Huntley's Benning working hard to improve

Nobody likes to lose.

Huntley senior 189-pound wrestler Tony Benning falls into that category.

But a recent tough outing at the Barrington tournament had a positive outcome for the returning state qualifier and Daily Herald All-Area selection.

"I lost focus and it turned out to be a bad day," said Benning. "I learned I've got to run more and get more endurance and I have to work hard in the tough matches. I can't stall out. The ref called me for it there. I have to keep working in these matches and keep moving. It was a good day and a bad day. But I found out what my weaknesses were. Losing is never fun, but it helps."

Benning had an 8-3 record at the start of the week. All 3 of his losses came at Barrington. He suffered defeats to Mike Nolen (St. Rita) and Dan Vargas (Wheeling), wrestlers who are both in the Illinois Matmen (www.illinoismatmen.com) honorable mention rankings in Class AA at 189

"Most likely those are the types of people I'm going to see if I make it down to state again," said Benning, who is also in the IM Class AA 189 honorable mention rankings. "I know how they wrestle now. Hopefully I'll see them again."

Despite the tough start, Benning has seen definite advancements in his game.

"I feel more mature and more confident and that helps me perform better," said Benning.

Benning has also assumed more of a leadership role on the team.

"I'm kind of a leader now on the team," said Benning. "Coach expects a lot out of me and I expect a lot out of myself."

Off the mat, Benning got himself a head start on the next phase of his life. He joined the United States Marine Corps' delayed entry program.

"I'm fully enlisted but I can't ship yet because I don't have a diploma," said Benning, who will initially be stationed in San Diego after he graduates from Huntley.

"They can't use me yet, but I'm still able to work out with them. I've already picked out a job (helicopter mechanic). It's kind of like going through boot camp when you work out with them. It's hardcore. It's the real thing, but it's toned down a little. It's good practice for the real thing. It builds you up and shows you how to work hard. It's been a lot of fun. They are normal people who take the time to talk to you. I've learned a lot already."

And Benning is ready to take even further strides on the mat this year.

"I have loads of confidence," said Benning. "I just need to be level-headed. I know I'm faster and smarter now. I just have to go out there and wrestle my own match."

Burlington Central update: The Rockets were 6-3 in dual meets to start the week. The Rockets have defeated the likes of Kaneland, Oswego, Marengo, Winnebago, Larkin and South Elgin and lost to Sandwich, Huntley and Sycamore.

Central coach Tony Rigitano tipped his hat to 112-pounder Shane Burke, who scored a big win over Kaneland returning state qualifier Szatkowski. Both Burke and Szatkowski were honorable mentions at Class AA 112 in the most recent IM rankings.

"It was a huge win for Shane," said Rigitano. "He deserves it. He worked his butt off in the off-season. I don't think we've beat a double-A state qualifier since I've been here. He did a great job."

Rigitano has also been pleased with 130-pounder Zach Kein.

"Zach has been doing a real good job," said Rigitano. "He's got one loss and has a bunch of pins. He's coming through like a senior should."

Central has been without standout Taylor Schuck recently. Schuck is coming back from a knee ailment. Schuck (4-0), Burke (7-0) and Curt Mastio (9-0) are Central's undefeated wrestlers.

The Rockets will face Harvard and Rockford Lutheran in Big Northern Conference action tonight and then head to the Sterling tournament Saturday.

St. Edward update: The Green Wave has had two key bright spots in the lineup in the early going.

Veteran Will Lytle was 6-0 at 145 pounds to start the week.

"Will is a senior and he knows what to expect and what to do," said St. Edward coach Shane Kottkamp. "He's made some changes to his style. He's willing to wrestle on the bottom now and that's has scored him quite a few points. He's doing what it takes to win matches. And his leadership has really helped us."

Sophomore Dan Duffy was off to a 5-1 start at 160 pounds.

"Dan has shown a lot of improvement," said Kottkamp. "I think he won 7 matches last year including forfeits. He's got a lot more confidence and when he gets down he's able to come back and win most of those close matches."

Cary-Grove update: The Trojans had a number of high place-finishers at the Barrington tournament. Returning state qualifier Paul Rands won the title at 215 pounds, while Mike Loschiavo (171) and Josh Nelson (135) both took fifth and Alec Hargrove was sixth at 119.

"I'm very happy with the way every one of our guys approaches matches," said Cary-Grove coach Dan Cysewski. "They are approaching things with a game plan. They are very aggressive and have an idea of what they want to do when they are wrestling. The approach is good and they have the right mental approach. We should only get better."

Cary-Grove (1-2 in FVC duals) faces Grayslake North tonight and then will wrestle Saturday in a quad with Sycamore, St. Charles East and Antioch.

Streamwood update: The Sabres started the week 3-6 in duals, but coach Bill Peach has seen definite progress.

"The guys are working hard and getting better day by day in practice," said Peach. "We want to reach our goal again of placing in the top half of the conference. We still have a lot of work to do, but they are getting better."

Streamwood has been led by the likes of senior Jeff Mason (7-2 at 119), junior Nick Lockwood (145) and freshman Joey Kubica (6-3 at 135). Mason is in his fourth varsity season and is the captain.

"Jeff wrestled 5 or 6 years before he got to high school," said Peach, whose team heads to the Sterling tournament Saturday. "He sticks to the basics and does what he does best. He stays close in matches and wins them in the end."

Dundee-Crown update: The Chargers have started out the season 7-0 in duals (2-0 FVC). D-C faces a stern test tonight in Crystal Lake against Central, the only team that beat the Chargers last year in league action.

"It will be a good week for us," said D-C coach Al Zinke. "We've got Central and then we'll face Libertyville, Hersey and Belvidere on Saturday."

D-C lost to Central for the first time in program history last year.

Libertyville is a team Zinke feels his squad could run into again down the road.

"Libertyville will probably be one of the teams we will have to compete with for a regional title if we go that way," said Zinke, who is 14 wins shy of 500 for his career according to IHSA records (only 3 other coaches in state history have won more than 500 dual meet matches according to IHSA records).

The quad with Libertyville, Hersey and Belvidere will reunite Zinke with 2 of his former coaches. Hersey's head coach is Jim Wormsley, the former D-C standout who was later part of Zinke's staff. Wormsley is assisted by Steve Glasder, a former Zinke assistant who was D-C's head coach the 1 year Zinke took off from the program (1988-1989).

Zinke said both Jeremy Lee and Bob Libricz were both getting over illness that sidelined them last week.

"We're still trying to get over some things," said Zinke. "Our experience is helping us right now and just being a veteran team. We're nowhere near where we want to be right now. We've got 5 duals this week and it will be nice to get through all of them."

Returning state medalist Mike Lukowski had only 1 loss to start the week. Lukowski lost in the championship at Hinsdale South to Downers Grove South's Ben Apland, the No. 1 ranked wrestler in Class AA at 215 according to IM. Lukowski also beat Cary-Grove standout Rands 5-1 in an FVC dual match.

Huntley update: The Red Raiders were 4-2 overall and 1-1 in FVC action to start the week.

"We currently have a few holes in our lineup and are using sophomores and juggling the lineups to get wins," said Huntley coach Kurt Rohlwing. "We've had some wrestlers step up with some big wins in the last couple of weeks that have helped us win meets."

Bartlett update: The Hawks were 3-3 in dual matches to start the week. One key for the Hawks has been 119-pounder Brian Wozniak who is 7-2 this season. Wozniak scored a major decision (14-3) against Waubonsie Valley recently. Bartlett hosts Lake Park tonight on senior night and then heads to the Buffalo Grove tournament Saturday.