Niko Besteiro reaches podium
2/15-17/2024
Four Redhawk boys traveled to the University of Illinois to test their talents against the best that the state of Illinois had to offer. Central’s Nicolas Besteiro, competing at 215 pounds, finished in sixth place making him the twenty-fifth wrestler to place in school history. NCHS’s Hagan Taylor, Chris Bern and Will Erbeck competed at the 144, 157, and 285 pound weight classes respectively.
Besteiro opened the
round of sixteen of his weigh class against the bracket’s overall number-one
seeded Matt Janiak of Plainfield South. The first period Besteiro aggressively moved
Janiak about the mat causing the official to warn him for stalling. Janiak scored a takedown, but Besteiro was
able to escape before the conclusion of the period. Down 2-1, Besteiro picked the bottom position
to start the second period and not only earned an escape, but a penalty point
after Janiak was again called for stalling.
Now up 3-2 heading to period three, Janiak escaped after picking down to
tie the match, but Besteiro again forced the action, earning yet another point
for Janiek stalling. Janiek, now down 4-3,
scored what appeared to be the winning takedown to move up 5-4, but with just 2
seconds left, Besteiro scored a reversal to win in an upset 6-5. The victory advanced Besteiro to the quarterfinals.
In that quarterfinal
round, Nico Besteiro faced Pettit of Geneva with a spot on the state podium on
the line. In the first period, Pettit
threw a headlock, but as the wrestlers landed, Besteiro rolled Pettit across
his body and come out on top in a pinning position. The takedown and three point near-fall put Besteiro
up 5-0. Pettit overcame the pinning
position and earned an escape before the period ended. Period two saw Besteiro earn an escape, but
Pettit scored a takedown to close the score to 6-3. Moving to the third period, Pettit picked
bottom and cut his deficit to just one point after earning a reversal. With the score 6-5, Besteiro was warned for
stalling on the bottom. Pettit
strategically allowed for an escape to Besteiro to attempt a winning takedown,
but Besteiro held Pettit off to win 7-5.
The win advanced Besteiro to the semifinals and assured him a medal at
state.
In the semifinals, Besteiro
just missed a chance at a trip to the finals.
Facing Favia of Marmion Academy, Besteiro was taken down in the first
period. Besteiro earned an escape in the
second period and Favia earned an escape in the third period to make the score
3-1. Besteiro forced a penalty point
against Favia in the third period, but it wasn’t enough as Favia won 3-2. Wrestle-back matches proved challenging for Besteiro
as well, as he pushed both matches within reach of winning to the final
seconds. Besteiro fell to Alvarez of Yorkville
in the consolation semifinals 5-3 and fell to Caraway of Normal Community 3-1 in
the fifth place match.
Naperville Central’s
Will Erbeck lost the opening round match to Mihalopoulos of Huntly by a score
of 4-1. In the first round of the wrestle
backs, Erbeck was challenged by Hutchinson of Chicago Lane Tech. Hutchinson scored the match’s first takedown,
but Erbeck quickly reversed to tie the score 2-2. A late escape by Hutchinson put him back up 3-2
heading to period two. There, Erbeck picked
bottom and tied the score with an escape before taking the lead with a key takedown. Erbeck stayed on top for the remainder of the
period taking a 5-3 lead to the third.
Hutchinson picked neutral, but Erbeck continued to stay aggressive,
scoring a winning takedown and adding a three-point near-fall to advance with a
10-3 win. Erbecks run at state concluded
after losing 3-0 to Schmitt of Joliet West in the second round of the
consolation bracket.
Hagan Taylor lost
in round one to the eventual finalist Evan Gosz of Fremd by a score of
17-2. In Taylor’s wrestle-back match, against
Calen Kirchner of Schaumburg, he (Taylor) overcame a 2-0 deficit in the second
period, scoring a takedown and near-fall points and nearly pinning Kirchner in
a cradle. But Kirchner was able to roll
out with a reversal catching Taylor on his back for a fall. Chris Bern was defeated by fall against both
his opponents, first Peyton Marzen of Geneva then Zander Ealy of Moline. Taylor and Bern will join Erbeck and Besteiro
and the rest of the team for continued competition next week.
The Redhawks turn
their attention to the IHSA Sectional Dual happening against Downers Grove
South who will be also hosting the event.
The match will take place on Tuesday, February 20 with action starting
at 6:00pm. The winning team will advance
to the IHSA Dual State Tournament held at the Gossinger Motors Arena in
Bloomington Illinois on Friday and Saturday, February 23-24. Quarterfinal duals will be Friday either at
5pm or at 7pm.
Also happening simultaneously
at the Gossinger Motors Arena is the IHSA Girls State Tournament were Redhawk
standout Ellen Purl will show off her talents in the 120-pound weight
class. Purl will be wrestling in the
round of 16 with action starting at 9:00am on Friday. Purl is scheduled to wrestle Norah Swaim of
Edwardsville.