Wrestling: Former Hanover Central coach Willems gone but not forgotten

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Hanover Central's Paul Petrov controls Crown Point's Josh Fuqua as they meet in the championship match at 120 lbs. during the wrestling sectionals on Saturday, January 28, 2012, in Crown Point. Hanover Central's Petrov won 3-1. | Scott R. Brandush~Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 1, 2012 9:50AM

On the team’s bus ride to Crown Point’s Sectional Saturday, Hanover Central wrestler Paul Petrov said he thought about former Wildcats’ assistant coach John Willems.

Willems, who suffered a fatal heart attack about a month ago before Hanover Central was preparing to compete in the Bronco Holiday Duals at Lafayette Jefferson, is gone but he definitely hasn’t been forgotten.

Petrov, who wrestles at 120 pounds and is a three-time state-qualifier, said he thought about Willems when he walked into CP’s gym.

He confessed he thought about Willems before he wrestled his first match.

Petrov also said he couldn’t help but think about Willems after winning his third straight sectional title by beating the Bulldogs’ Josh Fuqua.

“He would have been proud of all of us,’’ Petrov said. “He was really excited about our young team. He wanted to see how we were going to perform. He was really looking forward to watching every single wrestler. Everyone was improving and he wanted to see everyone keep getting better.’’

Petrov said he looks over at his corner inbetween periods and after matches at times and can still see Willems right next to his dad, head coach Nick Petrov.

In fact, when he won the sectional title, he was poised to talk to his dad and Willems.

“It’s just weird not having him in the corner,’’ Paul said. “He’s the one who coached me throughout high school. I saw him every day of my life — so to not see someone who I’m used to seeing, that’s a strange feeling. I know he’s not here anymore now, but it’s been hard.’’

Willems, who died at the age of 42, leaving behind his wife, Elsa, along with young sons, John and Joey, is with the Wildcats in spirit.

In fact, Willems was looking down on them and smiling Saturday as the team qualified eight wrestlers for the regional.

“John was a great technician,’’ coach Petrov said. “His practices were detailed and very organized. Our kids have really, really done well with this whole thing as hard as it’s been. We’ve tried to keep it as normal and routine as possible, but they’re really missing their coach and friend.’’

Hanover Central sophomore Stevan Mecic, who wrestles at 106, wanted to win the sectional title not only for himself and teammates.

“I thought about the things he’d tell me and the encouragement he’d give me,’’ Mecic said. “It made me want to win even more. It was good fuel for the fire.’’

Mecic, who finished third at state last year at 103 pounds, claims he’ll never forget Willems.

“He was a model coach,’’ he said. “I always looked up to him. He meant a lot to me. He was the best guy to be around. I loved to talk to him.

He’d talk about anything. He was a good story teller. He had so many experiences.’’

Mecic said the thing he’ll always remember about Willems is his voice, the whistle he blew, and his stopwatch.

Willems taught all his wrestlers life lessons.

“He always said to us: ‘You always need to have a sense of urgency and burn things into your mind. Remember things from your past experiences that will fuel you in the future.’ ‘’

Willems was a very selfless man. He’d do almost anything for his athletes.

“He was a very generous man,’’ Petrov said. “I knew him since fourth grade. He always put us first. He’d take us out to dinner and do things with us. He’d ask us if we wanted to go on a trip to Wisconsin and see (three-time Hanover Centra state champion and and 2010 NCAA champion Andrew Howe of Wisconsin) wrestle.’’

Nick Petrov said his friend was a remarkable guy.

“I met John when he was a little boy in fifth grade,’’ he said. “I showed John some moves that summer I had played with. One was called the duck under. He came up to me later and said: ‘Coach, I figured out if I do this, this, and then this, I could then do this....’ He really broke it down better than I could — and that was as a junior high kid. At that time, I was amazed at his mind. He was working with it and teaching it to every one of his teammates to get better....He became a student of the sport immediately John was coaching his whole life.

“We reference John a lot. I need to. I don’t want them to forget him.

He was an important part of their lives, their season, and most of all, an important part of our program and community. He should never be forgotten.’’