Saturday, March 4, 2023

Naperville Central Celebrates Successful Season

 2/28/2023

The Naperville Central Wrestling Team celebrated its 2022-2023 campaign in style at their annual awards banquet held ant NCHS on Tuesday, February 28.  Seniors Gavin Bohan, Chase Enfield, Duncan Foley, Alexander Kelsey, Charles Kuang, Ethan Olson, and Larry Stubitsch were recognized for their final efforts on the high school wrestling team.

The Rehawks finished 19-9, (4-1 in DVC) and finished 2nd in duals DVC, and 2nd in DVC tournament.  The varsity team won its third IHSA Regional tournament in four years.  NCHS crowned four DuPage Valley Champions at the DVC tournament, which ties a record.  Ty Martin was voted as one of the Outstanding Wrestlers at the tournament by all coaches.  The varsity team qualified ten of fourteen wrestlers to Sectionals and Jake Smetters qualified for IHSA State.  Naperville Central finished ranked 12th by the IWCOA and made the sweet sixteen in the dual tournament.

Seven Redhawks were selected to be on the DVC All Conference team: Tyler Martin, Ethan Olson, Chris Bern, Vince Bern, Gavin Bohan, Jake Smetters, and Nico Besteiro.

As voted on by the NCHS wrestlers and coaches, the team’s Most Valuable award was given to Ethan Olson.  The team’s Hardest Worker award went to Henry Rydwelski and the team’s Most Inspirational award to Hagan Taylor.  Jake Smetters earned the Most Improved Award.  The Freshman Wrestler of the Year was Vince Bern and the JV wrestler of the year was Luke Moen.  Larry Stubitsch was recognized as the wrestling team’s Red and White winner and will have his name on the plaque in the athletic hallway.

The inaugural Naperville Central Girls Wrestling Team was recognized for their outstanding efforts.  Annika Hull, Bianca Arredondo, Ellen Purl, and Ella Sabugal all competed this year.  Hull and Purl both won the Batavia Girls Wrestling Tournament.  Purl finished one match from the blood round at the IHSA Girls Sectional.

The combined underlevel dual record was 35-2.  JV1 finished 1st place in DVC, JV2 finished 1st place in DVC.  The JV1 won the Streamwood Dual Tournament, the Libertyville Tournament, and the Bolingbrook Tournament and were 19-1 in duals all year.  The freshman-sophomore team won the Plainfield South Super Duals and the JV2 team won the NCHS JV2 event.  The Freshman won the Lyons Township and Oswego Tournament and finished undefeated (9-0) in duals.

The Iron Man Award is given to athletes who never miss a practice or competition.  Those winners include Bradley Anderson, Luci Antonietti, CJ Bierman, Jacob Cochran, Sean Fitzgerald, Mitchell Kaszuba, Alexander Kelsey, Charles Kuang, Tyler Martin, Henry Rydwelski, Larry Stubitsch, Hagan Taylor, and Joe Thomas

The coaches recognized the fine work by our NCHS Wrestling managers which include Rhea Thankachen, Alina Fogarty, Chanelle Philips, Ella Smith, Arianna Thigpen, Page Sigsworth, and Preston Probst.

Editor’s note: This newsletter will resume in November to highlight the Naperville Central 2023-2024 season.