on first place. And he’s taking nothing for granted.

“It’s going to take lot more technique work and more determination,” he said. “I still need to have that drive I had coming into this year. Just because I got fourth place this year doesn’t mean I can place next year unless I keep going.

“And you see that with a lot of people. In the quarterfinals in 1A, there were three state champions who lost. It was a crazy round. Just shows you just because you won last year, doesn’t mean you will next year.”

And that’s enough motivation for Etheridge to make it happen.