Sunday, January 26, 2025

Naperville Central Edged out at DVC Conference

11/24/2025

  1. DeKalb 290.5
  2. Naperville (Central) 290.0
  3. Naperville (North) 247.5
  4. Naperville (Neuqua Valley) 104.5
  5. Aurora (Waubonsie Valley) 80.5
  6. Aurora (Metea Valley) 50.0

Naperville Central was edged out of a team DVC Championship by DeKalb by half of one point.  The tournament was held at Naperville Central high school.  Central held a 11.5 point lead heading into the final round, but DeKalb took the team lead within the first four weight classes.  Central made a big comeback in three of the final four weight classes, but fell short.  Naperville Central wrestlers did not leave empty handed as ten of the fourteen entered made the finals and five wrestlers were crown DVC Champion, lead by Jacob Cochran who was named the Al Collins Outstanding Wrestler for the 106-132 pound divisions.

Cochran, now 33-9 advanced to the finals after defeating Gallagher of Metea Valley by fall.  In the finals, Cochran won by major decision over Connor McDonald by a score of 12-4.  Vince Bern followed Cochran’s win with a championship of his own.  Bern, junior 31-5, is now a two time DVC champion after having won as a freshman in 2023.  Bern needed sudden victory overtime to defeat Ayden Shuey of DeKalb in the finals.

Naperville Central brought home individual DVC championships at three of the final four weight classes starting with Henry Rydwelski (38-3, 175).  Rydwelski won both of his matches by technical fall, a 16-1 win over Strange of Neuqua Valley and a 17-1 win in the finals over Mora of DeKalb.  Central’s Paul Peradotti (Jr. 32-4, 190 pounds) became a DVC Champion with wins over Martin of Waubonsie Valley by fall and Brady Valle of Naperville North by technical fall 19-3.  In the final match of the tournament, Will Erbeck improved to 34-1 after winning his blue-ribbon match by fall over Jeremiah Pineira of DeKalb.  Erbeck wins his second DVC title in as many years.

Five additional Redhawks advanced to the finals and finished in second place.  Dalton Meluch is now 27-14 at 106 pounds after his efforts in the tournament.  Meluch won by technical fall over Quinn Karstens of Naperville North in the semifinal round before succumbing to Bradley of DeKalb.  Jack Schwartz, 113 fell just short of a title losing to Adam Beedon of Naperville North 12-8 after a big comeback.  Schwartz is now 25-14.  Jake Moore, 23-14, 120 advanced to the finals after winning by fall over Bandla of Neuqua.  Moore faced Ryan Beedon of Naperville North in the finals as was defeated in sudden victory overtime by a score of 12-9 to finish runner-up.  At 138 pounds, Stavros Gerousis, 28-16, fell just one point short of a DVC title, losing 4-3 to Ben Messier of Naperville North.  Gerousis won 11-0 over Izaguirre of DeKalb in the semifinals.  Sophomore Nick Olvera made the finals by winning by technical fall over JT Hill of Naperviile North 22-5.  Olvera lost by fall in the finals to Kolkebeck of DeKalb.

Two more Redhawks finished in third place in the DVC’s.  CJ Bierman, 27-10, finished in third place at 150 pounds.  Beirman won his place match over Curtis Burke of Neuqua Valley by major decision 15-3.  At 144 pounds, Austin Schiltz defeated Max Venecia of Naperville North by decision 8-5 in his bronze medal bout.  Yusuf Sikander, 15-15 at 157 pounds finished 2-2 in the tournament in fourth place.  Newcomer Nate Sadowski finished in fourth place at 215.

Next up for the Redhawks varsity team is the IHSA Regional Tournament held at Naperville North High School February 8.  The top three finishers in each weight class will advance to the IHSA Sectionals the following week with a chance to qualify for state.