Naperville Central’s Gavin Bohan started the season late after a long illness. He finishes it on his terms.

Naperville Central senior Gavin Bohan had unfinished business.

So on a bittersweet night, he closed his wrestling career on a grand personal note.

“There are not many people who can say they ended their season on a win, and that is something I am very proud to say,” Bohan said. “Every single win boosts my confidence a little more. Maybe my ego grows some, but you have to go on the mat and do your thing.”

Bohan provided a highlight for the Redhawks during their loss to defending Class 3A state champion Mount Carmel in the Marmion Sectional on Tuesday, recording a 9-2 victory against Kevin Kalchbrenner at 160 pounds.

After coming up short of qualifying for the individual state meet by losing in the consolation semifinal at the Hinsdale Central Sectional, Bohan (18-10) went out on his own terms. Junior Nicolas Besteiro, who prevailed at 220, was Naperville Central’s only other winner on Tuesday.

It brought an end to a wildly unpredictable season for Bohan. A bout of mononucleosis knocked him out of competition until the end of December.

“It was definitely frustrating not being able to wrestle at the start, but when I got back, the coaches encouraged me to push the pedal to the metal, and that’s what I did,” he said.

Bohan flourished once he regained his strength and endurance. He won conference and regional titles.

The past few days underscored his versatility. A standout defender for the club soccer program Eclipse, Bohan arrived home earlier Tuesday from a national tournament in Las Vegas.

He also started at cornerback on Naperville Central’s playoff-qualifying football team.

“There’s nothing like wrestling,” Bohan said. “There’s just no sport like it, either physically or mentally demanding, and I just love it for that reason.”

Playing football and club soccer meant having to give something up. He missed out on the Naperville Central boys soccer team’s run to the Class 3A state championship in the fall. His younger brother, junior Patrick Bohan, is a top defender on that team.

The oldest of four brothers, Gavin Bohan said eighth grader Calum is set to be the family’s next standout in soccer and wrestling. The competitive dynamic has been a crucial part of the brothers’ lives.

“Since we were little, Gavin has always inspired me to push to be the best,” Patrick Bohan said. “It is his relentless work ethic that I always try to match. He has excelled at every sport he competes.

“I have to remind him who won a state championship.”

Gavin Bohan took his own path and said he has no regrets.

“I couldn’t really be a little jealous about the state championship team,” he said. “It’s something they are going to live with the rest of their lives, but they didn’t even need me, which is a funny thing.”

The next stage of Bohan’s life is likely to be centered around things other than sports.

“I do love sports and everything like that,” he said. “I am going to focus on school and community service projects, like the environment, and stuff that I can make a real impact.”

Naperville Central boys wrestling coach Noah Fitzenreider called Bohan a young man for all seasons.

“He is super talented at everything,” Fitzenreider said. “It’s great that he stayed around. The season ended in not exactly the way that we hoped. He is going to look back at his time wrestling at Naperville Central and know that it was well worth it.”

Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.