As Zeke Horn continued to compete with the Rochelle Township High School wrestling program, the senior grappler saw his confidence grow and his techniques improve.

After battling alongside the 2017-18 squad that placed fourth in the IHSA 2A State Dual Championships his sophomore season, Horn returned as an upperclassman ready to prove himself. Horn’s result was over 40 victories across two weight classes over his final two varsity seasons with the Hubs, which included a 23-win senior campaign this past winter.

“I really improved my shooting techniques and I attempted to be more on the offensive,” Horn said. “The coaching definitely helped me become more confident and I came out with more first-period takedowns than I could imagine… My favorite part about wrestling for RTHS was watching the team grow from a group of strangers into a family each year.”

Horn first broke out during the 2018-19 season, where he won 18 bouts at the 160-pound weight class and qualified for his first IHSA 2A Individual Sectional tournament. As a senior, Horn started at the 160-pound class before cutting down to 152 and contributing regularly at the lighter weight class. Horn’s versatility played a big role in Rochelle finishing 18-4 this past season, a significant improvement from going 9-19 during the 2018-19 campaign.

“The RTHS wrestling program taught me that no matter how hard something may be, it’s important to never give up,” Horn said. “Wrestling is hands-down the toughest thing I’ve ever done and I pushed myself during every practice and match no matter how much I hurt. It was then that I started seeing progress and improvements in my wrestling abilities.”

Horn’s senior season capped off a long wrestling career that began when he signed up for the Rochelle Wrestling Club in kindergarten. After high school, Horn said he plans to join the local fire department and become a full-time firefighter by the time he turns 21 years old. He also said he hopes to carry on his passion for farming.