Joliet Central girls wrestlers start fast, topple Lockport

JOLIET – Getting off to a quick start is usually a good plan, no matter what the sport.

The Joliet Central girls wrestling team did just that Wednesday in a nonconference matchup with Lockport. The Steelmen won five of the first seven matches by pin, then added a forfeit win, a technical fall and another pin to take a commanding 47-12 lead en route to a 47-33 victory.

Central’s Kassandra Ruiz kicked things off in the 100-pound match with a pin of Julia Hernandez in 3:21 before Alisa Carter pinned Sophia Eufracio in 1:57 at 105. The Porters answered with a pin by Averi Colella over Valerie Reiz-Flores in 2:58 at 110 and another by Bella Romando over Shaila Aguirre in 3:10 at 115 to tie things up at 12.

Then the Steelmen took over.

First, Keiley Centeno recorded a pin in 1:31 over Suzana Hosey at 120 before Melissa Aguirre, a senior who is in her first year of wrestling, scored a pin in 2:49 over Miranda Powlay at 125. Next was a pin by April Ortiz over Ava Holzbauer in 55 seconds at 130.

Lockport’s defending state 130-pound champion Claudia Heeney, wrestling this season at 135, was absent due to illness and the Porters forfeited to Isabel Barrera at 135 to put the Steelmen ahead 36-12.

“At practices, we go out very aggressive, just like it’s a real match,” Aguirre said. “The girls I practice against are usually at higher weights, so they are a little stronger than the girls I wrestle in matches.

“I have been strength training a lot and tried other combat sports like boxing and MMA. I think those have influenced me in wrestling. I decided to try wrestling in June, so I have been doing it about seven months. I really enjoy it.”

Central coach Marcus McCullum certainly enjoyed seeing his team get off to the quick start.

“This was a really good match,” McCullum said. “We teach the girls to be aggressive, especially at the lower weights. If you are small, you have to be tenacious on the mat. Those girls are what I call the fire starters. They start things off and it builds from there.

“Lockport is a very good program, and a win like this will give the girls confidence both as a team and individually. We want to be the best team in the area, and this set the tone for that.”

The Steelmen followed the forfeit with a pin by Nadya McCottrel over Emma Alexander in 2:13 at 140, and Jaylin Ingram followed that with a pin of Katherine Martinez in 2:46 at 145.

“All the girls did a good job tonight, but I was really happy to see Jaylin Ingram get her win,” McCullum said. “She always works very hard, so it was great to see her win.”

Lockport rallied at the end, but it was too late. Dakota Obbish scored a pin in 5:01 over Emma Guethle at 155, Heaven Britton picked up a 5-0 decision over Gianna Guerrero at 170, Mayla Vicencio win by pin in 3:15 over Evelyn Perez-Bedolla at 190, and Rebekah Ramirez pinned Valeria Hernandez in 1:50 at heavyweight.

“It was a little rough for us tonight,” Lockport coach Nate Roth said. “We were missing starters at 120, 135 and 190. That’s OK, though. We got some girls some experience that will help them get better.

“We don’t worry too much about our dual record. The important thing for us is that we are wrestling our best at the end of the year.”