Amundsen Wrestlers Hope to Pin a Win at State

With a city champion on their squad, the Amundsen wrestling team is hoping for an impressive showing at the state sectional meet.

On Tuesday, the Vikings will travel to Antioch, where they’ll face the 12^th best team in Illinois.

“I’ve let them know it’s not going to be easy,” head coach Tony Grygorzyk said. “We’re wrestling one of the best teams in the state, we know what we’re up against.

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Amundsen has a winning history so far in the postseason. On Feb. 2, they took the regional title, topping nine other teams from around the city.

In the final round, it was down to Amundsen, Roberto Clemente Community Academy and St. Ignatius College Prep.

John Flores and Emanuel Antunes both beat their opponents, securing the win by a close 20 points. 

“I let the kids know it was really close and in order for us to win, we needed to pin most of the guys,” Grygorzyk said.

Everyone came through, and the win gave Amundsen their first regional title.

And that wasn’t the only first. At the city championship match in January, co-captain Jerry Flores became the first city champion from Amundsen in 15 years. His twin brother, John Flores, placed third at the meet.

“It helps me to show the kids all the hard work they do at practice isn’t pointless,” Grygorzyk said. “The kids realize all the hard work is paying off.”

The humble coach credits his hard-working team for its success late in the season.

“A few kids were first-year guys and they really stepped it up to beat people they lost to early in the year,” he said. 

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Photos: Amundsen Wrestling Earns Double Victory at Home