Prospect's Fantastic Four on mission

As sequels go, this one might be bigger and better than the original.

Dubbed the Three Amigos by teammates and fans, Ben Zintak, Kent Roome and Justin Milos cut a swath through the competition and into the Class AA state tournament in 2005 with 111 wins for Mid-Suburban League champ Prospect.

Three years later, a new release is out, only this time aptly named the Fantastic Four in Peter Zintak, Jonny Brennan, Tyler Rossdeutcher and Matt Boggess.

The talented quartet begins its quest today to end up in Champaign for the Class AA individual state tournament when the Barrington sectional opens at 5 p.m.

Zintak, a two-time state qualifier and state medal winner two years ago, and Brennan, a two-time state qualifier, are four-year varsity veterans who sit high atop a long list in school history in several categories.

"I was kind of the warmup act for Ben," jokes Peter, who competed at 145 pounds while Ben Zintak would follow in the lineup at 152.

Peter Zintak, No. 1 in career victories (152) and pins (96), is a four-time regional champion and three-time MSL champion who is 38-1. He was ranked No. 1 in the state until a 1-0 loss to Dundee-Crown senior Mike Lukowski dropped the talented Zintak a notch in the ratings.

Equipped with incredible speed and strength and the technical and tactical knowledge he's garnered since beginning at a young age, Zintak will not dwell on an overtime loss to Adam Latello (Rockton Hononegah) in the semifinals at state in 2005 or his 4-3 defeat to Jake Vetter of Richmond-Burton, one match short of competing for another medal.

"Losses are all part of the sport," Zintak said. "You hope to learn from them, then put it all behind you."

Zintak, who likely will stay in the Midwest in college to pursue a career as a physical therapist and not continue his wrestling career, says he'll miss Rossdeutcher and Boggess but particularly his long-time friend Brennan.

"Jonny and I have been like family ever since we started wrestling when we were little guys," Zintak said. "It will be difficult not seeing him every day in school and in the (wrestling) room."

Brennan (29-3), a three-time MSL champion, was as important to the Knights' drive toward the 2005 MSL title championship as Zintak.

As a freshman, not only did Brennan (102 take-downs this season, 129 career victories) win the first of his 3 MSL crowns, he also soaked up plenty of knowledge from the Three Amigos.

"All three of those guys were great role models," said Brennan, who will attend and probably wrestle at Wisconsin-LaCrosse. "Their work ethic, and the way they approached training and competition made a huge impression on me as a freshman."

An explosive, powerfully built 119-pounder, Brennan used the disappointment of last year's sudden elimination at sectionals and an early season knee injury to inject some life into his work regimen and outlook.

"I didn't like being done so quick last year, I kind of expected to go to state again," Brennan said.

Shortly after the wrestling season was over, Brennan committed to three days a week training in St. Charles at the Pinnacle club, while never leaving the mat during the same time.

That attention to detail took a slight detour when Brennan went down with a knee injury in December, which sidelined the senior leader for nearly two weeks.

"The injury might have been a blessing in disguise," Brennan said. "During that time I realized how close I was to seeing my career end, and how much I wanted to be out there wrestling."

To take the edge off from the sport, Brennan has also been a veteran of the theater scene, recently nabbing a key role in the musical "Grease" as Kenickie.

Matt Boggess burstŒon to the prep scene three years ago with a long resume.

The three-time MSL champ has amassed a staggering 110-5 overall record (38-0 this season), but has not captured any state hardware.

"Looking back, there was a lot more pressure on me my freshman year to succeed than I ever realized," says Boggess, ranked No. 3 in the state at 135 pounds. "Last year I really believe I placed too much pressure on myself, especially when I went downstate undefeated.

"I think a case of stage fright inside Assembly Hall, and my quarter-final loss to Zeke Rowan (Mt. Carmel) did me in and left me unprepared for my next match, which I lost 7-2 to be eliminated."

Those first two seasons and their results have changed Boggess. The new-and-improved junior has taken on the role as team leader, cheerleader and sometime assistant coach.

"Matt will jump in and assume a role as a coach," Knights coach Gary McMorrow said. "His knowledge of each and every guy on the team is amazing."

No longer interested in blowout victories and individual records, Boggess has taken on a more methodical style in his bouts.

"First, I always wrestle for the team," he said. "So sometime, I'll go for a pin or tech-fall to get us bonus points.

"But as the season has gone on, I try to punish, attack and go after my opponent relentlessly and never let up until the match is over. It might read that I won 5-2 in the paper, but I know that I've made sure that my opponent's expectations, should we meet again, were even less than before."

A work-out warrior, Boggess has pushed both Brennan and Rossdeutcher further than imaginable, all in his quest for the big prize downstate.

"We had all hoped to give "G-Mac" (coach McMorrow) a second-straight regional championship last week, but we fell short," Boggess said. "Now we're all wrestling for ourselves, and I know that I am physically and mentally ready for a run at a state championship this year."

Kevin Rossdeutcher has been through more than most at his age, but he never seems to show or give in to it as others might have in his shoes.

The three-year varsity and Alabama-bound veteran lost his father (Kevin) to brain cancer last fall, had a brief bout with a staph infection, suffered a concussion and missed two weeks of the season, and is now, in the words of McMorrow, wrestling the best in his career at Prospect.

"He might be wrestling for his dad right now, but whether he is or not, Tyler has just been amazing during the last half of this season," said McMorrow.

"Tyler is amazing," says Brennan. "In the room, it is all business with him. He just doesn't give in or up while he's in there, and he doesn't let up on any of us and just pushes us all harder to ready us for success."

Rossdeutcher (22-8 this season, 76-28 in his career) made a huge impression at the star-studded Glenbard North sectional last Februrary when he captured second-place at 112 to advance to the state tournament with Zintak and Boggess.

"Friends of my dad really wanted to bring him down to see me during that first session (in Champaign), but he was just too weak," said Rossdeutcher, who admitted the time from the MSL tourney up until just before going downstate was a stress-filled roller-coaster within his family.

This season, with the help of former Prospect stars and state medalists Shawn Stolz and Milos, Rossdeutcher has turned the corner in grabbing his first MSL and regional titles.

"I was too defensive last year," Rossdeutcher said. "This year, Shawn had smoothed out the rough edges, my position, and fine-tuned the technical side of things.

"Justin has been like a big brother to me on the personal side, and in the room, he just beats me up and has helped the physical part of things for me."

And the Fantastic Four hopes to give McMorrow a Hollywood-style ending to his coaching career.

"I've been very fortunate and blessed to have had a great group like the Three Amigos to carry a team and provide inspiration and leadership," McMorrow said.

"But then to have another group of guys, like the Fantastic Four, which are here now, and to have them be such a big impact on a program the way they have is something very special."