Justus Heeg entered his freshman season at Providence in quite a unique situation. He was already a high school state champion.
As an eighth grader last year, Heeg was Minnesota’s Class AA 133-pound state champion while wrestling for Simley. Minnesota allows eighth graders to compete on high school teams.
“It was really fun,” Heeg said. “It takes a little more technical things to be able to wrestle with those older guys, so I learned a lot last year.”
Now at Providence, Heeg is quickly making his mark on Illinois high school wrestling. He dominated his way to the 150-pound championship Saturday at the Illini Classic at Lincoln-Way Central in New Lenox.
Marist (274 points) topped Clovis North from California (255) for the championship of the 24-team event.
Marist’s Michael Esteban (126), George Marinopoulos (132), Donavon Allen (144) and Will Denny (165) took titles along with Sandburg’s Rocco Hayes (113) and Lincoln-Way West’s Brandon Bavirsha (285).
Heeg (35-3), meanwhile, was untouchable at 150.
The freshman won three matches by technical fall and one by pin, beating two seniors and two sophomores along the way. He won his championship bout by a 21-5 technical fall over Yorkville sophomore Donovan Rosauer.
Providence coach Donny Reynolds was certainly impressed by the performance.
“He’s not afraid to go out there, mix it up and score some points,” Reynolds said of Heeg. “He showed that in this tournament with three tech falls and a fall. He’s kind of showing the rest of the team.
“The team is young, they’re all young together and they’re seeing, ‘Hey, I’m a freshman, too, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be successful.’”
Heeg and his family moved back to Lemont, where he grew up, before the school year began.
“I’m really excited to be back,” he said. “All the guys at Providence were very welcoming when I first got here. They’ve all been great.”
Heeg’s brother, Judah, is a junior who is also having a highly successful season, but Judah wrestles at Lemont.
Justus and Judah (190) are both ranked No. 2 in Class 2A in their respective weight classes by Illinois Matmen.
Their older brother, AJ, wrestles at Northern Colorado.
“I’ve learned a lot from my older brothers,” Justus said. “They’re my role models in the sport of wrestling, for sure.”
Heeg is part of a young team that’s trying to lift Providence wrestling back up after some down seasons. Fellow freshman Christian Corcoran (29-11) finished third Saturday at 106.
Corcoran said it’s been helpful having Heeg go through similar experiences as a highly ranked freshman, although the two don’t practice together much on the mats due to weight differences.
“It’s definitely a bonding experience that he’s a freshman, too,” Corcoran said. “Watching him, I’m definitely impressed by his quickness and his defense. He’s just so quick.”
Heeg, who is always looking to be aggressive, plans to relentlessly attack his opponents.
“Definitely my pace helps me,” he said. “I’ve been working with a lot of college kids and they’ve been helping me keep my pace up.
“My biggest strengths are my mindset, my physicality and my pace.”
It’s not unusual for a freshman to have success at lower weights, but Heeg emerging as a state title contender at 150 is more unique.
Reynolds said Heeg is always prepared to compete against older guys.
“He’s been competing at a high level for a long time so he was used to it,” Reynolds said. “He’s what you want as a coach. He works hard and he’s always looking to get better. He picks everyone’s brain and he’s a sponge, so he’ll pick things up very quickly.
“He’s a joy to be around.”
