2/22/2025
Naperville
Central advanced three wrestlers to the IHSA Individual State Tournament
competed at the State Farm Center on the campus of the University of
Illinois. Central athletes won three
matches against five losses.
Senior
Henry Rydwelski, competing at 175 pounds 3A, become the 26th
wrestler in Naperville high School / Naperville Central High School to become a
state place winner. Naperville High
School started its wrestling program in 1956 and their first state place winner
was William Hoyt in 1962 (3rd at 120 pounds).
Rydwelski
won his opening match against Issac Clauson of Joliet Catholic High School by a
score of 8-1. Rydwelski scored a
single-leg takedown and four-point near-fall in the final 30 seconds of a 1-1
tie. The win put Rydwelski in the
quarterfinals where he faced Connor Diemel of Rockton Hononegah. Diemel scored a 21-5 technical fall over
Rydwelski. The loss placed Rydwelski in
the consolation bracket, round two. In
that match, Rydwelski faced off against Onizt of Glenbrook North. Rydwelski scored three takedowns in the
match, including two in the final period to advance with a 10-3 decision.
The
victory moved Rydwelski to the consolation round three, otherwise known as the
“blood-round” with a chance to become a state place-winner. His opponent was Wittkamp of Fox Lake Grant. Rydwelski scored a takedown off a
shuck-single midway through the first period and gave up an escape for a 3-1
score. In the second period, Rydwelski
choose neutral and battled for the entire period, but no points were
scored. Third period saw Wittkamp score
an escape after Rydwelski was called for stalling to make the score 3-2. Rydwelski was able to fend off several takedown
attempts and hold on for the 3-2 decision.
The win made Rydwelski a state place winner.
In
the consolation semifinals, Rydwelski fell to Luke Zook of Yorkville by a score
of 18-9. Zook jumped out to a 6-1 lead
after one period and a 13-3 lead after two periods. Another takedown by Zook put him in position
to win, but Rydwelski answered with a takedown and two point near-fall with a
chance for a pin. Zook was able to
recover with a reversal for the win.
Henry
Rydwelski faced off with Fabian Ramirez from Elgin in the 5th place
match. Ramirez jumped out to an early
lead with a takedown. Rydwelski forced
two stalling calls against Ramirez, the second earning a point for Rydwelski. An escape made the score 3-2 heading to the
second period. There, Rydwelski tied the
score with another escape, but Ramirez answered with a takedown and four-point
near-fall to take a 10-3 lead. Ramirez
added another takedown in the third period and Rydwelski promptly escaped. He attempted several throws to get back into
the match, but Ramirez fended them off for a 13-4 win. Rydwelski finished 3-3 in state with six
takedowns. Rydwelski concludes his
season with a 46-6 record, leading the team in technical falls with 14 and
second on the team in the takedown category with 95 (Vince Bern 98).
Jacob
Cochran competed at 126 pounds in the 3A tournament and finished 0-2. In match one, Cochran faced Vince Jasinski of
Fox Lake Grant. Cochran gave up a fall
in the first period at the 1:39 mark. In
the first round of consolation, Cochran took on Aye of St. Charles East. Aye scored takedowns in each of the three
periods. Cochran scored two escapes it
the second period. Aye won by a score of
9-2. Cochran, a junior, concludes his
season as a state qualifier with a final record of 38-13.
Will
Erbeck defaulted from the state tournament due to injury earlier in the
week. Erbeck finishes his senior year as
a two-time state qualifier and a record of 38-3 with 27 of those wins coming by
fall, a best for the team.
Next
up the Redhawks will celebrate their season with their annual awards banquet
which will be held at Naperville Central on Wednesday, February 26. The awards banquet will double as a sendoff
as well as Dezi Azar is set to complete in the IHSA Girls Individual State
Tournament on Friday and Saturday, February 28 – March 1.