Led by title hopefuls Calcutt and Odiotti, local grapplers punch their state tickets

Two Loyola Academy wrestlers are set to avenge their IHSA runnerup finishes a year ago.

Sophomore Niko Odiotti (106 pounds) and senior Kai Calcutt (215) won their sectional brackets in dominating fashion on Saturday, Feb. 14, at Barrington High School, and will be among the favorites to leave Champaign this coming Saturday, Feb. 21, with Class 3A championships.

Calcutt (34-2) is already a Ramblers wrestling great. He is a three-time finalist in the penultimate weight class, winning a state title as a sophomore (2024).

A year ago, as a junior, Calcutt fell in a 7-5 heartbreaker in the state championship. As he aims to get back to the top spot, he holds the No. 1 seed in the 215-pound bracket.

And if Calcutt accomplishes the feat, he’ll be the first Rambler wrestler to win two state titles.

Odiotti (31-2) is carving his own path into Ramblers wrestling greatness.

As a freshman, Odiotti advanced to the state championship bout a year ago, dropping a 4-1 decision to claim second place.

Now a sophomore, Odiotti (31-2) has earned the top seed in his bracket, as he looks to become the third Rambler wrestler to win a state title — Calcutt and Odiotti’s brother, Massey (2023), the other two.

The Ramblers state representation features four other grapplers after their sectional performances.

Sophomore Daniel Myint (third at 120 pounds, 32-12) and seniors Gavin Pardilla (second at 126, 33-8), James Hemmila (third at 150, 25-5) and Danny Malan (third at 157, 25-5) all qualified for the state finals with top-four finishes in Barrington.

New Trier’s Cooper Kemnitz (285) and Matthew Miralles (138) also competed in the sectional tournament.

In Class 2A, Highland Park Giants Alex Gudgeon, a senior, and Daniel Derbedyenyev, a junior, are headed to the state finals.

Gudgeon (23-8) placed third in the 120-pound division, notching a pin in the second period in the third-place bout on Feb. 14 in Antioch.

Derbedyenyev (17-8) placed fourth at 190 pounds.

One local girls wrestler punched her state ticket.

New Trier junior Sunny Aitzemkour (110) recorded a technical fall in her third-place match on Saturday, Feb. 14, at Phillips High School in Chicago.

Aitzemkour (33-5) is now a two-time state qualifier after advancing a year ago in the 100-pound division.

She will look to become the second Trevians state placer. Jillian Giller finished fifth at 140 pounds a year ago.

Trevians Isabella Castro (105 pounds) and Zmorah Izenstark (130) and Giants Lexi Rosenthal (190) and Lexie Hoobler (145) all finished up their seasons in sectional competition.

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