The Mount Carmel main gym echoed with cheers earlier this month as the junior varsity wrestling team used home mat advantage to capture the Chicago Catholic League Championship and finish the season with a first place team performance.
The conference tournament was held at MC this past week, giving the Caravan a rare opportunity to compete in the championship at home, with family members, and coaches behind them. Energized by the crowd, MC wrestlers delivered consistent performances across weight classes to secure the team title.
“We competed very hard, not just because it was the end of the year, but because we were at home the kids felt proud,” JV wrestling coach and MC biology teacher Mr. Jack Mulay said after the tournament. “They wanted to protect their home turf.”
Hosting the championship highlighted the continued growth of the MC wrestling program. Parents volunteered throughout the day to help operate the meet, while students filled the stands to support their classmates. Mr. Mulay said the atmosphere helped keep wrestlers focused from the opening matches through the final bouts.
“We have a really good environment here,” Mr. Mulay said. “Everyone stepped up, from the parents to the kids, and it showed how strong our program can be.”
Mr. Mulay also pointed to individual development as one of the biggest successes of the season. Several younger wrestlers adjusted to new weight classes and stronger competition as the year progressed.
“Ethan Dowling really impressed me,” Mulay said of the MC freshman. “He wrestled up a weight class, showed up every day and got a lot better by the end of the year.”
Sophomore Mason Andrews said competing at home made the championship experience more memorable. Andrews placed third individually and credited the familiar setting for helping the team stay confident.
“It was overall a really good experience,” he said. “We got number one overall as a team, and it felt like we had the home-field advantage.” Andrews added that the team championship served as a strong ending not the season and motivating heading into next year. “It was a good topper to the year. It sets us up well for next year.”
Sophomore Liam Mendoza also emphasized the difference between wrestling at MC and competing on the road.
“It was way better than wrestling somewhere else,” he said. “Winning at home felt really good.” The victory carried extra meaning for Mendoza, who recalled last season’s outcome at the same venue. “Last year when we wrestled here, we lost,” he recalled. “This year we beat them, so it felt great.”
Mendoza credited the coaching staff for helping them improve throughout the season. “I like Mr. Mulay a lot and all the coaches. They really help us get better.”
With strong parent support, steady individual improvement, and a championship finish, the JV CCL tournament at MC marked a memorable close to the season and a promising foundation for the program’s future.
