Scouting DuPage Co. wrestling teams

Addison Trail

Coach: Rob Serio (fourth season).

Last year: 12-12 overall, 1-6 in West Suburban Gold duals.

Top wrestlers: George Iliopoulis (jr., 119), James Sokolnik (jr., 112), Veronica Carlson (jr., 135), Juxhin Hoda (sr., 130), Arber Bebo (jr., 189).

Outlook: In its fourth season Serio's program takes another step forward this year. Sectional qualifiers Sokolnik and Iliopoulis each went 28-12 last year, Hoda went 30-9 and last weekend won an Ewoldt Tournament title at 130. Sectional qualifier and fellow Ewoldt title-winner Bebo posted a 26-8 mark at 189 as a sophomore, and Carlson was a women's junior freestyle national champion at Fargo over the summer. "We've got a good group of kids, they listen and they work hard," Serio said.

Downers Grove North

Coach: Chris McGrath (fourth season).

Last year: 10-11 overall, 2-4 (fourth) in West Suburban Silver duals.

Top wrestlers: John Sterr (sr., 103), Joe Sterr (sr., 112/119), Jimmy Nehls (fr. 112/119), Danny Rongaus (sr., 125/130), Joe Foreman (jr., 145/152), Mandela Johnson (sr., 152/160), Joe Bonomo (sr., 189), Ryan Mussatto (jr., 215). Outlook: Four sectional qualifiers in Rongaus (24-13), Foreman (29-4), Mussatto (24-13) and Sterr (27-9) return and Nehls comes in as a two-time IKWF state placer. Johnson and Bonomo were in the 25-win range last year, Foreman was fourth in Greco-Roman at 140 at the Cadet Nationals over the summer and should lead a competitive crew this year. "We should be pretty solid," McGrath said. "We want to be competitive with some of the big dogs this year."

Downers Grove South

Coach: Rick LeBlanc (14th season).

Last year: 11-12 overall in duals, 2-4 (fourth) in West Suburban Gold.

Top wrestlers: Greg Lamorena (sr., 130/135), Hafeez Umer (jr., 160/171), Trevor Wenmouth (jr., 145/152), Alan O'Brien (sr., 140/145) Ben Apland (sr., 215/285).

Outlook: Apland went 43-2 and placed fourth in Illinois at 215 last year, then placed fifth in freestyle at Fargo over the summer. Returning sectional qualifier Wenmouth posted a mark of 30-11, and sectional qualifier O'Brien went 17-16 last season. Umer and Lamorena will also carry a big load this season for a team lacking a full lineup early on. "We're still finding all the pieces, but we'll have some good individuals this year," LeBlanc said.

Driscoll

Coach: Matt TreDenick (third season).

Last year: Third at Suburban Catholic Conference mega-duals.

Top wrestlers: Chris Heading (jr., 103), John Lara (jr., 130), Brett Warren (jr., 140), Clay Cooper (so., 152), Tom Randich (so., 171/189), Anthony Arena (sr., 285), Chris Sarfino (so., 125), Chris Sabala (sr., 152/160), Jake Randich (fr., 171), Zach TreDenick (fr., 135), Mario Verzillo (fr., 215), Vinnie Miceli (sr., 189/215), Ricky DiFrisco (so., 112).

Outlook: Driscoll moves back to Class A this year, and it will do it with a full lineup that's got talent. "I told them that as high as they set their goals, that's how high they can go this year," TreDenick said. Heading went 36-3 last year, while Warren posted 23 wins and Tom Randich won 18 matches. Jake Randich was an IKWF state champ last year, and Cooper and Arena also return to a team with consistent strength from 135 through heavyweight.

Fenton

Coach: Brian Hastings (first season).

Last season: 15-6 overall in duals.

Top wrestlers: Kevin Larsen (sr., 119), Vince Swartz (jr., 130), Josh Castellano (jr., 135), Carlos Gomez (jr., 140), Alex Mroz (sr., 215), Francisco Ochoa (jr., 285).

