Elgin's Walker hoping to make mark at State

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Wrestling hadn't even crossed Terrell Walker's mind early on in his freshman year at Elgin.

It's all that's on his mind now, however, as the 160-pound senior gets ready to wrestle in this weekend's IHSA Class 2A State Championship Tournament.

Walker is making his second trip to State after winning his first sectional title last weekend. He's there in part because of his singular focus.

"It's pretty much just wrestling for me," Walker said. "My friends try not to bring it up because they know they won't be able to get me to stop talking about it."

Walker might not have even taken to the mat if Elgin coach Anthony Genovesi hadn't approached him after a football practice during Walker's freshman year.

Genovesi, who was also in his first year as Maroons coach, asked Walker if he had any plans after the football season ended. Walker agreed to give wrestling a try.

A natural athlete, Walker took to it immediately. A healthy amount of success on the freshman level didn't hurt either.

"I just started off and I was good at it," said Walker, before adding: "It's easier to like something you're good at."

It's been a steady climb for Walker, who joined the Maroons' varsity practices midway through his freshman season. He even saw time in the varsity lineup in a pair of late-season duals and regionals, going 4-3 in his first foray on the varsity mat.

Walker went 31-11 as a sophomore, falling just short of a State appearance when he finished fourth at sectionals. He made it Downstate with a third-place sectional finish his junior year, during which he posted a 38-7 record.

Now 37-1 as he travels to Champaign, Walker hopes to finish off what would be a storybook season by placing at State.

Walker's rapid improvement is due to his dedication to the sport.

"I had to play catch-up after not pursuing it earlier," he said. "But I watched a lot of film, learned a lot of moves and wrestled a lot in off-season."

Walker has already claimed a piece of Elgin history by setting the program's single-season for takedowns. He has 243 this season, shattering the previous record of 203.

Making his mark is one of Walker's biggest motivations.

"I have coaches telling me that I can be one of the greatest wrestlers in Elgin history," Walker said. "I don't want to leave Elgin High like everyone else. I want to leave a name here. When other people in the school ask who he was, they'll say Terrell was a great wrestler. I'm leaving a part of my history and making my mark on the sport."

Walker is leaving that mark in large part to his Maroons coaches. Not only did Genovesi convince him to go out for the sport, but he's become a mentor and role model for Walker. Walker says he considers the fourth-year Elgin coach to be a member of his family.

"We've grown together over the years," Genovesi said. "I've gotten tougher on him later on in his career. The more we've been together, the more I've try to push him to excel. He's a great kid. We were lucky to get him involved in wrestling and it's been a good experience."

For now Walker plans to forego college to enlist in the Air Force after high school, where opportunities to continue wrestling may yet present themselves.

He'd also still considering a dream of becoming a firefighter.

"It would be an opportunity to help people," Walker said. "It's satisfying to know you can made a difference in other people's lives. People love firefighters. And it would be a great opportunity to build more bonds with some great people."