Justin Wardlow has had a career full of success at Lockport. He’s also had more than his fair share of heartbreak.

As a freshman, Wardlow advanced to the state championship match but was injured in the semifinal and could not compete. The last two seasons, he’s lost in the finals. The three-time state runner-up actually faced the same result four years in a row, also placing second in eighth grade.

Wardlow, a senior 150-pounder, is hoping that not stressing about the final result will lead to a different outcome this season.

“I was talking to my college coach and my club coach about a new journey of Justin Wardlow,” he said. “I want to constantly have fun, wrestle fearlessly and go score as many points as possible.

“If that includes me winning state, that’s going to come. That’s always the goal, but I don’t want to put all my emphasis on it.”

Wardlow, an Arizona State recruit, has a chance to join his Lockport coach, Jameson Oster, as the only Porters to win four state medals in the history of the boys wrestling program. Senior Claudia Heeney has the opportunity to do the same thing on the girls side this season at Lockport.

Senior Justin Wardlow, a three-time state runner-up, poses in front of the wall honoring past Lockport greats before a practice at Lockport on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (Steve Millar / Daily Southtown)

Wardlow is constantly setting a lofty standard for the rest of the Porters, according to fellow senior Anthony Sutton.

“It’s motivating being friends with him,” Sutton said. “He pushes you on and off the mat. He’s an inspiration to everyone in the room and he makes all of us work harder.”

Last season, Wardlow went 45-4 and rolled into the state championship match in dominating fashion. In the finals, though, he was upset 1-0 by Joliet West’s Carson Weber, who Wardlow had beaten twice earlier in the postseason.

Oster confirmed that Wardlow took the loss in stride, not letting the heartbreak overwhelm him.

Lockport’s Justin Wardlow, front, escapes from Marmion’s Zach Stewart in the 138-pound final pound of the Class 3A state meet at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

“He’s always been a mature kid,” Oster said. “He usually deals with losses well. He’s pretty analytical when it comes to wrestling. He’s always going back and watching film and breaking down what he could have done better.”

Wardlow and his coaches have seen him struggle to kick into full gear in championship matches, perhaps tensing up in the big moment.

“We’re focusing not as much on technical changes but mental tactics,” Oster said. “He had beaten the kid he lost to last year multiple times, so I don’t think it was a matter of skill.

“I don’t know if he put too much pressure on himself or what, but he’s got to go out there and act like it’s any other match. That’s the game plan.”

Lockport’s Justin Wardlow, left, wrestles against Andrew’s Trevor Silzer during the Class 3A Lockport Regional on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. (Steve Johnson / Daily Southtown

Wardlow is embracing that mindset. With his college plans secured and a lengthy resume of high school accomplishments in hand, Wardlow now has the belief that one match won’t define him.

“I’m always hungry to constantly improve and get better,” he said. “This year, more importantly, I’m not putting all that stress on myself and all the focus on winning or losing, especially at state.

“It’s all about getting better and having fun. I don’t want to focus too much on the outcome.”

Next year, Wardlow will live out a dream by competing for a major Division I program.

“I can’t wait to wrestle in college and get my degree,” Wardlow said. “It’s like the night before Christmas. You just keep building up to that time when you’re going to do down there and it’s going to be a blast.”

First, there’s one more chance for him to end a high school season with tears of joy rather than heartbreak.

“For me to win state this year, it would mean a lot,” Wardlow said. “It would be a nice little checked box going out of high school. That’d be awesome.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/21/justin-wardlow-lockport-ihsa-boys-wrestling-arizona-state/