12 NCHS Wrestlers Advance to Sectionals
1st: Naperville Central 214
2nd: Marmion Academy 173.5
3rd: West Aurora 127.5
4th: Naperville North 125.5
5th: Wheaton Warrenville South 85
6th: East Aurora 76
7th: Waubonsie Valley 62
8th: Metea Valley 23
Regional Champions: Tyler Driessens (120), Ryan Silva (152), Angelo
Eklou (220).
Regional Finalists: Tommy Porter (113), Elrin Esporlas (132), Ayden
Lutes (145), Sean King (160), Shane Roth (170)
Regional Bronze Medalists: Ethan Olson (106), Bryce Cooperkawa (138), Tariq
Sikander (182), Carson Enfield (285).
February 9, 2020
Naperville Central won the eight team IHSA Regional Tournament held at
Marmion High School by 40.5 points. It
was the first Regional title for the Redhawks since 2012. Marmion had won the event for the past seven
years in a row. Wrestlers placing in the
top three qualify for the IHSA Individual Sectional Tournament to be held next
weekend (Friday and Saturday) at Hinsdale Central High School. The Redhawks had a school record 12 out of 14
qualify for the Sectionals. Central has
never qualified more than 9 in a given year for at least the past 20
years. This marked the 4th
time in the last 36 years that NCHS has won a Regional. Every entrant for the Hawks won a match and 13
placed.
Naperville Central has qualified for the IHSA Dual Sectional to be held
Tuesday, February 25th against Chicago Mt. Carmel. That make NCHS one of the top 16 teams in the
state of Illinois. The winner of the
dual will compete at the IHSA Dual State Tournament in the state quarterfinals.
Leading the way were Tyler Driessens (120) and Angelo Eklou (220). The pair of seniors started with the number
one seed and did not disappoint.
Driessens pinned all three opponents and Eklou pinned both of his
challengers. Driessens put away Tijerina
of Marmion in just 1 minute 25 seconds in the title match while Eklou needed 1
minute 49 seconds to put Byran of Marmion’s back to the mat. Fellow Senior Ryan Silva earned gold at 152
pounds. Seeded first, Silva pinned his
semifinal opponent before facing Takano of Naperville North in the finals. Silva scored a key takedown in the second
period and rode aggressively to lock down a 5-2 decision.
NCHS advanced eight wrestlers to the finals. Five came away with silver. Sophomore Tommy Porter (113) becomes a
two-time sectional qualifier after pinning DeMari (NN) in the semifinals. Elrin Esporlas dropped to 132 pounds for the
state series and just missed defeating Door (WWS) in the finals. Esporlas scored two falls on his way to the
championship bout. Newcomer Ayden Lutes
(145) showed his grit and determination defeating Newton (NN) in the semifinals
by a score of 7-3. Sean King (160)
proved himself sectional-qualifier material with a hard fought 5-1 semifinal
decision over Dorando of Marmion. Shane
Roth (170) continues to look impressive in his wrestling efforts. Roth scored a major decision by a score of
13-3 in a semifinal win over O’Connor of Marmion.
Often called the “blood round” the third place matches offer excitement
to fans as the winner moves on to the Sectionals. Naperville Central had five individuals
compete in the blood round and won four of them. Freshman Ethan Olson (106) started the Hawks
off with a win over Wyland of West Aurora.
Senior Bryce Cooperkawa (132) locked down his third win by fall in the
tournament, upending Quintana of West Aurora for the place on the podium. Tariq Sikander (182) provided the most
excitement in the tournament as his matches went back and forth all day. Sikander jumped out to a big lead in the
bronze medal match and kept his foot on the gas throughout. He defeated Morales of West Aurora
16-10. Sikander won three out of four
matches. Senior heavyweight Carson
Enfield punched his ticket to sectionals after defeating Abrica of East Aurora in
his blood round match. The match was the
final one contested at the tournament and left fans and teammates smiling.
Junior Ethan Jones was unseeded at 126 pounds but battled his way to
the blood round. Jones defeated Siwicki
of Metea Valley in the consolation semifinals by a score of 2-0. Siwicki had defeated Jones in overtime just
two weeks ago at the DVC tournament.
Jones finished 2-2 having been defeated by the same opponent twice in
the event. Junior Austin Longmire (195)
won his first match against Chavez of East Aurora and finish 1-2 on the day.
The IHSA Sectionals will be contested starting on Friday, February 14th
and continuing to Saturday. There are 12
wrestlers in each weight class from four different regionals. The top four out of the sectionals will
qualify for IHSA State the following weekend.