It’s been quite a two-month run for Brother Rice’s Colin Goggin.
On Dec. 3, Goggin — the starting tight end and one of the team captains — helped lift the Crusaders to a 16-0 victory over St. Rita in the IHSA Class 7A football state final.
Goggin quickly shifted to wrestling mode, and he took second at 190 pounds in the Catholic League Tournament on Jan. 17 at De La Salle.
Goggin (10-3) was pinned by IC Catholic’s Foley Calcagno (33-7) in 48 seconds, but remained upbeat heading into the IHSA state series.
“This means the world to me,” Goggin said. “I’ve been wrestling since I was 3 and playing football since I could walk. It’s been a big part of my family. My cousins all played football and a couple of them wrestled.
“(It’s great) being able to maybe end my career by winning a state championship the way we did and having somewhat a good year so far in wrestling. I’m hoping to get on the podium (at the individual state finals) this year. It’s just amazing to me.”
What sets Goggin apart?
“His mental toughness,” Crusaders coach Jan Murzyn said. “He comes in and he wants to win. He is actually one of the great leaders that we have in the room.
“We have some immaturity and he’s quick to call people out on that. He has tenacity and … he’s not really taking days off. And he builds up to get better. … He realizes that it’s a process.”
“I’ve been working hard to be there for my team in football and working hard to control the room for wrestling,” Goggin said. “I’m trying to be there for our 215 and 175(-pound wrestlers) and they need just a little bit of work together.
“I think being able to have two great teams with good coaches and good teammates kind of comes together with that and makes it a little easier.”
Marmion, ranked No. 1 in Class 3A by Illinois Matmen, won the team title 294-248 over 2A top-ranked IC Catholic. Class 2A No. 2 Providence (182.5) was third.
Class 3A No. 14 Mount Carmel finished fifth with 168 points. Defending state champ Liam Kelly earned first at 165 pounds for the Caravan with Justin Williamson second at 144.
Brother Rice, No. 22 in 3A, was seventh with 117 points. St. Rita, 14th in 2A, fnished ninth with 54.5 points, St. Laurence was 10th (41.5 points) and De La Salle was 14th (19 points).
Rolling onward
Oak Lawn won its own boys bowling regional on Jan. 17 with a pinfall of 6,653. Reavis (6,271), Morton (6,198) and Lyons (6,023) also advanced to the Fenton Sectional on Jan. 24.
Charlie Dell and Peter Garcia each bowled a 1,368 for six games to lead the Spartans.
Stagg also advanced to the Fenton Sectional by finishing third at the Rich Regional on Jan. 16 with a 5,644. Sandburg (6,043) was fourth at the Lockport Regional on Jan. 16 to advance to the Naperville Central Sectional on Jan. 24.