Wrestling: Lake County previews
Lake Zurich
Coach: Dan Strickler (15th season)
Last year's record: fourth in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Mickey Spiwek, Rob Bourke, Dan Magistrelli
Top returning competitors: Sam Wrobel (4th in state at 152), Joe Carfagnini (state qualifier), Andy Lynch (135), Kevin Fanta (125), Mike Tursi (152), Anthony Pace (140), John Brewer (285)
Key newcomers: John Harkness (130, 135), Kevin Schaffer (125, 130)
Outlook: After breaking almost all of their school wrestling records last year, the Bears will be hard-pressed to duplicate their success from 2006-07. But Lake Zurich should still have a great season with two state qualifiers and a solid nucleus back in action.
Carmel
Coach: Joe Scordino (34th season)
Last year's record: second in ESCC
Top graduated seniors: Dan Clinton (4th in state at 285) (Drake), D.J. Fairfield (state qualifier), Bill Battistone (Drake)
Top returning competitors: Ryan Williams (state qualifier at 171), Ryan Unrein (state qualifier), Nick Lavelle (160), Steve Lester (215), Matt Oliva (103, 112), Will Robinson (135), J.P. Hough (119), Shane Siefert (119, 125), Rob Sheehan (160, 171), Sean Ray (285).
Key newcomers: Frankie Swandell (140), Bob Imburgia (119), Josh MacKensie (140) Mike Vrsacis (160, 171).
Outlook: After breaking the school record with four state qualifiers last year, the Corsairs return with high hopes this winter. Two returning state qualifiers and a lot of experienced wrestlers should give Carmel a shot at closing in on perennial state power Marist in the ESCC.
Round Lake
Coach: John Jobst (ninth season)
Last year's record: sixth in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Derrick Pousson (Augustana), Chris Larson, James Huffman, Andrew Kruger, Alex Villa
Top returning competitors: Dillon Pousson (state qualifier at 119), Ray Bryant (state qualifier at 140), Brandon Cartwright (285), Vince Nicoline (215)
Key newcomers: Erick Ramirez (119, 125), Jose Jimenez (103, 112), Adam Barnard (125, 130), Frank Contraras (103, 112), Corey Weber (171), Mark Miejewski (135), Javier Villa (160)
Outlook: After posting a stellar 17-4 record in 2006-07 and placing second in the Prairie Division, the Panthers will have some rebuilding to do, but they should still be very solid with a good nucleus of senior wrestlers returning.
Libertyville
Coach: Dale Eggert (21st season)
Last year's record: third in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Justin Martin, Alex Petraroli, Kyle Oberman, Elliott Isaac, Kevin Fanani
Top returning competitors: Trey Ayala (state qualifier at 135), Louis Mazzetta (112), Kyle Manolovic (125), Logan Miller (171), Tom Nield (285), Uzi Naseer (119), Everett Indart (135), Eric Klein (145), Joey Callen (152), Jake Hogan (215)
Key newcomers: Matt Bystol (103), Shane Michelsen (103) Sam Shay (140) (transfer from Antioch), Jon Isaac (160), Justin Ronne (160)
Outlook: The Wildcats will once again face a lot of tough competition in the conference meet against Grant, Warren, and Lake Zurich, and they should be ready to contend for the Lake Division title in a very close battle reminiscent of last season.
Grant
Coach: Ryan Geist (ninth season)
Last year's record: Elite Eight qualifier, first in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Mike Dace (6th in state at 160), Lucky Ferguson (state qualifier at 145) (Illinois State), Danny Deligio (state qualifier at 103) (Illinois), Sammy Deligio (112), Dominic Deligio (130), Lee Hernandez (189), Jim Pawola (275)
Top returning competitors: Lee Munster (state champ at 119), Izzy Montemayor (state qualifier at 125), Tyler Becker (145), Shelby Temple (130, 135), Joe Loris (160), Josh Deluca (171), Dave Monroy (189, 215)
Key newcomers: Jason Montemayor (119), Chaz Alex (119), Roque Bustos (119, 125), Clay Guenther (140), Alex Mejia (135), Tyler Dempsey (152), Justin Souza (160), Jake Brown (189), Mike Bessette (189), Josh Lewandowski (189), Andrew Zapfel (275)
Outlook: After being eliminated in the Elite Eight quarterfinals by eventual state runner-up Montini, the Bulldogs are once again considered the team to beat in Lake County and the NSC.
Mundelein
Coach: Tom Buenik (fourth season)
Last year's record: 7th in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Dylan Hendrix, Nick Kainraith
Top returning competitors: Eduardo Dominguez (state qualifier at 112), Adam Avalos (189), Steven Avalos (171), Alex Mena (145), Devin Ringwald (152)
Key newcomers: Mike Savage (140), Payton Cruz (103), Tanis Arcos (125)
Outlook: With an experienced group of seniors in the fold for the 2007-08 season, the Mustangs hope to be much more competitive in the always powerful NSC.
Lakes
Coach: Dan Onstad (third season)
Last year's record: ninth in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Tyler Hall, Ben Rehm, Kyle Mueller, Nick Metzel
Top returning competitors: Matt Holmes (125), Philip Cappitelli (140, 145), Damian Brown (152), Grant Franson (112), Mike Divito (215)
Key newcomers: Kyle Gibson (103), Sam Adamek (215), Brett Valin (103), Riley Bryant (130, 135)
Outlook: The Eagles will have a difficult time replacing graduated Tyler Hall at 285, but coach Onstad hopes they can put together as good a season as last year with the growth of many wrestlers over the past year.
