The seeds of success Luke Skokna has enjoyed on the football field so far this season were planted last year during the wrestling season.
Skokna, a sophomore running back from Hinsdale, played football only the freshman level last year, but the Red Devils coaches were impressed by his skills as a wrestler.
“He was a varsity wrestler last year and had a lot of success there,” Hinsdale Central football coach Dan Hartman said. “We saw the toughness that he displayed in the wrestling room. We figured we should give him a look in the summer, and it has been really good.”
Skokna did not waste any time displaying his skills in a 26-7 road victory over Downers Grove South (0-2) on Friday, Sept. 2. He returned the opening kickoff 68 yards deep into Mustangs territory, then carried twice to put the Red Devils (2-0) in front on a 6-yard run.
“Our coaches and our team, we have been putting that (kickoff return) together for a while,” Skokna said. “Everyone kind of hit their blocks, and it definitely sets you up offensively, too.”
Skokna wrestled at 145 pounds last season and reached the Class 3A sectional quarterfinals. His experience on the mat has helped him as a running back.
“Especially wrestling at the weight class of 145 pounds, you are used to wrestling bigger kids,” Skokna said. “So it helps with breaking tackles.”
He has also found that there are plenty of similarities between the two sports: “the discipline, the hard work and all the balance — I just love it,” he said.
Skokna added he thought wrestling was the more difficult sport, in terms of preparation.
“Wrestling, you just cannot move at the end of practice,” Skokna said.
Against Downers Grove South, Skokna finished with 126 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns. He had eight runs of more than 8 yards and was also able to pound the ball between the tackles late in the game when the Red Devils were grinding out the clock.
“That is actually what we were worried about,” Hartman said. “We did not know if he would be able to pound it, but he is able to do it.”
Red Devils center Tommy Kavanagh, from Hinsdale, has not been surprised by Skokna’s smooth transition to playing at the varsity level.
“He is a fantastic athlete,” Kavanagh said. “He is a wrestler, so that makes him tough. The kid is an animal, he is full of confidence.
“Just seeing him wrestle and seeing him in practice against seniors, he is not afraid of anybody.”
Skokna shared backfield duties with Eli Blacketor (10 carries, 39 yards) against the Mustangs. After two games, Skokna is averaging 6.3 yards per carry and has scored three touchdowns. He was not surprised to have a breakout game so early in the season.
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“I knew it was possible, with our offensive line they were just making everything work,” Skokna said. “I thought it was a pretty good game for our team.”
Patrick Kelly is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press