Wrestling: Belvidere to honor its late wrestlers

The Belvidere wrestling community has been rocked by several former wrestlers who have passed in recent years much before their time.

Prior to Friday night's home match against rival North Warren, the County Seaters will hold a moment of silence and dedicate the evening to Jim Bob Stanley, Joe Holinko, Josh Tresslar and Matt Bocchino.

Bocchino was involved in a motorcycle accident this past summer and died on Aug. 12. Stanley died nearly a month earlier.

Several former wrestlers and coaches are expected to attend, including former head coaches Kurt Weaver and Marty White, along with former standout Jared Schneider.

I had the pleasure of covering all of these fine young men during their careers and there is no finer community than Belvidere. I have many good friends there, and have gotten close to a number of great families like the Tresslars and Costantinos. Just great people all around.

Josh Tresslar, a talented wrestler and Region 1 OW, was an assistant coach at Newton High School until his passing in 2009. I miss our conversations, particularly at Region 1. His older brother, Matt, was a state champion and is the school's only four-time district champion. He honors his brother with the Josh Tresslar Memorial Scholarship, presented annually before the Region 1 finals.

Though I can not attend the match, I wish the best to all and my condolences to all of the family members affected by the loss of these young men. Here are the bios prepared for all four:

JIM BOB STANLEY (Most clutch wrestler)

1997-2001

JIM BOB OFTEN BROUGHT HIS TEAM FROM BEHIND, AND CLINCHED BIG MATCHES BY GETTING KEY PINS AS AN ANCHOR IN THE UPPER WEIGHTS. HE HELPED LEAD HIS TEAM TO A CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP AND THREE SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. HIS SENIOR YEAR HE CLINCHED THE SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND TEAM STATE SEMIFINAL MATCH WITH BIG WINS IN THE FINAL BOUT OF EACH MATCH. JIM BOB WON A DISTRICT TITLE, REGIONAL TITLE, AND ALSO REACHED THE STATE SEMI-FINAL ON HIS WAY TO PLACING SIXTH IN THE STATE (215 pounds in 2001).

JOSH TRESSLAR (Most outstanding wrestler)

1995 – 1998

JOSH TRESSLAR MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE MOST EXPLOSIVE AND EXCITING WRESTLERS TO WEAR A BELVIDERE WRESTLING SINGLET. IN THE 1997-98 POSTSEASON, HE CAPTURED THE OUTSTANDING WRESTLER AWARD IN BOTH THE DISTRICT AND REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS, PINNING EACH OPPONENT IN THE FINALS.

JOE HOLINKO (Most improved wrestler)

1997 – 2001

JOE STARTED WRESTLING IN HIGH SCHOOL AND WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPROVED WRESTLERS DURING HIS CAREER. HE WAS A PART OF THREE SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS AND LED THE WAY HIS SENIOR YEAR IN 2001. HIS DEDICATION, WORK ETHIC, AND COMMITMENT TO THE BELVIDERE WRESTLING PROGRAM WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

  

MATT BOCCHINO (Coach's award)

1999 – 2003

MATT DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING WORK ETHIC, COMMITMENT, DEDICATION, SPORTSMANSHIP, AND TEAM WORK. HE HELPED LEAD BELVIDERE TO TWO SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND A STATE FINALS APPEARANCE. HE WAS A TRUE FRIEND, TEAMMATE, AND LEADER TO EVERYONE IN THE BELVIDERE WRESTLING PROGRAM.