Outlook: Brian Hastings takes over for new Fenton athletic director Mike Chappell and inherits a crew headlined by Castellano, a state qualifier who went 39-4 last year. Returning sectional qualifier Mroz (33-13 last year) returns, Larsen (20-7) pinned his way to an Ewoldt title to start the year, and Hastings expects good things from Gomez (18-15), Ochoa, and Swartz as he fills his lineup. "We want to get better each week as a team, and we have some individuals that will have some success," Hastings said.

Glenbard East

Coach: Kevin Carlson (10th season).

Last season: 12-8 overall in duals, fifth at DuPage Valley Conference tournament.

Top wrestlers: Joe Alexander (jr., 103), Zack Badsing (sr., 112), Mike Longmire (sr., 135), Mike Kuderna (sr., 145), Jason Callahan (sr., 152), Adam Zeh (jr., 160), Eric Knol (sr., 171), Pat Walker (sr., 215).

Outlook: The fifth-place winner in Illinois at 215 returns in Walker, who went 43-2 last season. Sectional qualifiers Callahan and Badsing won 30 and 23 matches, respectively, last year, Alexander posted 19 wins, and the Rams will count on nine total starting seniors. Walker and Callahan looked dominant in winning titles at the Ewoldt tournament last week. "Experience will lead the way for us this year," Carlson said. "We've got a lot of seniors, and they're motivated."

Glenbard North

Coach: Mark Hahn (21st season).

Last year: 23-3 overall, 7-0 in DuPage Valley Conference duals, first at DVC tournament.

Top wrestlers: Jamie Warczynski (sr., 112), Tony Ramos (jr., 125), Jimmy Chase (jr., 130), Geno Capezio (sr., 135), Danny Monaco (sr., 140), Vince Ramos (sr., 145), Chris Van Gundy (jr., 215).

Outlook: Returning state champion Tony Ramos headlines a Panthers squad featuring five returning state qualifiers. Three-time state place-winner Vince Ramos (36 wins) is back, as are a pair of rock-solid veterans in Capezio (36 wins) and Monaco (41 wins), plus 30-plus match winners in Warczynski and Chase, who hopes to return from injury by season's end. "We have five all-staters coming back, and we've never had that," Hahn said. "So right away, we'll look to be a strong tournament team."

Glenbard South

Coach: Derrick Crenshaw (eighth season).

Top wrestlers: Pat Williams (jr., 119), Mike Peters (jr., 125), Mark Griffin (sr., 145), Ryan McKean (jr., 152), Jake Glocker (sr., 171), Frank Chiodo (sr., 215).

Outlook: The Raiders should be improved this year, led by a sectional qualifier in Griffin who went 32-4 last year at 140 and should be one of the state's top 145-pounders this year. Sectional qualifier Peters went 21-13 last year, Chiodo won 17 matches, and Williams, McKean and Glocker are experienced and looking to improve upon last year's .500 individual records. "This should be one our best teams," Crenshaw said.

Glenbard West

Coach: Nick Posegay (first season).

Last season: 11-10 overall, 2-4 (fifth) in West Suburban Silver.

Top wrestlers: Sam Littlehale (jr., 112), Eric Frischkorn (sr., 119), Adam Jungkuntz (sr., 130), Max Johnson (sr., 135), Paul Stano (sr., 140), Ben Weiskopf (sr., 152), JD McLeary (sr., 160), Roy Novarro (sr., 145), James Wagner (sr., 215).

Outlook: Long-time coach Bernie Botheroyd retired, leaving the team to Posegay, who inherits a team loaded with returnees. He had a stint as interim coach a couple of years ago. Stano went 29-12 last year, and placed second last week at the 12-team Ewoldt tournament. Sectional qualifier Littlehale won 23 matches, Letmanski won 22, and Posegay expects improvement from a more experienced squad. "I think we've got a pretty good set of athletes," Posegay said. Juniors Mike Letmanski (112), Ethan Knowlton (135), Dave Weaver (171) and Mike Dixson (285) will all figure prominently.

Hinsdale Central

Coach: Jim Zajicek (sixth season).

