Lake County wrestling preview
North Suburban Lake
Lake Zurich
Coach: Dan Strickler (17th season)
Last year's record: fifth in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Kevin Fanta (state champion, NIU), Wade Self (sixth in state, Case Western), John Harkness
Top returning competitors: seniors Cameron Shaffer (state qualifier, 135), Anthony Pace (state qualifier, 152), Alex Nigro (130);junior Andy McCullough (145)
Key newcomers: senior Wilson Potts (160);juniors Zach Ullman (140), Pat Nieto (125), Adam Cantwell (215);sophomore Nick Mueller (112).
Outlook: The Bears may have lost two state qualifiers to graduation including state champion Kevin Fanta. But they do have two senior state qualifiers back in Pace and Shaffer to lend much-needed leadership to their young squad.
Libertyville
Coach: Dale Eggert (23rd season)
Last year's record: 19-4 overall, NSC champions, Zion-Benton regional champions
Top graduated seniors: Louis Mazzetta (state qualifier, Luther College), Pat Callan (state qualifier), Kyle Manolovic, Pat Kenny, Sean Tavakoli, Josh Bricker, Shane Michelsen
Top returning competitors: seniors Matt Bystol (third in state at 125), Josh Ronne (state qualifier at 160), Ryan Mertz (171), Nick McDowell (152), Sam Shay (140);junior Luke Miller (215), sophomore Pat Fitzgerald (112)
Key newcomers: seniors Cody Olsen (135), Alex Carlino (152), Alex Schwartz (189), Jorge Arreola (285); juniors Luke Gaeth (119), Pat Regan (130), Zach Michelsen (140), Sayad Banifazi (145), Kevin Tavakoli (145), Tommy Ward (145), Gibby Williams (160), David Allen (189), Richard Vachula (189);sophomores Kyle May (103), Charlie Meyer (125)
Outlook: The Wildcats lost a lot of key contributors from their 2009 NSC championship team to graduation. But they have good depth returning with two state qualifiers and four additional sectional qualifiers and they opened the 2009-10 campaign with a dual-meet win over Grant last week.
Mundelein
Coach: Tom Buenik (sixth season)
Last year's record: 18-2 overall, third in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Eduardo Dominguez (two-time state qualifier, Harper), Tanis Arcos (CLC), Jeff Thompson, Mike Savage, George Mouzakiotis, Mike Hill, Freddy Martinez (CLC)
Top returning competitors: seniors Juan Jaimes (135), Eric Arcos (145), Brandonÿ Aranda (152), Jake Hertel (189), Dion Livas (285);juniors Pablo Mata (160), Brandon Galster (215);sophomore Matt Ornoff (sixth in state, 119)
Key newcomers: seniors Zach Goin (103), Ben Hertel (171);juniors Jake Pickering (112), Payton Cruz (130);sophomore Dan Winberg (125);freshman Nick Dudzinski (103)
Outlook: After placing third in the NSC last winter the Mustangs will have to replace at least five key graduated wrestlers. Mundelein will be hard-pressed to topple perennial powers Grant and Libertyville, but sophomore Matt Ornoff is developing into an elite wrestler after placing sixth in the state last year.
Stevenson
Coach: Shane Cook (fourth season)
Last year's record: 13-8 overall, fourth in NSC)
Top graduated seniors: Nathan Millman (U of I), David Lamberti, Nick Pagano, Turron Washington
Top returning competitors: seniors Jordan Sherman (135, 140), Max O'Hara (130, 135), Tommy McGovern (189), David Woodstein (215), Nate Rubenstein (171), Kristian Meyer (145, 152)
Key newcomers: junior Danny Sabatello (112, 119, transfer from St. Viator)
Outlook: The Patriots have improved since last year with much hard work in the off-season. But they will once again face a brutal schedule with the likes of Libertyville, Mundelein, and Warren ready to challenge them in the Lake Division alone.
