CHAMPAIGN — No family in Hinsdale Central history has dominated like the Allen family when it comes to state championship wrestling.
Senior Matt Allen won a state championship of his own Saturday, Feb. 20, to join his older brothers Jack and Brian, who each had their moment at the top step of the awards podium in previous years at the State Farm Center. Matt Allen (45-1) won his Class 3A title match at 285 pounds 3-2 over Lincoln-Way Central senior Bryan Ditchman (45-3), who was ranked No. 3 entering the state meet by Illinois Matmen.
The top-ranked Allen suffered his only loss of the season against future Michigan State football teammate Josh King, who repeated as a state champion with a win at 285 in Class 2A. King, a Hinsdale South senior, defeated Allen to win Palatine’s Berman Classic on Dec. 30.
The impact of the Allen family at Hinsdale Central goes beyond the three Allen brothers. John Allen, the father of Jack, Brian and Matt, played football at Hinsdale Central but did not wrestle. John Allen’s stepbrother, Jim Zajicek, is the assistant wrestling coach at Hinsdale Central and has been in the corner for each of his nephew’s state meet appearances.
“It’s been amazing. My uncle and I work on wrestling every Sunday in the offseason,” Matt Allen said. “I’m really glad it paid off and that I was able to join Jack and Brian as the only state champs in Hinsdale Central history.”
Zajicek (pronounced Zy-chek) graduated from Hinsdale Central in 1988 after playing football and competing in wrestling.
“Matt handled the pressure,” Zajicek said. “I feel proud for him.”
Facing Ditchman for the first time this season, Allen took command with 46 seconds remaining in the third period with a takedown after the two heavyweights traded a point on escapes.
Moments after the win, an IHSA tournament official handed a phone to Allen, who was still on the floor of the State Farm Center. The call came from Allen’s older brother, Jack, who offered his congratulations. Jack Allen, a former offensive lineman at Michigan State, could not travel to the state meet because he was training for the NFL combine.
Though his parents John and Leslie never placed any pressure to win a state championship on Matt, the reminders would be hard to miss in the basement of their Hinsdale home, where poster-sized state tournament brackets are hung on the wall for each of Jack and Brian’s championships. John and Leslie said they have already planned on moving their memorabilia around to make room for a third bracket.
During the state meet, Leslie used a media pass to take photos of Matt’s matches, while John and Brian watched from the stands. Brian often would stand and yell tips to his brother, who likely was too far away to hear them.
Matt said the only pressure placed on him came from himself.
“In my semis match and my quarters match, in the back of my head I almost had pains because of how nervous I was,” Allen said. “In my finals match, my uncle and my coach (Jason Hayes) told me to relax and stick with my offense — and I did. I’m glad it turned out.”
Many, many medals
Hinsdale Central’s three Allen brothers have amassed a lot of Class 3A wrestling medals over the past decade.
Jack Allen
2009: Second place at 215 pounds
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2010: Second place at 285
2011: First place at 285
Brian Allen
2011: Third place at 215
2012: Third place at 285
2013: First place at 285
2014: Second place at 285
Matt Allen
2015: Second place at 285
2016: First place at 285
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