Wrestling Senior Night took place on Jan. 29 at West Chicago Community High School. While parents and friends were arriving to support their senior wrestlers, the students were getting ready to say goodbye to their team at the last home meet of the season.

The seniors spent warm-ups preparing for their matches with hopes of winning. One of the senior wrestlers, Donovan Avila began wrestling in sixth grade after being encouraged by his friend, Santino Milazzo, and quickly developed a passion for the sport. Just recently, Avila earned his 100th win.

“Never give up and just keep pushing through those tough times,” Avila said. “I would like to thank all my coaches that helped me get to where I’m at, and my family. And I’d also like to thank God.”

Senior wrestlers equally expressed gratitude to Coach Jaime Phillips for the support and encouragement he has provided in their wrestling careers. Phillips is someone they felt they could trust, and the wrestlers said that he was like a second dad to them. Many of the seniors had the chance to work with Phillips, who was the coach for the boys’ wrestling team before he retired from the position last year. In 2024, he became an assistant coach for the girls’ wrestling team.

“Coach Phillips is always supporting me, helping me believe that I can make it more, and do great things,” senior Susana Correa said.

Those thoughts were echoed by numerous players.

“Coach Phillips. He was an awesome coach for the past three years, and then he went down as the girls’ assistant coach. So now we have a head coach, but I still like to thank him,” senior Omar Sarmiento said.

During the senior night festivities, the wrestlers could hear all the parents and friends screaming and cheering for their athletes during the match. The season will end with strong memories of good times and matches.

“Breaking a kid’s knee. Yeah, in Batavia, I broke two kids’ knees this year and last year,” Sarmiento said.

Broken bones were not on everyone’s minds, however.

“Probably tournaments. They’re the funniest thing ever,” senior Dayana Mata said.