Warren
Coach: Mark Tiffany (27th season)
Last year's record: 18-3 overall, sixth in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Connor Drew (state qualifier, Wartburg College-Iowa), Justin Santiago (state qualifier), Tyreese Woodard, Leon Megerdichian, Cody Hoag, Edan Hernandez, Damen Curry
Top returning competitors: seniors Robby Schultheis (112, 119), Chandler Sperry (215), Mike Patterson (171), Colin Seebach (125), Don Stoneberg (285);juniors T.J. Parker (145, 152), Josh Dust (285), Brandon Tyler (140), Austin Carlson (160)
Key newcomers: seniors Brenden Frank (160), Adam Kozerowitz (160);juniors Jeff Maliza (112), Pat Oswald (145), Ryan Halley (171), A.J. Lamibao (140), Robert Lee (125), Will Beinlich (145)
Outlook: The Blue Devils still have a strong nucleus of experienced wrestlers to build around despite losing a very strong senior class to graduation in 2009. Warren will have its hands full competing in the powerful NSC Lake, but it will hope to move up the standings in Tiffany's final year as head coach.
North Suburban Prairie
Antioch
Coach: Wilbur Borrero (sixth season)
Last year's record: eighth in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Tom Gerstner (state qualifier, Harper), Donny Rowden, Jacob Lucas
Top returning competitors: seniors Al Arden (140, 145), Greg LaCroix (285);juniors Brandon Schultz (112), Nick Bock (130), Hunter Moseley (152);sophomores Mike Morales (125), George Gonzales (145), Zack Epker (160), Danny Arden (152, 160)
Key newcomers: junior John Lyman (125, transfer from Lakes), sophomores Rudy Martinez (215), Lee Shannon (189);freshmen Grant Smith (103), Cameron Slate (112), Mike Gussarson (119)
Outlook: The Sequiots lost an oustanding leader and mentor to graduation in state qualifier Tom Gerstner. But Antioch's young squad will try to pick up the pieces and move forward in 2010 with as many as three freshmen and six sophomores hoping to contribute at the varsity level.
Grant
Coach: Ryan Geist (11th season)
Last year's record: 22-2 overall, Class 3A Elite Eight qualifiers, McHenry regional champions, second in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Tyler Becker (Luther College), Tyler Dempsey (Augustana College), Roque Bustos (state qualifier, Harper)
Top returning competitors: seniors Lee Munster (three-time state qualifier, two-time state champion, 47-0 at 171 in 2009, signed with Northwestern, 189), Jason Montemayor (state qualifier, 130), Chaz Alex (state qualifier, 135), Carl Williams (state qualifier, 285), Jack Kramer (119), Christian Balderas (119), Edgar Tellez (140), Tyler Shogren (145), Kyle Clark (145, 152), Matt Bellson (160), Scott Ray (171), Justin Lalanda (285);juniors Jose Jimenez (2008 state qualifier, transfer from Round Lake, 125), Kyle Humiston (152), Edgar Gomez (215);sophomores Ben Soumar (103, 112), Quinton Quarles (215);freshman Cameron Kennedy (IKWF state champ, 103)
Outlook: Future Northwestern Wildcat Munster has many of his fellow seniors joining him for his final season of high school wrestling and the Bulldogs will be trying to reclaim their NSC championship from Libertyville this winter after winning six in a row. But there are still quite a few unproven question marks in the Grant lineup that will make or break their ultimate goals according to Geist.
Lakes
Coach: Curt Onstad (fifth season)
Last year's record: 6-14 overall, 10th in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Matt Holmes (state champion, Loras College), Rob Thomas
Top returning competitors: seniors Phil Cappitelli (state qualifier, 171, 189), Mike Divito (215, 285);juniors Kyle Gibson (125), David Kosmen (119), Kyle Sherman (135)
Key newcomers: juniors Terence Shapcott (145), Jeff Eder (152) sophomores Tyler Booth (119), Jose Collado (130);freshman Leroy Chapman (140)
Outlook: The Eagles do have an elite individual returning in senior state qualifier Phil Cappitelli. But the team will be in a constant state of building this winter with some key weight classes in the lineup needing to be filled by some inexperienced wrestlers.
