Illinois recruit Logan Swaw is signed to wrestle in the Big Ten. But as a freshman at Lockport? ‘I didn’t think it was possible.’

Early in his career at Lockport, Logan Swaw did not think he had the potential to become one of the state’s top wrestlers or earn a scholarship to a major Division I program.

But now, Swaw is a senior who has signed with Illinois and is ranked No. 2 in Class 3A at 160 pounds by Illinois Matmen. He’s come a long way.

“My freshman year, I didn’t think it was possible,” Swaw said. “By the end of my sophomore year, I made it my goal to go Division I, Big Ten, and I made it.

“Now I’ve just some other guys I’ve got to go after.”

Of course, at the top of that list is a state title. Swaw finished sixth last season at 152 pounds.

“It was a great experience at state last year,” Swaw said. “Just being there was awesome. I look back at it now, and I don’t want to just be on the podium. I want to be first place.”

Swaw (10-1) feels he is wrestling more technically this season. Lockport coach Jameson Oster also sees a change in Swaw’s mentality.

“Even last year, he was kind of hesitant on his feet to get to his own offense,” Oster said. “He relied a lot on his defense, which is good. But this year, he comes out and he’s the aggressor. He attacks people and puts them under pressure, and they usually fold.

“He’s got good leg attacks, good defense, he’s good on top and on bottom. I’m excited to have a couple more weeks and get to the state series with him.”

Swaw will try his best to conquer his nemesis, defending state champion and top-ranked Ethan Stiles of Conant.

“Stiles has beaten me three times,” Swaw said. “Hopefully, I’ll see him in the finals. I want to be there. I want to see him again. I think it will be a good match.

“It makes me a lot more motivated, especially having that third loss come to him this year. I’m ready to go. I’m about to start turning it up with the training even more.”

Then it’ll be on to Illinois, where Swaw will live out a dream he once doubted.

“I think it will be awesome,” Swaw said. “I can’t wait to get to college and wrestle at that level and train at that level. It will be an eye-opening experience for me, I think.”

Back for more: After winning the program’s first state championship last season, Joliet Catholic (7-2) has a young team. But the Hilltoppers are showing they’re not only ready to defend their Class 2A title but can compete with any team in any class.

Joliet Catholic earned huge wins over Marist and St. Charles East, two of the state’s top Class 3A teams, at the Flavin Invite in DeKalb.

The Hilltoppers ended up finishing fourth in the 32-team event after falling to Prospect and Marmion.

“We were certainly prepared for tough competition,” Joliet Catholic coach Ryan Cumbee said. “We believed we could win and we did. We beat two nationally ranked teams.

“We’ve got 11 of 14 underclassmen in our lineup. Getting to these moments now, it’s a little earlier than I expected, but it’s exactly what I hoped for.”

Cumbee’s son, Connor, had key wins in both the dual victories over the Saints and RedHawks.

“Coaching your own child is a whole another level of stress,” Ryan Cumbee said. “I’m just proud that nobody can question my son’s heart and his desire to win for his team. As a parent, it makes me so proud, and as a coach, I love it.”

Brotherly love: Homewood-Flossmoor’s Vincent and Jaydon Robinson both left Pennsylvania with championships last weekend at the prestigious Powerade Tournament.

Vincent beat Dalton Perry from Pennsylvania 3-2 in the finals at 133 and Jaydon earned a 3-1 overtime victory over Cameron Catrabone from New York at 145.

Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.