12/7/2024
The Redhawk
girls wrestling team finished in 7th place out of 25 teams at the Cardinal
Invitational held at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island. The Lady Redhawks
won 24 matches to just 11 losses. All nine girls won at least one match and
seven medaled. The Hawks took seventh with only five wrestlers scoring. All 24
wins were by fall except one (by technical fall).
Senior
standout Annika Hull won all three of her matches to bring home gold at 105
pounds including a come from behind pin in the finals against Halletan of
Marist. Sophomore Dezi Azar earned four pins in route to a championship at 125
pounds. Azar defeated teammate Bianca Arredondo in the finals match by fall.
Arredondo herself made the finals with pins of her own including a second
period fall in the semis over Klobnak of Joliet West. Senior Ellen Purl advanced to the finals
match for the second week in a row and took a silver medal at 125. Purl lost to
Heredia in the place match. Purl’s semifinal opponent was teammate Gracie
Meluch. Meluch battled to a fourth place finish with two wins by fall. Newcomer Alejandra Perez Delgado lost her
first match at 105 but then battled all the way back to a 5th place finish
ending 3-1. Perez Delgado was nominated for newcomer of the tournament. Sophomore Arianna Rico fought to a 6th place finish
and won two matches against two losses.
At 120
pounds, Melva Gallego-Sugar won not only her first ever wrestling victory, but
actually three wins. She finished with a 3-2 record on the day. Brenna Berkowitz defeated Spoljaric of Joliet
West at 135.