Warren
Coach: Mark Tiffany (26th season)
Last year's record: second in NSC, first in Lake Division
Top graduated seniors: Brennan Drew (6th in state at 145 past two seasons), Justin Carlson (6th in state at 171), John Gonzalez (state qualifier at 135), Brian Caselli
Top returning competitors: Jake Dietmeyer (152), Bryce Howard (160), Jim Baruffi (130), T.J. Ruggiero (125), Connor Drew (125), Robby Schultheis (112)
Key newcomers: Justin Santiago (145), Ryan Brown (135), Grant Franklin (140), Damen Curry (119) (transfer from Waukegan), Houston Neals (215)
Outlook: The loss of three state qualifiers to graduation will make things much more difficult for the Blue Devils this season, but coach Tiffany hopes his squad will be in the running for one of the top three places in the NSC by the end of the year.
Wauconda
Coach: Tom Nance (24th season)
Last year's record: fifth in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Nick Swanson (state qualifier at 140) (Merchant Marine Academy), Rob Champion (state qualifier at 215), Scott Hoy, Max Bernard, Tom O'Driscoll
Top returning competitors: Scott Carlson (145, 152), Brett Collier (171, 189), Mike Anselmo (125, 130), Ricky Larson (171), Jeff Costa (119, 125), Mike Brown (112, 119)
Key newcomers: Augustine Morales (145, 152), Zack Hughes (215), J.D. Vanderwiel (285), Cody Smith (285), Spencer Nick (285), Skylar Nick (285), Max Zeldovich (285), Mike Thomas (112), Tommy Tyrell (125, 130), Karl Schroepfer (125, 130), Kyle Mitchell (140), Colin Murphy (145), Taylor Sherman (152), Tyler Glover (160), Brian Vetter (103), Louis Rodarte (103, 112), Tim Alvarado (125), Peter Kootstra (135)
Outlook: After a solid fifth-place showing in the NSC last season, the Bulldogs are expected to face much more of an uphill struggle with a less experienced squad returning.
Stevenson
Coach: Shane Cook (second season)
Last year's record: 10th in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Kevin Lu, Kevin Allibone
Top returning competitors: Bobby Vagun (152), Taras Martyniouk (145), David Lamberti (125), Nick Pagano (130), Nathan Millman (140), Ivan Havrylyan (189), Michael Miriles (112)
Key newcomers: Jordan Sherman (119), Paul Zuradzki (171)
Outlook: After struggling to a 10th-place finish in the NSC last season, the Patriots should show great improvement with numerous experienced wrestlers returning to the starting lineup.
Antioch
Coach: Wilbur Borrero (fourth season)
Last year's record: eighth in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Dugan O'Connor
Top returning competitors: Robby Lyndstrom (130, 135), Bobby Wiatr (145, 152), Donnie Rowden (140, 145), Matt Keller (145, 152), Tom Gerstner (160, 171), Alan Nyre (189, 215), Andy Kloster (285)
Key newcomers: Joey Mysliwiec (171, 189), Mark Ano (215, 285)
Outlook: With many experienced wrestlers back in the fold, the Sequoits hope to turn the corner en route to their first winning season since 1998.
Vernon Hills
Coach: Jerry Miceli (eighth season)
Last year's record: 11th in NSC
Top graduated seniors: none
Top returning competitors: Ryan Michel (171), Bobby Kelly (189), Steve Hwang (285), Nick Capozzoli (112), Joe Brignon (125)
Key newcomers: Rory Klema (215)
Outlook: The Cougars will really miss injured Jihid Abdallah (torn ACL), who won 29 matches as a sophomore. And a lack of depth and experience at the middle weights could prove to be quite a burden this season.
Grayslake Central
Coach: Brent Pitt (second season)
Top graduated seniors: none
Top returning competitors: Ryan Lund (state qualifier at 135), Brian Valdivia (189), Jake Walker (112), Justus Depke (125), Tad Vela (145), Steven DeJesus (189, 215)
Key newcomers: Cassidy Melton (171) (transfer from Buffalo Grove)
Outlook: The Rams will probably have to overcome a lack of overall depth and experience at the varsity level, but they have a standout senior in 2006-07 state qualifier Ryan Lund to provide great leadership.
Grayslake North
Coach: Steve Wood (second season)
Top graduated seniors: none
Top returning competitors: Danny Mendoza (130), Chris Ponchkowski (112), Steve Langer (130), Nick Brillon (145, 152), Ben Johnson (215)
Key newcomers: Cody Speno (119), Cory Bergstrom (103), Sean Bergstrom (119), David Pritchett (125),Reco Cervantes (125, 130), Dominic Cervantes (130, 135), Oleh Mycoleshyn (140, 145), Mack Khonke (160), Tyler Barbacovi (171), Brad Hilgaert (171), Dan Lutz (285)
Outlook: The Knights return everyone from a team that won two dual meets in their first season, and coach Wood is hoping to move up the FVC standings with steady improvement throughout the campaign.