Last year: 15-6 overall in duals, 3-3 (third) in West Suburban Silver.

Top wrestlers: Tim Knowles (jr., 130), Nick Auriemma (jr., 135), Tom Jung (jr., 140), David Lutz (so., 145), Chase Culbertson (sr., 189), Allan Cameron (jr., 215), Pat Clegg (jr., 215), Rob Mains (sr., 285).

Outlook: The graduation of Matt Tolbert and Frank Battaglia hurts, but fewer lineup holes should make for a better dual-meet team this year. Knowles and Mains won 27 matches last year, Culbertson won 23 and Lutz posted 20 wins. A strong core of JV wrestlers will help, Jung had a strong off-season, Clegg and Auriemma were fifth at the frosh-soph state finals, and a solid freshman at 103 in Terry Ward will also figure prominently.

Hinsdale South

Coach: Mike Matozzi (20th season).

Last year: 15-7 overall, 5-1 (first) in West Suburban Gold duals.

Top wrestlers: Jake Schramm (so., 103), Jon Goldsher (sr., 130), Joe McGuire (sr., 135), Ryan Garringer (jr., 145), Jamie McGuire (sr., 152), Joe Coffey (jr., 171), Joe Pacella (sr., 189), Tyler Reimer (sr., 215/285).

Outlook: Sectional qualifiers in Garringer (38-5 last year), Goldsher (34-8), Joe McGuire (40-8), Pacella (8-7), and Coffey (18-15) return to lead a veteran Hornets' squad, along with Jamie McGuire (26-13), Reimer (23-13) and Schramm (14-14). There is no substitute for varsity experience, and this year's team is loaded with it throughout the middle weights. "We should be a good tournament team, and once we plug a few other wrestlers into the lineup, we should be a pretty decent dual team," Matozzi said.

Lake Park

Coach: Todd Raymond (12th season).

Last season: 20-10 overall in duals, 5-2 in Upstate Eight Conference, fourth at UEC tournament.

Top wrestlers: Mike Hannigan (sr., 103), Mike DeSario (jr., 112), Fernando Morales (jr., 119), Marco Sanchez (sr., 125), Nate Bracher (sr., 135), Dan Kowalski (sr., 145/152), Kevin Vitols (sr., 160), Mike Dziedzic (sr., 215).

Outlook: State qualifiers DeSario (34-7) and Kowalski (38-12) return to lead the Lancers, who also feature a 31-match winner in Dziedzic and a trio of wrestlers in the 20-win range in Sanchez, Hannigan and Bracher. "We've got a lot of returners with varsity experience, and we're hoping that they step up this year," Raymond said. Seniors John Gesse and Ibrahim Farhat will sort out the Lancers' heavyweight representative, and senior John Guidotti (145) should also figure prominently.

Lisle

Coach: John Davis (second season).

Last year: 18-5 overall, 9-2 (second) in Interstate Eight Conference duals.

Top wrestlers: Brian Reese (jr., 112/119), Adam Gleason (so., 119), Matt Rafacz (sr., 125), Josh Andrzewski (sr., 135/140), Adam Carlson (sr., 145), David Pawlowicz (jr., 152), Mike Nigro (sr., 160), Eric Barker (sr., 171/189).

Outlook: The Lions lost a single starter to graduation and return five state qualifiers in Gleason (29-8 last year), Reese (25-12), Rafacz (33-5), Andrzejewski (27-9) and Carlson (33-9). Pawlowicz went 34-9 last year, Nigro and Barker are varsity veterans, and the rest of the lineup has the experience needed to aim for a strong Class A postseason run. "We're looking forward to the season," Davis said. "I think the team is ready for a good year."

Montini

Coach: Mike Bukovsky (14th season).

Last season: 34-2 overall in duals, finished second in Class AA to Sandburg.

Top wrestlers: Colton Rasche (so., 112/119), Benny Marti (sr., 119/125), Isaiah Gonzalez (jr., 145), Dan Stelter (sr., 152/160), Dan Grimes (sr., 189), Garrett Goebel (sr., 285).

