Going into his senior season, Josh Symbal had a goal set for himself to become a two-time state qualifier for Huntley High School.

This past Saturday proved to be more than Symbal could have expected.

“Coach Bertelsman thought that I was selling myself short in the beginning of the season,” said Symbal. “I exceeded my expectations this weekend.”

At the 3A state wrestling tournament at the University of Illinois in Champaign on Saturday, Symbal placed fifth in the 182 pound weight class, to achieve a few Huntley firsts.

Symbal was the first Huntley wrestler to place at state, the first senior to qualify for state, and the first two-time state qualifier Huntley High School has ever had.

“Everyone knows there has been so many family legacies at Huntley, like Jordan and Dylan Neukirch, it was good to finally get my family’s name heard,” said Symbal.

The fifth place state finish capped off a successful season for Symbal.

At the Fox Valley Conference Tournament, he placed first in his weight class. The first place finishes kept on going as Josh Symbal also placed first at the Jacobs Regional, which led him to another first place finish at the Barrington Sectional.

“The match for fifth place was probably my favorite match,” said Symbal. “My dad was in the corner, which was awesome for my last match ever.”

Using his signature move, the cradle, Symbal pinned his opponent from Loyola to bring back Huntley’s very first fifth place medal at state.

“It felt great,” said Symbal. “Winning gave me the biggest adrenaline rush, it was amazing.”

After his fifth place match, Symbal will now put away the singlet, as his wrestling career is now over. Although still undecided between Augustana College in Rock Island and Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Symbal will continue to play football at the next level.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KiZdZz94a8&w=420&h=315]