Naperville Central doesn't stumble against Naperville North

Jackson Punzel, Cameron Palmer and Ben Cianchietti all wrestled up a slot from their customary weights Thursday night in a DuPage Valley Conference dual meet against city and league rival Naperville North.

But the Naperville Central triumvirate passed with flying colors.

Punzel, Palmer and Cianchietti - with the Redhawks clinging to a 1-point lead - had falls in succession between 170 and 195 pounds to power a 46-21 victory at Naperville North.

Class 3A state-ranked Naperville Central improved to 15-2 on the season while remaining undefeated (5-0) in league matches.

"I think we're happy but always hungry for more," said Punzel, who gave Naperville Central a 25-18 lead at 170 pounds with his first-period pin. "We wrestled well as a team. (The final) ended up good."

Palmer gave Naperville Central a 13-point lead moments later at 182 pounds.

"(Punzel) is one of my best friends," Palmer said. "(His pin) really hyped me up."

Both Palmer and Cianchietti were losing in the second period when they reversed the results with dramatic pins.

"(My opponent) was in a bad position, and so was I," Palmer said. "I got him to his back."

Cianchietti needed less than a minute of the second period to end his match.

"It really helped relieve me when (Punzel and Palmer) got the pins," said Cianchietti, whose fall made it mathematically impossible for Naperville North (13-9, 3-2) to win. "I felt like I could go out there, wrestle well and not worry if I won or lost."

"We were winning at both 82 and 95," Naperville North coach Tom Champion said. "That's an 18-point swing. Naperville Central showed their true colors in that their kids were more aggressive in every position."

The Redhawks ended the match on a 27-3 run as Christian Nussbaum had a decision at 220 pounds and 106-pounder Kyle Guttosch concluded the night with another Naperville Central pin.

The draw could not have come any better for Naperville North as Lucas Van Poucke and Ben Kruk staked the squad to a quick 9-0 lead with easy triumphs at 113 and 120 pounds.

But the Redhawks' Joe Lopez and Nick Keating had back-to-back technical falls to give Naperville Central a 10-9 lead.

Quinn McKenna gave Naperville North its final lead with a simple decision at 138 pounds, but Naperville Central returning state qualifier Jake Keeting had the first of the Redhawks' five falls.

The Redhawks never trailed again after Derek McDaniel captured a spirited and emotional win over the Huskies' Teddy Detjan.

Gabe Matar had a fall for Naperville North to set the stage for the three consecutive Naperville Central pins that fundamentally altered the match.

"Aggressive wins," Champion said.