Joliet, IL – Joliet West and Joliet Central raised $1,321 for cancer research during their annual Takedown Cancer wrestling event held Jan. 15.
The fundraiser took place during a boys wrestling conference dual hosted by Joliet West, turning a longstanding rivalry into a community-driven effort supporting the Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund.
The event honors the memory of former Joliet East and Joliet Central wrestling coach Pat O’Connell, who died of lung cancer in 2019. O’Connell was a standout wrestler at Joliet East in the early 1970s before coaching at both Joliet East and Joliet Central.
He served as an assistant coach on Joliet Central’s 1985 state championship team and later became the Steelmen head coach in 2010, helping shape generations of local wrestlers.
Joliet Central and Joliet West have partnered for several years to host Takedown Cancer, bringing together athletes, coaches and fans to raise funds and awareness for cancer research. Organizers said the event reflects the strong wrestling tradition in Joliet while supporting a broader cause beyond the mat.
The annual dual also offers students an opportunity to connect competition with community service, reinforcing the sport’s role in local civic life.
More information about the initiative is available at takedowncancer.org.
