Lincoln-Way East junior Alex Lizak, an innovative freethinker, is not easy to define.
Lizak, who spends a ton of time in the winter as an undefeated wrestler, also plays guitar and goes to Argonne National Library in Lemont to take part in special science projects.
“I think the music keeps me dialed in and also connects me with my team,” Lizak said of his outside interests. “I have a lot of responsibility to carry my team on my shoulders.
“At Lincoln-Way East, we like to say it’s a business trip. We’re not here to play games.”
Lizak, meanwhile, is back on the mat with a vengeance after missing his entire sophomore season from complications of a shoulder injury suffered during the football season.
That dominance continued Saturday as Lizak posted four wins by fall and a decision at 157 pounds in going 5-0 in the Larry Gassen Tournament at Downers Grove South.
As a freshman, Lizak was one match away from qualifying for the individual state meet. He has been hungry to take the next step.
But on the verge of great expectations last season, Lizak had to scale everything back and watch from afar.
“I would have been dominant,” he said. “I was ranked in the top eight at 145 pounds. My shoulder was just bothering me too much and had to get the surgery.”
Lizak is fully healthy after undergoing the procedure on his left shoulder to repair a torn rotator cuff and damaged labrum.
His effort this weekend improved his record to 17-0. He was eager to get back to action.
“I really missed my teammates,” Lizak said. “At Lincoln-Way East, we are all friends and do a lot of stuff together. We have a lot of young guys on our team.
“I feel like showing them what the elite level is like, and they can teach the younger generation when they are older.”
The 5-foot-11 Lizak is angular, exceptionally strong and explosive on his feet.
“Neutral is my best position,” he said. “I think I am pretty dominant on my feet. I like a lot of force moves, not scrambling or frenetic, because I like to stay in control.
“I’d rather let my opponent get away just because I know I can take him down again.”
Lizak wrestles with a furious energy — controlled and passionate, seemingly always keeping the opposition off balance.
“Composure is a huge thing,” he said. “Making sure even if you are tired, you never show it. There’s the famous quotation about how everything else is easy after you’ve wrestled.
“I think that’s what makes you love it — that love-and-hate relationship.”
Lizak’s leadership style is unconventional, reflective of his complex personality, according to senior Domanic Abeja, who went 5-0 Saturday at 150 pounds.
“Off the mat, Alex is one of the funniest guys I’ve ever been around,” Abeja said. “When he’s out there on the mat, he’s all business. He is always working very hard in the room.
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“That drives the rest of us to be very hard working and successful.”
Tyson Zvonar (13-1), a junior who also went undefeated in five matches Saturday at 132, pointed to Lizak’s influence.
“Alex has a great, cool personality,” Zvonar said. “But I think what truly makes him an elite wrestler is just work ethic during practice and his leadership.”
If wrestling is second nature to Lizak, there’s a reason. Everything feels natural, intuitive, even second hand. The moves just flow.
“I have medals from wrestling when I was like 4 years old,” he said. “Wrestling that long, I have a lot of really good technique to bring to the table.
“I have a good academic side, and I think what wrestling has done is give me the mentality that anything is possible.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.