On January 31st, 2025, Joliet Central hosted the well known TakeDown Cancer wrestling fundraiser. The Joliet Central Steelmen went against the Joliet West Tigers to raise money for the Addison Lock scholarship and the Takedown Cancer organization that uses the money raised to improve the technology to better detect cancer in the body. More than 150 schools are part of this amazing organization including Joliet Central who’s former wrestling coach and teacher Pat O’Connell was diagnosed with lung cancer and unfortunately passed away in March of 2019. O’Connell’s high school teams have won over 500 dual meets, fifteen IHSA Regional titles, six conference championships, two IHSA Sectional titles and have placed 5th (1981) and 3rd (1982) in the IHSA State Finals. Of O’Connell’s 73 State Qualifiers, 28 have become place winners and 3 as state champions. This shows the dedication of O’Connell towards wrestling and the impact he wanted to have on high school wrestlers. Not only does the TakeDown Cancer organization help people with cancer but it also helps organize amazing events like the one that Joliet Central hosted for Coach O’Connell.
Not only was this event in tribute to Pat O’Connell but also to Julee Caughlen. Julee Caughlen was the wife of former wrestling Coach Gardener Caughlen, and she recently lost her battle to cancer. After the amazing match against the Steelmen and the Tigers, wrestlers from both schools wore special shirts and did a dance that looked like a moving fin to the song “Fins” by Jimmy Buffett in honor to O’Connell’s admiration to Jimmy Buffett. This amazing moment was led by Joliet Central’s teacher and Coach Terry Piazza.