2 Ramblers wrestlers make state finals for third straight season

Before 2022, Loyola Academy boys wrestling had only one state placer and no finalists in program history.

But the Ramblers have been on the rise, and on Saturday night, Feb. 22, at State Farm Center in Champaign, they had two Class 3A finalists for the third straight season.

The pride over the program’s ongoing success, though, was tempered by frustration over the results of the title bouts.

Junior 215-pounder Kai Calcutt, seeking his second state title in his third finals appearance, fell 7-5 to Joliet Central’s Charles Walker.

Freshman Nico Odiotti, whose brother Massey (now at Northwestern) won the Ramblers’ first state title two years ago, lost 4-1 to Oak Park-River Forest’s MJ Rundell in the 106 final.

“It’s something about this arena. … I’ve wrestled here quite a few times and the atmosphere kind of gets to you a little bit,” Ramblers coach Matt Collum said. “We, as coaches, have got to do a better job of making sure our guys are ready to go in those finals matches.”

Calcutt, who finished the season with a 37-1 record, and Odiotti (30-3) will use the results as fuel for next year.

“I didn’t outwrestle him,” Calcutt said of Walker, who is the first state champion for a Joliet public school since 1998. “(I’ll) put in a lot more work this offseason, use it as motivation for next season.”

It’s the same scenario Calcutt faced after finishing runnerup in his first preps season. He won the Ramblers’ second state title the following year.

“I did it for freshman year,” he said. “Not anything different, do the same thing, putting in more work. Outwork everyone, should be good for next season.”

Odiotti, who has a history of success at the youth level, was aiming to finish his freshman year atop the awards stand.

“Obviously the goal was to be a state champ all year,” he said. “I didn’t get it done.

“But still a really good tournament, a really good environment. I’m glad I got to experience it.”

Even though it was his first IHSA season, Odiotti had a good idea what to expect from watching his brother.

“I just got used to the environment,” he said. “I feel like the lights are (too) bright for some people. But when I watched a couple times I was able to get a feel of it and realize what it was gonna be like when I was there.”

Still, it’s not quite the same as actually being out on the arena floor before the biggest crowds of the season.

“I think before every match I got a little goosebumps, a little nervous,” Odiotti said. “But I think I wrestled well up until the finals.”

Collum wasn’t surprised to see Odiotti wrestling for a title in his first high-school season.

“He’s a multiple-time Fargo Nationals All-American,” Collum said. “So I knew he had it in him. He came in with a lot of credentials. He works extremely hard. He’s just a great kid.”

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