Senior Jovan Cerny has been nominated for East’s Athlete of the Week by coaches Paulino Coy and Zachary Clancy due to his consistent leadership and presentation of E.A.S.T. ‘s core values of excellence, academics, spirit, and tradition. 

Cerny began his wrestling career in eighth grade where he won MVP his first season and went completely undefeated, and has now been wrestling for five years. He credits his motivation to continue his wrestling career to the brotherhood of his team, his coaches and his family for always being there to motivate him and stick by his side. 

“Coach Coy and Clancy have always been there to help me and are willing to stay late after many practices to assist me in becoming a better wrestler,” Cerny said. “My mom is also always there to motivate me and hold me accountable as well as my grandparents who show up to all my meets and tournaments and are there to support me.”

Jovan’s career hasn’t been the smoothest ride after tearing his hamstring his first match of sophomore year and ending his junior year season weeks early due to illness which resulted in missing conference and qualifying for regionals. This season also has not been any easier due to an ongoing fight with a hip injury but through it all, he hasn’t let it set him back. 

“Fighting an injury all season has not stopped him from having a 13-2 record on the season,”  Clancy said. “Jovan is always cheering not only his varsity teammates on but his whole team including girls and is always willing to help the younger boys and girls learn.”

Even with the setbacks in his career, Cerny has still accomplished so much including being named most improved wrestler his freshman season and then being brought up to wrestle on varsity his sophomore year and continuing on to be awarded leadership and captain awards his junior year. This senior season he hopes to reach a new goal of leaving an impact on the East Wrestling program.

“I want to leave behind an impact as I finish my senior year by qualifying for regionals, sectionals and even state so that I can get my name on the banners.” Cerny said. “I also want to leave a legacy behind for my teammates since our team is so young.”

While he sets goals to accomplish for this wrestling season, he has already broken records in the weightroom which helps him be a better wrestler. In P.E. Excel class, Jovan broke the 211-230 pound weight class record of squat with a squat of 525 pounds and has racked up a total of 1435 pounds with all his lifts combined. Cerny’s former defensive line football coach and P.E. Excel teacher Patrick Molinari elaborates on how he accomplished it. 

“When Jovan comes into the weight room, he has clear expectations of himself. He doesn’t get distracted by many things, he understands what he is supposed to do and he understands how he is supposed to get it done,” Molinari said. “He shows excellent discipline and commitment skills to himself in the weightroom, to be the best version of himself he can be.”

With years of experience on the mat, Jovan appreciates what the sport of wrestling has given back to him and his teammates recognize it too. Senior teammate Giovanni Battistoni comments on how he has grown through the last few years.

“While experiencing his injuries, he was always doing something to help better himself and recover faster,”  Battistoni said. “He has grown into the mentality to be the best out there and is always looking for better results.”

Senior Calvin Deane has been Jovan’s teammate for all of high school and is now his fellow co-captain this season. Deane acknowledges how wrestling has impacted Cerny throughout high school and how he gives back to his young team.  

“I’ve seen him grow into a team leader. He has always been such a supportive guy but when he started wrestling up (on varsity) you could see how much more into he was,” Deane said. “Jovan always gives a speech before duals and if he sees you’re nervous he’ll talk to you, make sure you are good and remind you that you are worth more than what you do on the wrestling mat.”

While Cerny doesn’t plan to continue any sports in college, he has plans to attend Waubonsee Community College in the fall in hopes to become a firefighter-paramedic and has already begun an internship at the firehouse to help jumpstart his career. 

Written by senior Eve Cerny. Edited by staff writers for Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.