Angelo Eklou is not your prototypical 220-pound wrestler.
“I am not that big,” the 5-foot-9 Eklou said.
But the Naperville Central senior is on a mission in his final season to make his first appearance at the Class 3A state meet in Champaign in February.
Eklou has won 12 of his first 13 matches this season, including nine victories by fall.
Built like a fire hydrant, Eklou uses his equally muscular lower body and upper torso to maximum effect on the mat.
“My overall speed is one of my strengths,” Eklou said. “I am able to move better than most 220s.”
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The Redhawks, the defending DuPage Valley Conference champions, are in the midst of yet another sterling season.
Naperville Central has lost only one dual meet, to DeKalb. They could meet again this weekend as the Redhawks travel to the Flavin Invitational in DeKalb.
“Angelo is probably one of our best athletes,” Naperville Central senior Ryan Silva said. “He is so skillful. People tend to underestimate him because of his size. He packs a punch. He is one of the best wrestlers in our lineup.”
Against elite competition, Eklou knows the intangibles are important.
“We have been working on the small things,” Eklou said. “I have to improve on my stamina. The small things are what can make all the difference.”
Two weeks ago, Eklou had his most impressive performance of the season when he handed South Elgin senior Mike Roath his first loss to win the weight class at the Mickey Marchese Tournament in Hoffman Estates. Naperville Central won the team title.
“I kept trying to score, kept trying to score,” Eklou said. “That’s what worked for me.”
Eklou knows he has nothing to lose as the calendar year changes.
“I am hoping to play football in college,” said Eklou, a defensive end.
Eklou is ranked No. 8 in his weight class in the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association poll.
“I am not too focused on them,” Eklou said of the state rankings. “That sectional is very tough.”
Silva seeks to keep pace: As the lone returning state qualifier for Naperville Central, Tyler Driessens is a known commodity.
But the Redhawks’ Tommy Porter remained undefeated this season with a championship run at 113 at Hoffman Estates.
Driessens continued his unblemished run at 120 moments later at Hoffman Estates.
Silva hopes to join the conversation. He settled for runner-up at 152 at Hoffman Estates.
“I think it’s going pretty good so far,” Silva said. “We are starting to put out the image to the rest of the state where we want to see ourselves.”
Naperville North making strides: Naperville North has been on the wrong side of the contentious transfer issue by losing three talented underclassmen in the past two seasons.
But the Huskies are still making inroads as a program.
Last weekend at Niles West’s 24-team Robert Porter Invitational, Evan DeMari at 113 and Caleb Yu at 170 were runners-up to lead Naperville North to a seventh-place finish with 303.5 points. Cosmo Champion at 132 and Dane Tsao at 195 each placed fourth.
Kevin McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.