Max Mandac took some lumps last season as a freshman in the varsity lineup for Providence.

But Mandac used those setbacks as motivation, taking some new knowledge away from each defeat.

“You have take the losses as lessons,” Mandac said. “You have to get better from them. You can’t take them too much to the head and get down on yourself or think you’re going to lose the next one.

“You have to say, ‘I need to get better at this position or get better at doing that.’ That’s what I did.”

That mentality has certainly paid off for Mandac. After finishing just 16-22 last season, the sophomore has ascended to No. 1 in the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association’s state rankings for Class 2A at 126 pounds.

Mandac is helping the Celtics soar to state as a team, too. His pin Thursday night was part of a dominant performance for Providence, which rolled to a 63-14 win over the host Mustangs at the Class 2A Evergreen Park Dual Team Sectional.

Providence’s Max Mandac, left, looks for a move against Evergreen Park’s Jayden Cervantes in the 126-pound bout of the Class 2A Evergreen Park Dual Team Sectional on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

The second-ranked Celtics (11-7), headed to team state for the first time since 2017-18, will take on No. 18 Marian Central Catholic (9-7) in a 5 p.m. quarterfinal on Feb. 27 at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington. Marian Central upset No. 4 downstate Washington 37-33.

“It feels great to be going to state as a team,” Mandac said. “I’m part of this great dynasty of Providence wrestling, and I want to build it back up and start off a new one and win more state titles as a team.”

Cole Lemberg (106), Christian Corcoran (113), Luke Banas (144), Justus Heeg (157), Jasper Harper (165), Ameer Khalil (175) and Brayden McKay (190) led Providence with wins by pin.

Damian Perez (120), Landon Robinson-Gwin (215) and Willie Johnson (285) posted wins for Evergreen Park (10-10).

Providence’s Max Mandac, left, tries to take down Evergreen Park’s Jayden Cervantes in the 126-pound bout of the Class 2A Evergreen Park Dual Team Sectional on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

Mandac (32-14), meanwhile, made some noise by coming through with a third-period pin against Jayden Cervantes (35-9) in a battle of regional champions.

“My pace and my top game have gotten so much better,” Mandac said. “I just feel so dominant when I’m in that position now. I know I can finish off those pins.”

Providence coach Donny Reynolds has seen Mandac knocking on the door since his high school career began. Now, he’s breaking through.

“He’s been so close for so long and he just hadn’t gotten that statement win to get him over the hump,” Reynolds said. “He’s finally started to get some wins against all-state type guys and it kind of opened the door and showed him, ‘I belong with these guys.’

Providence’s Max Mandac, right, wraps up Evergreen Park’s Jayden Cervantes in the 126-pound bout of the Class 2A Evergreen Park Dual Team Sectional on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

“He’s competing at a high level right now. He’s confident and he’s ready to go.”

Mandac’s recent success includes wins over the wrestlers ranked Nos. 2 and 3 at 126 in IC Catholic’s Sam Murante and Lemont’s Cory Zator.

He beat Zator 6-1 in the championship match at the Ag Science Regional.

Corcoran also sees Mandac’s confidence growing.

“Max has definitely improved a lot,” Corcoran said. “He had a losing record last year and now he’s looking like a high favorite at state. It’s all the work he put in over the offseason and preseason.

“It’s really showing out on the mat.”

Providence’s Max Mandac completes a pin of Evergreen Park’s Jayden Cervantes in the 126-pound bout of the Class 2A Evergreen Park Dual Team Sectional on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

Corcoran, Mandac and Heeg are all sophomores who are ranked No. 1. They and junior Tommy Banas — ranked No. 1 at 138 — have led a resurgence for a program that has won eight state titles but faced some lean years in the last decade.

And Mandac is thrilled to be a part of two turnarounds — the team’s and his own.

“I put the time and effort in at practice every single day throughout the summer and the fall,” he said. “My teammates and coaches were there pushing me to go my hardest.

“Now, I’m No. 1 in the state and it feels great.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/max-mandac-providence-evergreen-park-wrestling/