With the postseason around the corner, Mount Carmel senior Liam Kelly is feeling good physically and maybe more importantly, feeling great mentally.
Even as the defending Class 3A state champ at 157 pounds, Kelly isn’t feeling the pressure at all.
The Illinois recruit — who is ranked No. 1 in 3A at 165 by the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association — just having fun.
“My mindset has shifted a lot after sophomore year,” Kelly said after scoring a 32-second fall at 165 pounds in a 41-21 loss at Marist on Jan. 9. “It was a really bad year. I was down in the dumps after state. My mindset completely shifted from there.
“I just go out there and have fun. I don’t worry about what anyone’s thinking. It’s just sports at the end of the day. You get nervous, get excited, but I wouldn’t say pressure.”
Two years ago, Kelly was one of the top-ranked wrestlers in the state.
But at the state finals, he went a disappointing 2-2, putting himself in a bad headspace that had him considering stepping away from the sport.
A conversation with coach Alex Tsirtsis and his older brother, Colin, a two-time state champion at Mount Carmel, had him reversing course.
“I just wanted to be done with wrestling,” Kelly said. “My brother, coach Alex, my parents, they all helped me get through that. I took a month off, was still thinking about it, but coach Alex got me back to it.”
Wrestling with a clear mind, Kelly has had a strong first half of the season.
He finished first at the Dan Gable Donnybrook and third at the Ironman in December, both at 165, and took sixth at the Super 32 Challenge in October at 157.
Tsirtis said he loves how Kelly responded to those low moments as a sophomore.
“Everything he’s done, it’s a process,” Tsirtsis said. “He’s done everything right to be where he is. It goes to what he’s doing day-in and day-out. He believes in everything we’re doing as a team and what he’s doing as an individual.”
Beyond his own strong performance though, Kelly said he’s enjoying working with the younger wrestlers in the lineup.
“It’s been great,” Kelly said. “We’ve got a great bunch of guys. I try to help them as much as I can. It’s getting better every day in practice and building day by day.”
With that day-to-day mentality, he’s not thinking too far ahead.
Sure, the goal is to win that second straight championship, but his mind isn’t there yet.
“I definitely want to win, but I’m not thinking about state (right now) or going to state,” Kelly said. “I think about going to practice and getting better. If I do that, state will take care of itself.”
Tsirtis said he wants to see his team step up and battle.
“We have a young, inexperienced team,” Tsirtsis said. “We’re growing and getting better. We’ve got to learn how to consistently compete. Once we do that, we can keep improving and making adjustments.”