1/11/2025
In school history, Naperville Central had not competed in a
scored dual until they travelled to Oswego for a three duals. NCHS has eleven girls on the roster covering
eight of the fourteen weight classes, so winning a dual is a tall order. Central defeated St. Charles East in dual
number one for the school’s first ever win by a girls team. The Lady Redhawks were defeated in the other
two duals against host Oswego and Joliet West, mainly due to their forfeits. In all, the team won 19 matches against 7 losses,
with all 19 wins by fall.
The historic win had a 155 starting weight class. St. Charles East took forfeit wins at 155, and 170 to take a 12-0 team score lead. Weight classes 190 and 235 were double forfeited. Annika Hull started off the scoring with a first period fall over Espinoza at 100 pounds. Sophomore Alejandra Perez Delgado came from behind and posted a second period pin over Dunham. That tied the team score at 12. After a double forfeit at 110 and a victory by Saints 115 pounder Stieb over Gallego-Sugar, St. Charles East regained the team score lead. That is when Naperville Central ran off three consecutive first period falls. Gracie Meluch scored on a headlock for her fall at 120. Ellen Purl solved Rivas at 125 pounds. Azar needed 31 seconds at 130 to top Santelli. When the three wins were completed, the damage was done. Central lead 30-17. Central’s Berkowitz and Rico were both defeated at 135 and 140 respectively, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit. After a double forfeit at 145, the Redhawks got the green light to start celebrating with a 30-29 win.
Central Girls were
unable to win their next two duals due to their small team, but performed very
well in both contests. Central lost
40-36 against Oswego but won six of the eight matches. Wins were posted by Hull, Perez Delgado, Meluch,
Purl, Azar and Rico.
Verses Joliet West, Central lost 42-36 but the Lady Redhawks won seven matches against one loss. Annika Hull won by fall for her third win of the day at 100 pounds. She improves to 20-8 on the season and leads the team with 32 takedowns. Aleandra Perez Delgado proved that she is somebody after pinning her third girl in a row, the last two wrestling up a weight class at 110 pounds. Perez sits at 11-14 on the season. Gracie Meluch defeated her opponent from Joliet West for her third win at 115 pounds. Meluch is now 17-8. Melva Gallego-Sugar earned a quick mat-slapper in just 19 seconds of her 115 pound match. She finished the day 1-1 and carries a 13-10 record. Ellen Purl, 120 added three more pins. Her record is 21-8 with 20 of those wins coming by fall. She shares the team lead in falls with 125 pounder Dezi Azar. Azar has the most wins on the team after a 3-0 day. She needed only 34 seconds in her West match to improve to 23-3. Bianca Arredondo, 125 battled a bad cold and 130 pounders all day, finishing 1-2 on the trip. She has twice as many wins as losses with a record of 20-10. Senior Brenna Berkowitz ended the day with a second period fall, finishing 1-2. Arianna Rico lost in her final match to West, but still came away with a win on the trip. Her record is 19-11.