Outlook: Four-time state champion Mike Benefiel is gone, but the Broncos feature a deep, balanced team that should again vie for a team state title. Heavyweight state champ Garrett Goebel went 55-1 last year, and he leads a team featuring six returning state qualifiers, plus another strong crop of returnees and new wrestlers. Rasche, Marti, Gonzalez and Grimes all won 40-plus matches last year, Stelter won 38, and ex-heavyweight David Lembas could shine at 215 this year.

Naperville Central

Coach: Rob Porter (second season).

Last year: 16-5 overall, 5-2 in DuPage Valley Conference duals, fourth at DVC tournament.

Top wrestlers: Connor Marr (jr., 112), Chase Muscato (sr., 119/125), Keenan Marr (sr., 125/130), Andrew Kovalsky (so., 135/140), Adam Gebner (so., 140/145), Jon Coluzzi (sr., 152), Chris Graeber (sr., 171), Matt Burns (jr., 189).

Outlook: The Redhawks hit milestones last year in beating rival Naperville North and West Aurora in duals and in winning their first Class AA regional title in 23 years. Five sectional qualifiers return, including a pair of 30-plus match winners in Graeber and Coluzzi. Muscato won 25 matches last year, the Marr brothers chipped in roughly 20 apiece, and varsity newcomers Kovalsky, Gebner and Burns will be counted on to contribute immediately.

Naperville North

Coach: Tom Champion (fifth season).

Top wrestlers: Dacey Henninger (jr., 119), Adam Hankin (so., 119/125), Ben Digiovanni (sr., 140/145), Mark Puknaitis (sr., 145), Jake Brancaleon (sr., 145/152), Mike Ozols (sr., 160/171), David Joniak (sr., 189), Michael Albanese (jr., 285).

Outlook: With Neil Lopez and D.J. Bruce now graduated, this may be the first Huskies' team in a decade without a wrestler favored to vie for a state title. What Champion has, however, is a team that features a pair of returning regional champions in Hankin (29-15 last year) and Albanese (25-3), another pair of sectional qualifiers in Henninger and Brancaleon, and 10 incoming freshmen who will compete for varsity spots.

Neuqua Valley

Coach: Mick Ruettiger (10th season).

Last season: 15-7 overall, first at Upstate Eight Conference tournament.

Top wrestlers: Andy Spangler (so., 103/112), Adam Stine (jr., 135), Matt Walters (jr., 135/140), Brian Epp (sr., 140/145), Nick Proctor (so., 145/152), Jimmy Duffy (sr., 152/160), Chris Spangler (sr., 160/171), Patrick St. Clair (sr., 215), John Grogan (sr., 285).

Outlook: This year's Wildcats are led by Illinois' runner-up at 145 last year, Duffy (38-6), and Spangler (32-4), a former state champ at 103 now battling in the upper weights. Walters is a returning state qualifier, and this year's squad will also look for production from seniors Joe Capone, Frankie Brogan and Chinedu Mbamalu and a good core of underclassmen. "We have a nice set of returning starters," Ruettiger said. "They'll just have to step it up a notch, and they know it."

Waubonsie Valley

Coach: Brad Caldwell (sixth season).

Last season: 14-4 overall, 5-1 in Upstate Eight Conference duals, second at the UEC tournament.

Top wrestlers: Doug Moravec (jr., 103), Justin Salerno (jr., 112), Kevin Roth (sr., 125), Kyle Rasmussen (sr., 140), Kyle Price (sr., 145), Mike Lyons (jr., 160), Kevin Garbis (sr., 171), Jeremiah Myers (sr., 189), Nick Capristo (sr., 285).

Outlook: A trio of sectional qualifiers return to lead the way for this year's Warriors, who have a beefed-up schedule and plan on meeting the challenge. "We should be ready to compete with anybody we step on the mat with," Caldwell said. "I'm seeing a lot of heart from these guys." Lyons went 21-17 last year, Garbis went 31-8, Myers went 28-14 and Capristo posted a record of 24-11.

West Chicago

Coach: Jamie Philips (third season).

