Marmion’s Preston Morrison moves to his own self-generated beat.

The 113-pound junior wrestler admittedly uses an unorthodox style on the mat, and especially when it works for win after win after win, it’s something that’s akin to a certain genre of music

“I’m a really funky wrestler,” Morrison said. “By that I mean I get in a really weird position, like somebody can get me in a cradle, and I can still score out of that. I’m a really good single guy.

“Or I can make the knee pull — part of the natural movements I make out there.”

It worked again Saturday for Morrison, who notched a 12-3 major decision over Providence’s Christian Corcoran in a Catholic League Meet championship match in Chicago.

Marmion captured the team title with 294 points, producing a meet-best eight finalists and six individual champions, including the standout performance by Morrison.

“I love putting the tempo out there right at the beginning of the match,” Morrison said of beating Corcoran. “I was able to turn him a bunch of times, almost get him on his back.”

Seniors Nicholas Garcia (132), Ashton Hobson (150) and Joey Favia (heavyweight) also won title matches along with senior Zach Stewart (138), a state champion and two-time state finalist.

Morrison, meanwhile, set the tempo.

“Preston has been working hard in the room, not only during practice but afterward,” Stewart said. “We rotate people, and he has all of these good guys around him he can use to get better.

“He has great grit and determination.”

Demetrios Carrera, a senior who also won at 144, admires Morrison’s fearlessness.

“He’s just a scrapper,” Carrera said of Morrison. “Any time he has a tough kid against him, you know it’s going to be a battle. He’s been beating nationally rated guys.

“Even if they’re rated higher, he is going to go out and battle for those six minutes.”

Morrison (29-6) is ranked No. 3 by the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association website. His only loss to an Illinois wrestler is two-time defending state champion Caleb Noble of Warren.

Wrestlers like Garcia and Stewart have achieved what Morrison has set his sights on, but  Morrison isn’t a star gazer. He’s an accomplished teammate in his own terms.

Last season as a sophomore, Morrison finished third at 106.

“They’re huge role models for me,” Morrison said of Garcia and Stewart. “They’re where I want to be. Having them in the room with me, I refer to it as the flow around them.

“Having them work with me or show me moves has definitely helped me.”

Morrison is outgoing and personable. He loves music, reading and hanging out with my friends. Wrestling satisfies a natural need for performance and competition.

At the urging of his father, he became involved with the sport at age 8.

“I love playing football, I was always into it, but I was just always too small,” Morrison said. “I have two younger brothers and they also wrestle. The sport has just kind of transformed my life.”

Last winter, Morrison also played a crucial role as Marmion won the Class 3A dual team state title. The Cadets are a coveted program for national events with elite wrestlers like Garcia and Stewart.

Morrison, however, is more than just along for the ride.

“Winning a conference championship is definitely a big one for me,” he said. “I’m winning by a major or technical fall every time out. I’ve definitely noticed a big leap in my skills since the beginning of the season until now.”

Marmion ends the regular season next weekend at St. Edward with dual meets against three teams from out of state that are nationally ranked. Morrison, for one, is ready.

“My biggest thrill is definitely beating a kid ranked ahead of me,” he said. ”You look at your corner and you see everybody cheering for you. That’s the best feeling.”

Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/18/preston-morrison-marmion-ihsa-catholic-league-wrestling/