By Staff Writer Jennifer Fortman

This week, “The North Star” caught up with NNHS senior Jacob “Shaky” Kruk from the NNHS wrestling team. Last season, he finished 6th place finish in the DuPage Valley conference and at the Illinois Freestyle.

Q: What’s the best thing about your sport?

A: The best part of wrestling is getting your hand raised at the end of a match. There’s no feeling in the world like it.

Q: What’s the worst thing about your sport?

A: It’s definitely maintaining and making weight. It adds another plate of challenges to the sport so if I have a Friday meet I have to be aware of what I eat and drink that night because I’ll have to make weight the next day.

Q: How far do you want to go with your sport?

A: I’m not that interested in wrestling in college because it’s a whole level better and requires a ton of commitment, but I don’t want to quit after high school. Ideally, a semi-competitive intramural team would be good for me, but we’ll see how I feel at the end of the season.

Q: How have you evolved as an athlete over the years?

A: Over the years, I’ve definitely become stronger and more athletic. I’m a different athlete than the kid that walked into the wrestling room freshman year.

Q: What coaches and/or mentors have inspired you over the years?

A: Every coach I’ve had has impacted me in some way. I’ve had some crazy ones and some sane ones, but, in the end, they all helped me become the wrestler I am today.