February 16-17, 2023
Junior standout Jake Smetters, 30-20 represented Naperville
Central High School at the IHSA Boys Individual State Wrestling Tournament held
on the campus of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. The competition was held at the State Farm
Center.
Smetters drew highly ranked Drew Surges of St. Charles North in the opening round on Thursday and lost by a score of 0-15. Smetters had two chances on the top position at the beginning of periods 2 and 3, but was unable to hold his opponent down.
Jake Smetters dropped to the first round consolation round
competed on Friday morning against Porter Leith of Dundee-Crown. Leith scored a takedown just as time expired in
the first period to open a 0-2 lead.
Leith picked down to start period and escaped to extend his lead to
0-3. No other points were scored in the
second period, although Smetters nearly escaped at the end of the period. Smetters picked down to start the third
period, but Leith was able to keep Smetters down, scoring a three-point
near-fall toward the end of the final period to finish 0-6.
Jake Smetters’ name will be added to the State-Qualifier
wall.
Next up the Redhawks will face Chicago Mt. Carmel in the
IHSA Dual Sectional held at Marmion High School at 6:00pm on Tuesday, February
21.