CHICAGO - We welcome you to the second edition of the UChicago Athletics' summer spotlight series, where we highlight how some of our student-athletes are keeping busy over the summer break! For our second spotlight we have rising senior Gunnar Garriques of wrestling. Garriques is currenlty working at Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Banking in their new Chicago office. 

To learn more about how our student-athletes are spending their summer, we reached out to members of UChicago's athletic community with a brief set of questions. Our aim was to capture a snapshot of their off-season experiences—whether they're interning, traveling, training, or taking time to recharge. We sent the questions via email, asking athletes to share highlights of their summer plans, how they're staying connected to their sport, and any personal goals they're working toward. 

1. Name, Class Year, and Sport:

Gunnar Garriques, Class of 2026, Wrestling 

2. What are you doing this summer? (Internship, research, training, etc.)

I am working with Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Banking in their industrials branch. This starts with a week of full-time training in financial modeling, company valuation, and best practices. The rest of the internship involves industry research, information gathering on specific target companies, helping fast-track the creation of presentations, and an intern project involving all of the skills we learned so far, pitching a merger between two companies we believe to have synergy. 

3. Where are you doing it, and what's your role/project?

I am working in Chicago, at Cantor's new office. The other interns and I work as extensions of the full-time analysts and associates, gathering information and helping to adjust the information decks for client presentations. We are each staffed on a few live deals and get really useful experience listening to the more senior bankers and the client's C-suite communicate. 

4. What's been the most exciting or rewarding part of the experience so far?

The most rewarding part of the experience so far is seeing work that you created be sent out to clients, as well as learning more about my coworkers's career paths. It is a really special feeling to finally send out something you have been working on with your coworkers and to see it function as intended. This makes me feel like a useful part of the Cantor team even as a summer intern, a unique experience. As for the second point, Cantor's industrial team is relatively new, so all of my coworkers have had extensive career runs prior to working here. Talking to them about their experiences is very interesting and a useful tool for understanding what I want my own career to look like. 

5. How has your experience as a UChicago student-athlete helped you this summer?

Being an athlete, specifically a wrestler, has given me a powerful edge this summer so far. I find that athletes know how to put their nose to the grindstone and do what needs to be done regardless of the time or place, which is something investment banking is notorious for. As for wrestling, many of my coworkers are former wrestlers, as well as many of the professionals I meet at networking events. It gives me a great base for relating to others and allows for connections to be made quicker. 

6. How are you staying connected to your sport or preparing for next season?

I will admit it is quite hard to stay connected to wrestling given my work schedule, but I manage to lift with UChicago wrestlers 3-4 days a week. On the weekends, I hit the mat at Chicago MMA, a jujitsu and MMA gym on the north side of the city. This allows my grappling to stay fresh and for me to stay in shape over my internship period. As well as this, I keep my cardio up by biking to work every day. I have to get in what I can!

7. What's one fun or memorable thing you've done this summer outside of work/training?

One fun thing I did this summer was my 4th of July weekend. I took some of my international UChicago friends to my home in Lake Forest and showed them an American 4th of July, with a parade, fireworks, and countless burgers and hot dogs. The next day, we went to NASCAR Chicago, which was an incredible time. 

8. What are you most looking forward to this coming school year?

I am most looking forward to being back experiencing the energy of the wrestling room. Coach Gentry and team captain Sean Conway have built an incredible team dynamic, which energizes every athlete on the mat. I look forward to taking this momentum and crushing my final season of wrestling with an amazing team next to me. Go Maroons!


 Keep an eye out for our next Summer Spotlight series!