Lincoln-Way Central head coach Josh Napier reflected on the previous season, which surpassed expectations as the program secured the inaugural Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA) Girls Dual Team State Championship with an unblemished 19-0 record in duals.
“We didn’t lose a match,” Napier said. “To go undefeated and win the first year they’ve ever had the dual state—being the one and only—is huge.”
According to Napier, the Knights advanced ten wrestlers to sectionals, resulting in four state qualifiers. Among these athletes, Zoe Dempsey achieved third place—marking her third consecutive state tournament appearance and second All-State finish—while Sadie Sparks reached the blood round. Napier emphasized that the team benefited from having a balanced distribution of weights and showed consistent improvement throughout the season. “We knew we’d be solid, but we got better and better as the season went on,” he said.
Napier highlighted accountability as a fundamental aspect of the program’s culture. He mentioned that attendance, discipline, and weight management are non-negotiable standards that athletes are expected to uphold among themselves. “Effort and attitude are everything in wrestling,” he noted. The Knights prioritize conditioning and fundamentals to secure victories in later stages of matches. “The important stuff happens in the details,” Napier remarked. “Nobody was in better condition than us.”
He further commented that many wrestlers present, despite being early in their careers, have embraced this culture and improved as a result.
