North Shore has been a successful wrestling program for years, and that success is partly due to the environment in which head coach Michael Emmert has brought about in the maroon-lined wrestling room. Emmert has been a part of the program since his wrestling days on the mats over twenty years ago. Now, he preaches both mental and physical toughness to his group that has a solid mesh of talent.
Although North Shore High School graduated its all-time winningest high school wrestler in June, Emmert may possibly have one of North Shore’s all-time most skilled wrestlers still on the roster in Antonio George.
George, a senior, is an anomaly at 120 and 126-pounds. Last winter, George was measured at 5-foot-9. According to Emmert, though, he has hit a growth spurt that has edged him over the six-foot mark with the ability to stay at both the 120 and 126-pound weight classes — and he’s fast, really fast.
The senior has wrestled at a national level throughout the summer months and is a three-time All-County wrestler. With significant hindering injuries, he still placed fourth last year at the county meet, but Emmert thinks George hasn’t even realized where his full potential lies yet.
“He told me he had butterflies at a meet,” Emmert said. “I told him, ‘you could pin everyone at this tournament from 99 pounds to 160 pounds.’” Emmert added that George is “going to win the county championship” with such calm certainty. Emmert and his assistant coaches believe George has the ability to compete for a state championship before he takes his talents to wrestle at the University of Oklahoma in 2020.