Falcons crowned
Catholic League champs

By Joe Mason
For the Times

It was eight years ago, but Al Alvarez remembers it vividly.
At the time, Alvarez’s brother, Eddie, was a senior on the North Catholic High School wrestling team. Al sat among fans in the crowded "Pit."
He cheered and he raised a ruckus. He soaked in the atmosphere that is a big part of the appeal when the Catholic League wrestling championship is held at North Catholic’s hallowed gym.
Now, eight years later, Al Alvarez wasn’t sitting in the crowd. He was the one leading the Falcons out of the locker room and into the basement of North Catholic on Saturday afternoon.
This time he was taking part in the championship, a showdown with La Salle. He wrestled in the first match of the day, at 171 pounds, and earned a 3-1 decision. Then, 13 bouts later, Alvarez and his teammates grasped the Catholic League plaque, a championship trophy that eluded them a season ago when they fell to La Salle in the title match.
This year’s outcome: North Catholic, 29, La Salle, 20.
"I knew I wanted to be the first match or the last match, so when I found out we were starting at 171, I was pumped," Alvarez said. "I just went out and tried to wrestle as hard as I could, and when I got the win, I just got back and tried to pump up the rest of the guys."
Alvarez wasn’t the only key wrestler.
Big guys Chris James and Eric French also picked up wins, as did 103-pounder Dave Davidson, who downed Matt Mooney, 6-5. During the regular season, Mooney had prevailed, 6-0, over Davidson.
"That was a big match," said Falcons coach Jim Savage, who has captured six Catholic League crowns since taking over the team eight years ago. "He went in and wrestled a smart match, but it could have gone either way. He wrestled smart and won, and that was very big for us."
Just about every North wrestler contributed to the win.
But that just goes with the territory of being a Falcon.
"These guys work eleven months a year for this one month, what we call the second season, the playoffs," Savage said.
No sweat, right?
No, actually, a lot of sweat.
"You have no idea how hard we worked for this," Alvarez said. "Guys on this team aren’t a team, we’re a family. And it’s funny, but we’re closer because we’re in the wrestling room, beating each other up and pushing each other. That’s how we get better . . . we push each other and even hurt each other. It’s all to win in the end."
You might think Alvarez feels a sense of relief, now that he has won a championship and finished team competition as a high school wrestler.
Even he thought he’d feel that way.
"During the season, every time you think wrestling is too time-consuming, too hard, you say it sucks because it’s all you do," Alvarez said. "But now that it’s coming to an end, you start thinking about how you’re not going to be wrestling with these guys anymore. You get all emotional.
"I’m so glad we had this kind of year," he added. "This was so much fun, and to walk off with the championship, it’s a great feeling."
The championship was particularly impressive because La Salle came out with a talented and experienced lineup.
But it shouldn’t really be a surprise that the Falcons once again reigned supreme in the Catholic League. Savage has dropped only two playoffs matches during his tenure as North Catholic coach; during the school’s history, the Falcons have claimed 13 league wrestling titles.
"It’s no secret, there are a lot of things that play into it," said Savage, who guided North to a 17-0 season. "We have good kids who really, really work hard to get where we want to be. I have some great coaches who really help the kids, and you have everything else, like supportive parents and a supportive school. Everyone helps out on this, but the wrestlers work really hard at making it all happen."
Alvarez weighs roughly 156 pounds. If he wanted to, he could probably cut weight and wrestle at 152. He could easily make weight for the 160-pound class.
But because his team needed a 171-pounder, he didn’t mind bumping up and taking on bigger opponents.
After all, it’s all about the team.
"When you wrestle a 152-pounder, they’re a lot quicker than a 171-pounder, so I try to use my speed when I’m out there against bigger guys," he said. "It’s harder, but it’s not much harder because if you wrestle smart, you can adjust."
With his high school days almost behind him, Alvarez anticipates going to college, but will likely give up wrestling.
"I’m going to miss it so much," he said. "But I can’t be too upset. I had a great career here and I left with a championship. Wrestling at North was great, and to leave with a title, that’s just the icing on the cake." ••
Joe Mason can be reached at joemason70@hotmail.com