CHAMPAIGN — A year ago, Loyola’s Kai Calcutt and Niko Odiotti experienced the same letdown at the individual state meet. Calcutt was the undefeated and nationally ranked defending Class 3A state champion in the 215-pound weight class when he lost in the final. Odiotti, whose older brother Massey won two state titles at Loyola, lost in the final at 106. “I remember coming off the mat, and it was a disappointing emotion,” Odiotti said. “I kind of felt that every time at practice. I wanted to make sure it wouldn’t happen again.” So did Calcutt. “I was so motivated a week after the loss,” he said. “I used the loss as fuel in the early mornings and nights.” On Saturday night, Calcutt and Odiotti completed their climbs to the top at the State Farm Center, and they carried the Ramblers to new heights along the way. Loyola’s Niko Odiotti, right, works to take down Marmion’s Colton Wyller in the Class 3A state championship match in the 106-pound weight class during the state meet at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (Rob Dicker / Pioneer Press) Calcutt, a senior who has committed to North Carolina State, defeated St. Charles East senior Cooper Murray by technical fall in the final at 215 to become the second two-time state champion in program history. About 15 minutes later, Odiotti, a sophomore, beat Marmion junior Colton Wyller in a 10-3 decision to win his first title at 106. This is the first time Loyola has had multiple state champions in one season. Holding the bracket board in his hands, Odiotti (35-2) exhaled as he recalled the past year. “When we both walked away and had second-place medals last year, it didn’t sit right in our mouths,” he said. “So we went right back to work, and all season we’ve been pushing each other and ourselves to ultimately both be state champions. “You could see we worked a lot harder to make sure we both came down and won a state championship.” Calcutt (38-2), who is also a two-time state champion in football, said he had to overcome several injuries, including a strained bicep early in the season and a ruptured bursa sac in his right shoulder before the state meet. “All the hard work, all the late nights and early mornings and blood, sweat and tears, it has really paid off with that victory,” he said. “I’m happy to get this off my chest after the loss at state last year. I had a lot of problems. I had to fight through a lot of injuries.” Loyola's Kai Calcutt does a back flip after defeating Marmion’s Joseph Favia in the Class 3A state championship match in the 215-pound weight class during the state meet at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / Pioneer Press) Loyola assistant Jeff Burdorf, who wrestled at Northern Illinois, said Calcutt also learned a valuable lesson after last season. “He had a very hungry challenger who wasn’t afraid to take it to him,” Burdorf said. “Some guys get a bit more passive with him because they know he can really pour on the offense. This year, he was like, ‘I’m the man, and I’m going to go out there and get it.’” Calcutt showed what he could do when he won his weight class at the national Powerade Tournament in late December. “Powerade gave him the confidence to keep him rolling through the rest of the season,” Burdorf said. “He learned how to deal with heavy hand fighting and people hanging on him. “Sometimes that would slow him down in years past, where they would be hanging on his head and he would have trouble getting his offense going. Now he fights right through that and gets to his offense and starts racking points.” Odiotti credited Massey, a junior at Northwestern, for paving the way for him. “He shows me a lot and tells me not to worry about the outcome and to wrestle hard,” Odiotti said. “It feels amazing to win state, especially since I watched him win it and I felt so happy for him. I know I wanted to have that feeling too. So I got it done.” Loyola’s Niko Odiotti, left, wrestles against Marmion’s Colton Wyller in the Class 3A state championship match in the 106-pound weight class during the state meet at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (Rob Dicker / Pioneer Press) Loyola coach Matt Collum, a former state champion at Neuqua Valley and a member of the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Hall of Fame, said Odiotti is just getting started and could surpass his brother and Calcutt by becoming Loyola’s first three-time state champion. “The difference for Niko was pulling the trigger with his offense,” Collum said. “He’s still not at his full potential. He’s so good, and his skills are at a super high level. He’s just going to keep getting better. I’m looking forward to his future.” So is Odiotti. “I have two more years,” he said. “I want to be a three-timer.” Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter. ...read more read less