Lincoln-Way West junior Brady Glynn understands how to play his cards right. Glynn has an affinity for board games and also has a knack for playing Texas Hold ’em, a card game of the poker family driven by patience, calculation and risk tolerance. “At the start of a match, you don’t want to go out crazy,” Glynn said. “But once you get into that flow, once you feel that dominance, that’s what I’m looking for — controlling the match. “When I get there, I feel really comfortable.” Glynn got into the comfort zone again Thursday night, using four takedowns for a 12-5 decision over Lockport’s Isaac Zimmerman at 132 pounds to lead the Warriors to a 47-25 win in a SouthWest Suburban Conference dual meet. Lincoln-Way West (16-4, 5-0) captured nine of the 14 matches, powered by five falls and two technical falls. Sophomore Michael Scott (106), senior Carter DiBenedetto (126) and senior Jimmy Talley (215) won by pins. Lincoln-Way West's Brady Glynn, left, gains control against Lockport's Isaac Zimmerman at 132 pounds in a SouthWest Suburban Conference dual meet in Lockport on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown) Freshman Noe Hernandez (113), senior Chris Miller (175) and senior Ethan Robledo (heavyweight) posted victories for the Porters (4-10, 1-4). Glynn (29-5), meanwhile, entered the match ranked No. 6 by the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association website. Zimmerman was ranked No. 8. The two had never formally wrestled in a match, but they have trained together. “I knew Isaac coming into that match — he’s dangerous,” Glynn said. “I knew if I set the pace and got to my shots, I’d be good. If I dictated things on my feet and got my takedowns, I knew the outcome would take care of itself. Lincoln-Way West's Shane Stream, top, spins over Lockport's Justin Godina at 138 pounds during a SouthWest Suburban Conference dual meet in Lockport on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown) “When I slow down, that’s when people can catch up to me. So I try to stay on my attacks, keep the pressure on and get to my shots.” Junior Shane Stream, who’s ranked No. 9 at 138, confirmed that Glynn’s IQ matches his physical talent. “He’s got a really sharp mind,” said Stream, who also won by fall. “When he’s wrestling a good guy, he mentally and physically prepares himself the right way. “You can’t break him. He could be down 13-0 against a really good guy and he’s still fighting. He’s got that warrior mindset. He’s not going to accept defeat.” Lincoln-Way West;s Jimmy Talley, top, pins Lockport's Oliver Knoepfle at 215 pounds during a SouthWest Suburban Conference dual meet in Lockport on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown) Last season, Glynn qualified for state at 113, and wrestling is the family business. He’s the oldest of four kids. His freshman brother, Owen, is DiBenetto’s backup at 126. Glynn’s youngest brother is in seventh grade. His sister is in fourth grade. They are all wrestlers. Their father, Brian, is Lincoln-Way West’s head coach. “I’ve really enjoyed coaching all my kids,” Brian said. “There are moments where I get a little extra excited, but I try to keep my coach’s face on. Our assistant coaches do a phenomenal job handling situations where it might be better coming from someone who isn’t their dad.” “(Brady) has always been a gamer. When he’s put in big situations, he tends to overperform. He doesn’t get nervous. Sometimes, I wish he’d get a little more excited, but that’s his personality and it has worked.” Lincoln-Way West's Brady Glynn, left, tries to turn Lockport's Isaac Zimmerman at 132 pounds in a SouthWest Suburban Conference dual meet in Lockport on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown) Brady pointed out that his father gives him no special preferences and he never feels any added pressure dealing with the expectations. “It’s awesome,” Brady said. “You don’t always get someone who’s there for you all the time and that supportive. He’s always there fixing my stuff, helping me out. “He definitely picks on me a lot, but it’s all good intentions.” What his father describes as cool and aplomb, Brady Glynn calls his competitive makeup and desire. His fondness for games befits his ability to visualize success before it happens. “You can lose a match in two seconds if you take yourself out of position,” he said. “You need an approach for every match, especially against good guys. “I love close matches. That adrenaline, that edge — once you find it, it’s exciting. That’s when you know you’re going to be dominant.” Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. ...read more read less