Ethan Olson (Jr. 126 27=9, 0-2)
Ayden Lutes (Sr. 152 24-4, 2-2)
2/18-20/2022
Naperville Central qualified Ethan Olson and Ayden Lutes for
the IHSA Individual State Wrestling Tournament had at the State Farm Center on
the campus of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Ayden Lutes finished with a record of 2-2 at
152 pounds and Ethan Olson lost both of his matches.
Ayden Lutes opened with a decisive 7-3 decision over Connor Munn of Mt. Prospect. Lutes scored the first takedown in the first period and earned an escape in the second period to take a 3-1 lead going into the third frame. There, Lutes added two more takedowns to secure the 7-3 victory. In the quarterfinals, Lutes was nearly defeated by Logan Swaw of Lockport. Lutes again earned the first takedown, but gave up an escape to lead 2-1 after the first. But Swaw answered in the second period with an escape and takedown to go up 4-2. Lutes started in the down position in the third period, but was unable to score. In the second round wrestle-back match, Ayden Lutes rebounded with a 6-4 decision over Luke Zook of Yorkville. For the third match in a row, Lutes scored the first takedown. In period two, Zook added his second escape to tie the score at 2-2, but Lutes was able to earn a second takedown. After a Zook escape, Lutes led 4-3 going into the third period. A Lutes reversal was enough to lock down the win, finishing at 6-4. That win advanced Lutes to the “blood round,” the win-or-go-home match for a place on the podium. For the second time in the postseason, Lutes faced off with Collin Carrigan of Marmion. This time it was Carrigan gaining the first takedown late in the first period. A two point near-fall after a roll through attempt put Carrigan ahead 4-2. Carrigan added an escape and takedown in the second period for a commanding 7-0 lead going into the third. Lutes was able to earn his seventh takedown of the tournament there, but it wasn’t enough, Carrigan advanced with an 8-2 win. The loss put Lutes unofficially in the top 8 of state and he completes his season with a record of 24-4.
Ethan Olson competed in two matches at state.
Both wrestlers will be recognized for qualifying for state
by having their names added to the Wall of Fame, and both for the second time.
Naperville Central will recognize all of wrestlers at the
annual awards banquet coming up on Tuesday, February 22 at 6:30 at NCHS. This publication will outline winners of Most
Valuable, Most Improved, Most Inspirational, Hardest Worker, Iron Man, JV and
Freshmen Wrestlers of the Year and Red-White Award. It will be the final newsletter for the
season.