Third place state finish drives LHS’ Evan Stanley for next season
Usually, if someone places third in state for anything, it’s usually considered a solid finish and a big win.
And for Lowell’s Evan Stanley, it was just that. Still, the sophomore wanted more.
In the first round of the IHSAA State Wrestling Championships at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Feb. 21-22, Stanley defeated Cade Zuber from Greenfield-Central by a technical fall and then won a 5-1 decision against Justice Thornton of Columbus North in the subsequent round.
However, it was the match against Isaiah Schaefer of Evansville Mater Dei that still leaves a bad taste in Stanley’s mouth. The Red Devil sophomore was defeated by Schaefer by a 6-5 decision.
“I went into the tournament ready to compete and battle every match,” Stanley said. “I was excited. Saturday morning I tweaked my back up and was having a hard time getting down to my stance, but win or lose I was dealing with that. I didn’t wrestle the way I’ve been all season and Saturday was the day to be my best and sadly it didn’t happen. I gave up points that usually I never do but it’s part of the sport.”
Tweaked back or not, Stanley took it out on Switzerland County’s Peyton Richards in the third place match, defeating him with an 11-0 decision.
Stanley has put together two monster seasons in two different states. He placed fourth in the Illinois High School Association State 3A Wrestling Championship as a freshman at Mount Carmel High School in Chicago last year. It’s worth noting he picked Lowell this year over the nationally ranked Caravan this year, and he seems to be happy to be back.
“They’re both pretty cool, but Indiana just does it a bit cooler,” Stanley observed. “Illinois is tough but ultimately it was the schedule at Mount Carmel that made that season such a grind. This year in Indiana was fun, but I am looking forward to getting some national tournaments into my schedule next year.”
So now what, Evan?
“Next for me will be NHSCA Nationals in Virginia Beach,” Stanley said. “I won the freshman division last year and it was fun and also gets you a good look for out of state wrestlers and gives college coaches a good look at you as a wrestle. That will be next.”
One of the things that bothers Stanley about not taking home the top honors in Indy this year was he wanted to thank his parents, Joe and Shannon Stanley, in an interview. He also noted his entire family has given him ample support throughout his journey on the mat.
“That was one of the most sad things,” Stanley said. “I love everything they do for me and I know they sacrifice a lot for me. I do hard things on myself partly for them. I want to thank my mom and dad. They give more than I could ask for. My sisters and their husbands, they show up to everything no matter what. I have the best support system and I feel that. I could keep going on and on. I have an Uncle and Aunt that have four awesome young boys that are always busy, but they will always text, call and turn my wrestling on their TV to watch me wrestle. My family is the greatest and is the reason I put my all into this sport.”
Like he did for Kam Hazelett and Noel Verduzco, LHS wrestler Dalton Robson offered support to Stanley. Robson had a freak accident after the Crown Point Regional and hurt his knee. However, Stanley called Robson his best friend who always has his back.
“That dude supports and believes in me like no other,” Stanley said. “He works his tail off and will help me with whatever I ask. I’m grateful for the support I have.”
Lowell coach Kevin English said Stanley, Hazelett and Verduzco are cut from the same cloth.
“(Stanley and Verduzco) sleep, dream wrestling!” English said. “The expectations were to dominate and they did all season! Noel, Kam, Evan all with 40+ win seasons! The two just came up short. Noel lost on a mistake with 27 seconds left against the returning state champion. Unfortunately at this level one small mistake and well... Evan wrestling the eventual state champion and it’s the same. Both opponents were also amazing wrestlers. You just get what you set out for.”
Hazelett believes Stanley could very well have won the match against Schaefer.
“ I knew for a fact that Evan could’ve won that (match),” Hazelett said. “He just wrestled the guy that had good math, IQ and that was patient for sure. I think that next year Evan will come back stronger than ever.”
Verduzco said he, Hazelett and Stanley put in the work to get to Gainbridge this year, indicating the three of them are very hard workers on the mat.
“Evan also fell short of what he had wanted and what he has been training for,” Verduzco said. “We put in a lot of work and overtime work to be out there and wrestle like how we do.”
Even after putting together an amazing season in his first year back with the Red Devils, this tournament still sticks with Stanley.
“The state tournament for this year is over and now the only thing I can do for the results I want is to work for them,” Stanley said in earnest. “To me it’s heartbreaking with the way I finished and how close I was. This sport isn’t easy and I was chasing this state title, but I can’t hang my head. I’m excited to grind for a year straight and let this loss sting and make sure I don’t forget it.”