Warren junior Royce Lopez is already a two-time state qualifier, no small achievement for a wrestler after just two postseasons.
But on a team full of standouts, most notably defending state champions Caleb Noble and Aaron Stewart, Lopez wants more.
“I’m going for that state championship this year,” he said. “I have to keep putting in the work — one hour before practice every day.
“I have the perfect training partner in Aaron. We go at it every single day. I’ve been focusing on the basics, like setups, and have to keep on driving and pushing myself and my team.”
Lopez said it isn’t hard to find motivation. He has never beaten Stewart, who won the Class 3A state title at 157 pounds as a sophomore last season.
“Me and Aaron have been wrestling since I was 7,” Lopez said. “Every single day, I’d get my butt whipped. I wanted to quit and wanted to cry, but my dad told me not to quit and the hard work would pay off.
“Aaron is tough as a rock. He’s gotten stronger, but he’s a good partner. Having him in the room is definitely a positive and a blessing in disguise. He’s one of the best wrestlers in the country.”
Lopez (18-5), a team captain, is making strides too. Coming off a successful season as a starting outside linebacker for the football team, which reached the Class 8A quarterfinals, Lopez won the 165-pound weight class in the Neuqua Valley Scuffle, was the runner-up at Hinsdale Central’s 58th annual Rex Whitlach Invitational and placed seventh at the prestigious Cheesehead Invitational in Wisconsin last weekend.
“At any other school, he would be one of the best wrestlers or athletes on the team,” Warren coach Brad Janecek said. “He has state pedigree. He entered the season ranked second, so that speaks a lot to his hard work.”
“I think he realized it would take a bit more work in order to do something special down at state. He’s accomplished that work in the offseason through football and wrestling.”
Stewart, who rushed for 2,465 yards and 34 touchdowns and was named to the Class 8A all-state team during football season, agreed that Lopez is on the right track.
“He has built up a lot more confidence, starting out the season ranked top three, and the difference is noticeable,” Stewart said. “Being his partner, I know he’s prepared to win state this year. Royce is one of the hardest workers in the room, and we push each other to our limits.
“He makes sure that everyone is doing the most they physically can while also doing what he needs to do to get better.”
Warren senior Anthony Soto, a state qualifier at 215 pounds last season, said the biggest change in Lopez is his drive.
“Royce has improved from last year due to his relentlessness,” Soto said. “He’s always had confidence, but this year he’s not scared or nervous to step on the mat and will do what he has to do to get the win. He’s always pushing himself and others around him to be better versions of themselves.”
Lopez’s free time is limited, but he said he draws to help clear his mind.
“I do a lot of free drawing,” he said. “I draw NFL players, just objects. It calms me and levels my head, allows me to get away from football, wrestling and school. It’s more me time.”
It will be postseason time again soon. Lopez said he learned from his two losses at state last season, when he finished with a 29-9 record.
“I got caught at state in my first match in silly positions that cost me,” he said. “I was definitely dealing with a roller coaster of emotions, especially coming off two losses that I knew I should have won. I learned to keep my head in it.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