Top wrestlers: Andrew Cruz (sr., 119), Jonny Padilla (jr., 130/135), James Padilla (sr., 135/140), Austin Hall (sr., 189/215).

Outlook: State qualifier Tim Kirincic is gone to graduation, leaving Cruz as the lone returning sectional qualifier, going 11-8 at 119 pounds last year. James Padilla went 20-15, Jonny Padilla posted a 17-16 mark, and Hall went 18-16 last season to round out the heart of the Wildcats' lineup. "Those four guys are all good leaders," Philips said. "The kids have all been working hard, they've wrestled in the off-season, and we'll ask some sophomores to step up this year."

Wheaton North

Coach: Steve Holland (eighth season).

Last season: 18-4 overall, third at DuPage Valley Conference tournament

Top wrestlers: Eric Terrazas (sr., 145), Nate Fitzenreider (sr., 125), Adrian Laskero (jr., 112), Jake Denhof (sr., 130), Bobby Munro (sr., 135), Ryan Early (sr., 145), Mark Hane (sr., 189), Charlie Filisko (sr., 285), Alex Woltman (sr., 285).

Outlook: The Falcons' lineup may have a hole or two to start the year, but they should have an exceptional tournament team this year. Terrazas returns after going 41-6 and placing third in Illinois at 145 last year, as does a state qualifier in Fitzenreider who went 40-7. Early won 35 matches last year, Laskero posted 30, and the Falcons got 25-plus wins from Denhof, Munro and Hane in 2006-07. "It's a mature and intelligent group," Holland said. "We have nine seniors, and they're all good leaders."

WW South

Coach: Ryan Ferguson (eighth season).

Top wrestlers: Mark Savenok (fr., 103), Dave Tresner (sr., 130), Shane Dierking (so., 135/140), Zach Ackerman (so., 135/140), Tim Savenok (jr., 152), Tobias King (sr., 160), Jim Franke (sr., 171), Francis Adarkwa (sr., 189), Mike Olp (jr., 215), Nate Williams (sr., 285).

Outlook: An extended football season had five starters missing from the gate, but a fuller Tigers team could take a step forward this year. "We're not a great team, but we'll have a solid group this year," Ferguson said. "I think we'll compete more this year than in years past." A pair of sectional qualifiers in Tresner and Olp return, King, Franke, Adarkwa and Williams are all veteran upper-weight wrestlers, and Tim Savenok, Dierking and Ackerman will help sort out the middle weights.

Willowbrook

Coach: Brian Murphy (seventh season).

Last season: 17-12 overall, 4-2 (third) in West Suburban Gold duals.

Top wrestlers: Shahmir Jiwani (sr., 103), Dan Marin (sr., 135), Mike Head (jr., 140), Grant Millette (jr., 145), Rick Draski (sr., 171), Eric Tyler (sr., 215).

Outlook: Returning sectional qualifier Marin posted 30 wins last year, Jiwani won 22, Draski posted 16 and Head and Millette won 19 matches apiece as sophomores. Marin and Millette have started strong from the gate, for a program whose kids "don't come in with a lot of experience, but they're working really hard," Murphy said. "By the time we get to the Lake Park tournament (Dec. 15), we should be pretty decent."

York

Coach: Terry Clarke (18th season).

Last year: 20-10 overall, 3-3 in West Suburban Silver duals, reached a Class AA sectional final.

Top wrestlers: Sean Connell (sr., 112/119), John Bullock (sr., 125), Donny Boeger (sr., 130), Dominic Lipinski (sr., 135), Dale Lewis (jr., 152), Matt Richter (sr., 160), Dustin Bles (sr., 215), Anthony Pisczor (sr., 285).

Outlook: Seven sectional qualifiers return from a team that reached a Class AA sectional final last year, headlined by 30-plus match winners in Connell, Lewis and Bles. A pair of 20-plus match winners in Bullock and Richter returns, along with a Junior Greco/Freestyle national qualifier in Lewis. A full, healthy lineup may not appear at season's start, but Clarke's teams always wrestle solid by season's end and are always a factor in the WSS.