OLCHS Wrestlers Finish Season Strong, Send Alternate To Finals

OAK LAWN, IL — Competing in one of the most difficult wrestling sectionals in the country at the Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional meet Feb. 11 and Feb. 12. Oak Lawn Community High School faced a difficult task in trying to advance wrestlers to the Illinois High School Association state finals. Even though the Spartans only managed one alternate wrestler for the state finals, it was one of the strongest performances in years.

Wrestling at 170 pounds, junior Hani Odeh lost in the blood-round match, but he earned a spot as an alternate for the state finals. He was headed to the state meet Feb. 17 for weigh-ins just in case a spot opens up. Eduardo Nunez also lost in the blood round and finished the day with three wins and two losses.

“We won seven matches in the meet,” head coach Steve Long said. “It was probably our most successful sectional performance in decades. We lost two blood-round matches, so we did not have any state qualifiers this year.”

Other Oak Lawn wrestlers were senior Evan Zambrano, who went 2-2 on the day, and Rakan Eid, who went 1-2. Hunter Gray and Ammar Elayyan both went 0-2 in competition.

~ Contributed by Brian Frangella, OCLHS Staff Writer