Following an undefeated season and his second straight individual state championship, Oak Park and River Forest senior Isaiah White has found another way to challenge himself.
“I could have been a leader last year, but this year I feel it’s here. There’s no denying it, hiding it. It’s here for me and the other seniors, of course,” White said.
“I was more laid back last year. This year I know it’s on me. I’m the senior. It’s my last year so I have to make sure everything goes well, goes right. I’ve been doing better with pretty much everything, even school. I’ve been going harder in practice. It’s a lot different than last year.”
That is, except when White takes to the mat.
White again is undefeated as he tries to become the first OPRF wrestler to win three individual state titles and join 2015 graduate Larry Early as the only Huskies to earn top-six, all-state honors all four seasons.
White is a combined 17-0 at 160 and 170 pounds. White won last year’s 152 title with a 38-0 record and the 2014 title at 138 by going 41-4. As a freshman, he was third at 126 after losing in the semifinals.
The Huskies’ only other undefeated state champion was senior Mike Powell’s 42-0 at 171 in 1994.
“When (White is) willing to put his mind to things and really focus on what he wants to get, he’s the best in the country at his particular weight,” OPRF coach Paul Collins said. “(Last season) was special to see. It’s kind of like you have to take a step back and embrace the moment, how talented these young men are.”
White has missed several matches this season, but he’s hoping that plays to his advantage by making him fresh for the postseason. Besides another perfect run, White wants to achieve what he nearly did as a junior – not allow any opponent to score a takedown. Last season, he only surrendered two.
“That’s what my goal is this year, but going undefeated was definitely something I was really happy about,” White said. “I just take it one match at a time and just wrestle hard every match. There’s always a little pressure but I try not to focus on (being undefeated) too much and just wrestle and have fun, not stress over what I did last year. It’s a new year, just have fun.”
Collins said White has never been very outgoing, vocal or boisterous, a quiet confidence even with an impressive resume. White, however, understands and appreciates his opportunity to affect the team mentality by setting an example through consistent effort. Â
“One of the (goals) we’re most proud of was he wanted to be a real captain and leader and we’re really starting to see that since mid-December. You’ve seen changes to push other guys and to hold himself accountable,” Collins said.
White’s efforts academically have helped him to attain his goal of being an NCAA Division I wrestler at Ohio State. What’s even better is Ohio State always has been among his favorite schools, although for different reasons.
“Since I was really, really younger, I’ve always had the Ohio State gear – jackets, hats, shirts, but it was funny. It was always for football. But then I started to focus on wrestling,” White said. “It’s really like a dream come true.”
What would be a dream finish for White this season? True perfection would be a third consecutive team state championship.
“I do care about individuals, but if we win team state, it’s perfect for me. (My focus is) just wrestle hard for six minutes. Just going out there and being in shape is a big thing for me,” White said.
“Sometimes I’m vocal but it’s making sure I’m doing everything right and hoping everyone else will follow. I’ve noticed it, too. If I’m going really hard, doing sprints and I just see some of the younger guys doing sprints, then it’s a chain reaction and everyone’s going hard.”
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