Although Glenbrook North's Brad Nardick ended his high school wrestling career on a sour note, getting beaten at the sectional, his 30-match winning streak during the regular season was hard to overlook. Also was his dedication and commitment to the Spartans wrestling team and to the sport.
Perhaps, that's why the coaches at Glenbrook North awarded the senior its male athlete of the year award.
Nardick is a unique student-athlete who made quite a mark for himself in his four years at Glenbrook North. He worked at becoming an outstanding wrestler and a stellar leader, both at school and in the community.
Four years of loyalty to Glenbrook North and what it means to be a Spartans paid off for the Northbrook resident last February when he was offered an opportunity to study and wrestle at the University of Wisconsin. Even though the finish of his high school tenure was disappointing, Badgers coach Brad Davis and his staff saw how Nardick handled the situation with class. He never quit, which was appealing to Davis.
"It's true, I was disappointed how my high school career ended," Nardick said. "But I came to terms with that and everything turned out to be for the best. I'm excited about Wisconsin and wrestling there.
"You can't beat the Big Ten when it comes to wrestling. Competing against teams like Minnesota and Iowa is going to be fun."
Nardick was thrilled when he learned he was chosen for the school's highest student-athlete award.
"I looked at kids from other sports -- many of them are my friends -- and I was amazed they picked me."
Nardick led Glenbrook North to one of its best seasons in the program's history. The Spartans went 15-2 and Nardick was the premier wrestler at 156 pounds.
Head coach Mark Rebora says Nardick was the best Glenbrook North has ever had, while earning all-conference and all-sectional honors after an amazing season. He was also a two-time most valuable wrestler with the team.
"Considering he didn't begin wrestling until he got to high school, he's had a fabulous career," Rebora said.
Although Nardick played football for three seasons, he gave up the sport in his senior year to concentrate on wrestling. That's where the dedication came in.
"I saw wrestling as my ticket to greatness," Nardick said. "I had a lot of friends on the football team and it was hard to give it up, but coach Rebora was like family since my sophomore year. He brought me up to varsity in my second year and stuck with me."
Coming from a tightly-knit family, Nardick is grateful for the support his family has given him, especially his older sister, Nikki, a senior at Boston University.
"Whenever she calls home, she's always interested in how my matches went," Nardick said. "She's my greatest fan. She always calls after a match."
Nardick says after the two are finished talking about wrestling, the subject turns to hockey. He played the game for several years and Nikki is a huge Boston University hockey fan. In fact, Nardick is excited about attending Badger football and hockey games and hopes his wrestling schedule leaves him some time free to attend football games at Camp Randall Stadium and hockey games at the Kohl Center.
He's already grown fond of the Wisconsin campus and Madison. While he considered Maryland, Missouri and Purdue, he made up his mind after his official visit to Madison.
"They took me to a dual meet at the old fieldhouse and after I walked around the campus and State Street area," he said, "I knew this was the place for me."
Nardick plans to study business and special education at Wisconsin.
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