Lincoln-Way Wrestling Club Wins First State Title In Its History

NEW LENOX, IL — The Lincoln-Way Wrestling Club has been around since 1993. In that time, they've had a lot of young wrestlers come through their program, move on to the Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 programs, become collegiate athletes and even come back to LWWC to become coaches and carry on the tradition.

But there was one thing, however, that LWWC had never done in nearly 30 years: win a state championship. That all changed Jan. 29 when the club took home its first Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation Dual Meet State Championship at Shepard High School in Palos Heights.

Thirty LWWC members between the ages of 12 and 14 in 13 weight classes competed in the IKWF championship, regarded as the grandaddy of Illinois youth wrestling. Those wresters were: Nolan Glynn (75), Christian Corcoran (75), Charlie Strezo (80), Shane Stream (80), Brady Glynn (80), Max Munn (85), Nadeem Haleem (85), Leyton Bartley (90), Max Mandac (90), Aiden Arnett (95), Ethan Sonne (95), Henry Finley (102), Jadon Zimmer (102), Tyler Lachenberg (110), Kaidreaus Richardson (110), Jalen Byrd (117), Brody Gish (125), Colton Zvonar (125), Christopher Miller (125), Evan Gutierrez (140), Thomas Leyden (140), Aiden Hennings (140), James Talley Jr (150), Justin Cobbs Jr (160), Noah Cohen (160), Bela Jackson (195), Gage LaDere (195).

The competition was tough at the IKWF championship, with 12 teams from across Illinois all vying for the top spot.

LWWC earned a first-round bye thanks to a dominating first-place performance in the sectionals the previous week over Force Elite Wrestling out of Plainfield. That left only Edwardsville Wrestling Club, Vandalia Jr. Wrestling Club and, finally, Team 1006 Wrestling.

LWWC head coach Jeff Harvey said he knew this year's club would be something special after many of the same members helped win the 10U Didi Team Duals in 2019.

"So we knew it was going to be rough [competition], but we had a really solid core," Harvey said.

The club does get some help during the season from Lincoln-Way D210, where they practice at Lincoln-Way Central and Lincoln-Way West, both in New Lenox, and gets coaching help from Lincoln-Way wrestling coaches Brian Glynn, Tyrone Byrd and Kevin Rockett.

Harvey, along with his brother-in-law and fellow head coach Tommy Lee, have been running LWWC together for the past 10 years. But, Harvey said, the club would not have the level of success as it does without the help from volunteer coaches and, perhaps most importantly, Harvey's wife, Cheryl Harvey.

"Cheryl literally does everything, from registering the kids, to getting our insurance, to making sure all the administrative stuff is done on time," Harvey said. "She really makes it enjoyable for the families and the kids on the team. She always makes them feel extra special."

For more information about LWWC, visit the club's Facebook page or website.