Warren’s Caleb Noble is only a freshman but has already accomplished something his father and uncle didn’t more than 30 years ago.
Noble’s father, Derrick, a 1993 Carmel graduate, placed second at 112 pounds in Class AA during his junior season. A year later, he was undefeated going into the state meet but lost twice there to finish fourth at 119. Derrick Noble said his older brother was a “phenomenal” wrestler, too, and also didn’t win a state title.
So Derrick Noble smiled widely as he discussed Caleb’s achievement at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Saturday.
“I lost here in the same building on the same mat in the finals in triple overtime,” Derrick Noble said. “We finally got the monkey off our back, which is a big thing. Caleb went for it.”
Indeed, Caleb Noble capped off his first high school season by winning the Class 3A state title at 106. He earned a 6-5 decision against Rockton Hononegah’s Rocco Cassioppi in the championship match following a 15-3 major decision against Oak Park-River Forest’s Michael Rundell in the quarterfinals and an 8-5 decision against Normal’s Caden Correll in the semifinals.
Noble credited his father for his success.
“My dad coached wrestling, so he always would take me in there to practice, and I would roll around,” Noble said. “My dad helped me out a lot. He’s the whole reason I’m doing this and made it to the state finals. Without my dad, I would not be here right now. He taught me everything I know.”
Warren sophomore Aaron Stewart and Grayslake Central senior Matt Jens also won state titles on Saturday. Stewart (43-2), who finished third at 152 last year, prevailed at 157 with a 5-2 decision against Mount Carmel’s Eddie Enright in 3A. Jens (41-1) finished his career with back-to-back titles by earning a victory by technical fall against Rock Island’s Amare Overton at 175.
Noble (43-2), who also defeated Cassioppi in the Barrington Sectional final to avenge a regular-season loss, and Stewart broke new ground for Warren. According to coach Brad Janecek, the Blue Devils won multiple state titles in a season for the first time.
Noble indicated he is just getting started.
“I had high expectations for this season,” he said. “My goal is to be a four-timer. That’s a big goal. I’ll feel really bad if I don’t attain that goal. I definitely expected to be in the finals, especially when I was beating the top-ranked guys this season.”
Janecek, who said he remembers Noble’s father from high school, noted Noble’s background and difficult schedule this season.
“He came in with a big amount of confidence, but it was about him developing confidence at the high school level,” Janecek said. “He had the confidence from the multiple state championships he had in grade school. He had to realize, ‘This is something I could do in high school.’
“We went to wrestle in the best (invites) all season. So he realized with that type of schedule, ‘This is somewhere I belong and can compete.’”
Stewart, a standout running back who rushed for 1,647 yards and 20 touchdowns in the fall, said he tried to offer Noble some advice this season.
“I just wanted him to know the difference between high school and youth wrestling,” Stewart said. “It’s just different. Even if it’s the same competition, the competition, especially at state, is different. I told him to stay at it — the match is never over.
“He’s a complete competitor, which I love to see.”
Janecek agreed, crediting Noble’s ability to stick with it for his win against Cassioppi.
“(Noble) keeps his foot on the gas,” Janecek said. “The guy had his legs, but he had to go over it and either get taken down or go for the throw. He used his best stuff right there and went for it. It was awesome.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
