Sunday, January 5, 2025

Naperville Central Hosts Girls Tournament – Two Finish First

1/4/2025

Naperville Central Girls added two more golds to their medal cabinet with terrific efforts at the Naperville Central Girls Wrestling Tournament.  No team scores were kept.  Eighteen teams were invited to face each other in the first battle of the new year.  All nine Redhawk wrestlers came away with a place.  The Hawks won 17 matches, 14 by fall and one by technical fall against just 10 losses. 

Earning gold for NCHS was standout Dezi Azar (125) and Arianna Rico (140).  Azar won all three matches including two pins to earn her first place standing.  Azar battled to a 3-1 decision over Cobix of Pontiac in the finals.  Azar is now 19-3 on the season.  Rico finish on top of the podium for the first time in her young career.  Rico won all three matches in a 4-man round-robin including a 10-2 major decision over Cervantes of Kaneland.  Rico is now 16-8 this season.

Seniors Annika Hull (100) and Ellen Purl (120) each reached the finals and finished in second place.  Hull looked dominant in wins of 17-2 (technical fall) and a first period pin before facing highly ranked Katelyn Bell of Montini in the finals.  Hull carries an impressive 16-7 record.  Purl scored two pins enroute to her trip to the finals.  Purl is 17-8 this year.

Bianca Arredondo (125) finished 2-1 on the day and earned a third place finish, including a big win by fall over Lazzara of Addison Trail in the final second of her medal match.  Arredondo is 17-8 this season.  Melva Gallego-Sugar, now 11-8 at 115 pounds, won a huge match for third place at the tournament against Paton of Kaneland.  Alejandra Perez Delgado and Bella Lopez each finished with a 1-2 record, good enough for 4th place.  Both Perez Delgado and Lopez won their matches by fall.  Brenna Berkowitz earned her fifth win of the season with a pin over Soteropoulos of Maine South.  Berkowitz finished in sixth place.