Sunday, November 27, 2022

Naperville Central Kickoff 2022-2023 Season with Two Wins

NCHS finishes 2-1 in opening home quad.

November 26, 2022

  • Batavia W 50-22
  • York W 37-33
  • LWW L 28-32

The Redhawks kicked off the 2022-23 wrestling season defeating Batavia and Elmhurst York before falling to Lincoln Way West.  Junior standouts Tyler Martin and Niko Besteiro finished the day both 3-0 at 113 and 220 pounds respectively.

NCHS defeated a depleted Batavia team in the opening dual by a score of 50-22. Batavia High School football team advanced to the IHSA state football championship game. Many of Batavia’s wrestlers were unavailable for the dual. Recording wins for the Hawks were Vince Bern, Mitchel Kaszuba, Larry Stubitsch, and Niko Besteiro. Central won four additional matches by forfeit.

Next off Central defeated Elmhurst York in a closely contested dual 37-33.  York jumped out to a 6-0 team score lead after the first two matches, but the Redhawks responded with three wins in a row.  Hagan Taylor recorded a fall at 145 pounds and Chris Bern added a major decision 15-2 at 152 pounds.  John Carens then earned his first pin of the year at 160.  The two teams traded wins from that point forward.  Junior Jacob Smetters locked down a fall at 195 and Besteiro fought to his second win of the night 8-4.

Freshman Jacob Cochran was able to earn his first contested varsity win, a pin at 106.  Ty Martin finished the winning for the Hawks with a pin at 113 pounds early in the third period of his match.

In the final dual, Naperville Central fell to Lincoln Way West 28-32.  Central won six of the fourteen matches.  Hagan Taylor scored his second pin.  Chris Bern battled to a 10-5 decision at 152.  John Carens ended on top with a second period stick.  Niko Besteiro impressed the home crown with his third win on the day, a pin.  Heavyweight Chase Enfield won a high scoring affair by a score of 11-9.  Tyler Martin added his third win, a major decision by a score of 15-3.

The NCHS JV1 team defeated Batavia and York, but also lost to Lincoln Way West.  Central put together a Freshman-Sophomore team and travelled to Plainfield South for the F-S Super Quad and won all four duals, taking first in the event.  They beat Oak Lawn, Plainfield South, Prospect and Joliet West.

History was made when the NCHS Girls Wrestling Team competed for the first time ever.  The team competed at the Inaugural Niles West Girls Invite.  Ellen Purl finished 2-2 and finished in the top eight.  Annika Hull finished 1-2 at the event, her win coming by fall.

Next up the Redhawks will host DVC foe Waubonsie Valley at home on Thursday, December 1 with JV and freshman matches beginning at 5:30 and varsity matches starting around 6:45.  On Saturday, December 3 NCHS will compete at the MegaDuals at the varsity and junior varsity levels while the freshman will wrestle at the freshman tournament at Lyons Township High School

GO REDHAWKS!