Althoff sophomore Chase Bittle earns Class 1A honor

Chase Bittle just can’t get enough of the sport of wrestling.

One year after a disappointing loss in the Class 1A 113-pound state title match, Bittle was one of the dominant wrestlers in the state during the 2015-16 season as he finished with a 45-0 record and the 120-pound state championship.

Less than a week after becoming Althoff’s first state champion since Mike Weber won the Class A 171-pound title in 1997, Bittle was back in the practice room as he began workouts for the Virginia Beach, (Va.) Sophomore Nationals.

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For Bittle, wrestling is not just something he does four months out of the year. It’s a way of life. It’s his passion and a sport in which he not only has very distinct goals but one which will help pave the way to a college education in the not too distant future.

It’s also a sport in which Bittle never tires of.

“Mentally? No I don’t get tired of it. Physically there are times when you have to give your body a break and let it rest. I know when I have to do that and when that happens, I’ll spend a little more time on school work or just hanging out with friends,” Bittle said. “But wrestling is just something I love to do.”

Chosen as the Belleville News-Democrat Class 1A Wrestler of the Year, Bittle’s love and immense talent culminated at the state finals when he won the 120-pound state title match. The win, which came over Anthony Rink, of Herscher High School, was similar to most this season as Bittle not only won his state final match at the State Farm Center in Champaign, he dominated his opponent.

Preparing for state

Bittle, who finished 48-1 as a freshman — winning his first 48 matches before losing in the 113-pound state title match — wasn’t pushed much during his sophomore campaign. A 6-4 overtime win at the Champaign St. Thomas More Duals proved to be his stiffest challenge of the regular season.

But in the Crusaders practice room where he worked out on a daily basis with four-time state medal winner Jarrid Braunagel, Danny Braunagel and Max Kristoff, not only helped sharpen Bittle’s skills but also gave him the competition needed to be at his best in the postseason.

With only a few of his matches lasting the full six minutes, Bittle was told by his coaches not to pin his opponents at the South Seven Conference Tournament in order to give him the chance to be better preared for the postseason.

“The match against the kid at the St. Thomas More Duals, wasn’t my best match. But I was able to come out on top. I guess that’s what matters,” Bittle said “Honestly, what did me the most good was having Max (Kristoff) and Jarrid and Danny (Braunagel) there in the practice room with me to work out with everyday was the best comeptition I could get.”

Also what helped Bittle prepare for the state finals was knowing what to expect. Bittle admitted that he was nervous in his first state finals appearance a year ago. This time he said he was more focused on the business at hand of wrestling.

“Being a freshman, I was nervous and I may have gotten caught up in wrestling for a state championship instead of just going out and wrestling the way I could. I learned that getting nervous did me no good,” Bittle said. “This year I had been through the Grand March and so I was just able to stay focused on my matches. I approached each opponent as I had all season which was one match at a time.”

The future

Bittle said the one major improvement in his wrestling style this season was on his feet and while he still must continue to show progress in that area, he needs to continue to get stronger. Although he would like to compete in the 120-pound weight class next season, he will more than likely be in the 126-pound weight class.

“I’m growing, getting taller and filling out more. I’m thinking, I’d like to come in at at a strong 126-pounds next season,” Bittle said. “I’ve got to get stronger and I know that. My plan is to really hit the weight room hard in the next few months.”

College is still two years away, but Bittle, who plans on majoring in engineering, is hoping to secure a scholarship at at a major NCAA Division I wrestling program.

Up next

Wrestling in the 123-pound weight class, Bittle placed sixth in the Virginia Beach Sophomore Nationals last weekend.

“I wrestled very well in my first four matches, pinning all four of my opponents. Then in my semifinal, things didn’t go my way and I ended up losing a couple of close matches both in the consolation semifinals and then wrestling for fifth and sixth place. The kid I lost to in the semifinals took third in the California state finals,” Bittle said. “Everybody who was there took at least third in their state tournaments, so the competition I got was tremendous.”

Bittle will compete for Team Illinois in Indiana next week and is also preparing to the Illinois State Freestyle Championships which will be held at the end of April.

“If I do well at the state freestyle that will qualify me to go to Fargo (N.D.) later. A lot depends on how you do in some of these tournaments so see it you get invited to compete other places.”

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 9:58 PM with the headline "Althoff sophomore Chase Bittle earns Class 1A honor."