Mighty Max: Nowry doubles up at nationals

Wheeling grad Max Nowry recently became the first Illinois wrestler to become a double national champ in consecutive years at the Junior Nationals in Fargo, N.D.
(Dan Luedert/Pioneer Press)

Font Size

Email

Bookmark

Black Text

White Text

Max Nowry was a little too caught up in the moment to appreciate what he'd done a couple weeks ago.

No wonder. The 2008 Wheeling grad was going from mat to mat all week long at the ASICS/Vaughan Junior Nationals in Fargo, N.D.

When it was all over, Nowry had made a little history. On July 26, he beat Ryak Finch of Arizona 3-1, 1-0 in the 105-pound freestyle final to complete a second straight double-double: Greco-Roman and freestyle junior national titles in successive years.

"It was kind of amazing when I think about it," Nowry said. "I've actually thought about it more since I left Fargo."

Neal Weiner, Nowry's prep coach at Wheeling, has put a good deal of thought into his star's feat and still can't quite get over it.

"I don't think anyone in the history of Illinois has ever done that," Weiner said of the back-to-back double national titles. "It wasn't a surprise because I know him pretty well."

Still, Weiner noted, getting it done is something to celebrate.

"It's the biggest tournament in the world for a single sport," he said. "It's a big feat for him to accomplish this."

Interestingly, Nowry's win over Finch marked his farewell to freestyle competition.

The Class AA state champ at 103 as a senior is heading to Northern Michigan University, where he'll concentrate on Greco-Roman competition in the U.S. Olympic Education Center program.

That's a story in itself, according to Weiner.

"I remember telling him to try Greco and he said, no, he didn't want to do it," Weiner said. "I said, 'You might as well try it.'

"Ever since, he's been hooked on it."

Doing both freestyle and Greco-Roman at Junior Nationals -- let alone winning each one -- was tough enough.

"Yeah, it was pretty long, those three days [for] each style," Nowry said.

But he felt no pressure to repeat.

"Not really," he said. "I went there more loose than I was last year." 

Different approach maybe, but the same results. Not that Nowry would ever cop an attitude.

"He's very modest," Weiner said. "He never brags. He's very humble. ... He just doesn't want any recognition."

But it's hard to avoid when you accomplish something no one else has pulled off before.

mclark@chicagosuntimes.com