Lincoln-Way Girls Wrestling Triumphs at Minooka Thanksgiving Throwdown

The Lincoln-Way co-op girls wrestling program marked a significant milestone in its second year by dominating the Minooka Thanksgiving Throwdown on November 22, 2023. The team amassed an impressive total of 282 points, significantly outpacing second-place Aurora East, which finished with 162 points. The success was underscored by the placement of seven wrestlers in six first-place matches, resulting in four champions for Lincoln-Way.

Joshua Napier, the head coach, noted the team’s enthusiasm following a recent junior varsity scramble. “Tuesday’s practice was high energy. They were motivated by their teammates and it showed because they wrestled really well across the board. I’m very proud of them,” he said. The excitement was palpable as the gym filled with energy from the early morning until the final matches concluded shortly after 15:00.

The competition featured a diverse array of talent, but Lincoln-Way’s standout performances were hard to overlook. In the 100-pound finals, Alex Gregorio-Perez of DeKalb faced Lincoln-Way’s Mckenzie Steinke, winning decisively by technical fall with a score of 18-1. In the 105-pound match, Janiah Slaughter of Huntley triumphed over Ruby Bolanos-Carbajal of West Aurora with a fall in 3:04.

The finals continued to showcase remarkable individual performances. Lincoln-Way’s first champion, Zoe Zerial, claimed victory in the 115-pound division by defeating Angela Morales of Minooka in 2:26. The momentum built as Zoe Dempsey followed suit, securing a championship at 120 pounds by overcoming Lydia King of Geneoso in 2:51. “I felt like any position I got into I was able to come out on top of her,” Dempsey commented after her match.

The competitive spirit extended beyond Lincoln-Way. Claudia Heeney of Lockport, a two-time state champion, quickly defeated Veronica Klobnak of Joliet West in just 38 seconds during the 135-pound match. “I just wanted to have a quick pace today,” Heeney explained. Lockport finished third overall with 156 points, while DeKalb rounded out the top five with 149 points, and Minooka followed closely with 144 points.

The tournament also saw notable performances from other schools. Sydnee Allen from Hoffman Estates won the 155-pound title by defeating Savannah Burns of Bolingbrook in 1:14. Despite finishing 14th overall, Morris managed to crown a champion with Layla Spann earning first place in the 190-pound category by defeating Lincoln-Way’s Riley Depolo in 1:44.

The energy in the Minooka gym was infectious, as teams and fans rallied to support their wrestlers throughout the day. As the early stages of the girls wrestling season unfold, Lincoln-Way’s commanding performance at the Minooka Thanksgiving Throwdown sets a compelling tone for what lies ahead. The remarkable achievements of the wrestlers, both individual and team, indicate a promising future for the Lincoln-Way program and girls wrestling in general.