Round Lake
Coach: Mike Hruska (first season)
Last year's record: ninth in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Frank Contraras-Gomez, Erick Ramirez, Dan Jimenez, Mark Miefewsli, Jordan Moriarity, Antonio Bello, Taras Popovich, Joe Medina
Top returning competitors: seniors Corey Weber (189), Tony Cox (119), Miguel Miranda (130), Antonio Valdez (171), Tariq Mitchell (285);juniors Giovanni Naverrette (125), Dan Lara (215)
Key newcomers: sophomores Victor Contreras (112), Dan Vega (160)
Outlook: Without a lot of depth or experience at the middle weights the Panthers will probably be going through a lot of growing pains this season as Mike Hruska takes over the reigns as head coach from John Jobst this winter.
Vernon Hills
Coach: Jerry Miceli (10th season)
Last year's record: 11th in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Nick Capozzoli (state qualifier), Edgar Cuevas (state qualifier), Jihad Abdallah
Top returning competitors: seniors Joe Brignon (state qualifier, 140), Rory Klema (215), Brandon Wolff (160);juniors Gideon Yim (state qualifier, 125);sophomores Dan Peterson (119), Danny Klema (152), Jeremy Brazil (285)
Key newcomers: freshman Ben Turley (145)
Outlook: The Cougars do have two of their four Class 2A state qualifiers returning to the mat this winter, and they should be competitive in the NSC Prairie Division if they can get some of their younger wrestlers to contribute consistently on the varsity level.
Wauconda
Coach: Tom Nance (26th season)
Last year's record: Wauconda regional champions, seventh in NSC
Top graduated seniors: Scott Carlson (state champion, Coe College-Iowa), James Roy
Top returning competitors: seniors Mike Brown (119, 125), Jeff Costa (130, 135), Tom Tyrrell (140), J.D. Vanderwiel (215, 285), Colin Murphy (152, 160), Cody Smith (285), Tyler Glover (160, 171), Karl Schroepfer (145, 152), Kyle Mitchell (152, 160), Mike Thomas (119, 125);juniors Peter Kootstra (145, 152), Tim Alvarado (135, 140), Brian Kent (189)
Key newcomers: James Tagorda (152, 160), Taylor Sherman (160, 171), Shawn Glover (140, 145);juniors Joey Wlekinski (189, 215), Aaron Allard (125):sophomores Tyler Maly (160, 171), Jake Sherman (171);freshmen Devin Tortorice (103), Bruce Pearl (130)
Outlook: The Bulldogs had to wave good bye to graduated Class 2A 152-pound state champion Scott Carlson. But the Wauconda program is still hoping to put together an outstanding season behind eight sectional qualifiers returning to the mat with some great depth and experience under their belts.
East Suburban Catholic Conference
Carmel
Coach: Bob Kuykendall (second season)
Last year's record: 15-8 overall, 5-2 in ESCC
Top graduated seniors: Matt Oliva (UW-Whitewater), Will Robinson
Top returning competitors: seniors J.P. Hough (130), Frankie Swindell (145), Shane Siefert (160, 171), Steve Lester (285);juniors Brian Waldron (112), Beau Acevedo (135), Bobby Dandino (140), LaRon Biere (160, 171), David Heath (189)
Key newcomers: senior Anthony Gleeson (140);juniors Dan Carvill (103), Ted Rosenthal (119), Mike Patrone (125), Terence Bragado (135), Tim Hourihan (140), Mike Cohen (215)
Outlook: The No. 25-ranked Corsairs will face a lot of tough battles with their conference schedule alone, but they should be very competitive again this season with the senior trio of Siefert, Swindell, and Lester just missing berths to the state meet last year.
Fox Valley Conference
Grayslake Central
Coach: Dan Catanzaro (first season)
Last year's record: 3-17 overall
Top graduated seniors: Tad Vela, Brian Valdivia
Top returning competitors: seniors Chris Makey (135), Grant Deal (285);juniors Bobby Raines (103), Kevin Hein (189, 215);sophomores Dylan Hay (130), Joey Valdivia (189, 215)
Key newcomers: seniors Austin Jessop (171), Alex Jensen (215);junior John Curtis (160), sophomore Sean Keever (140)
Outlook: With only five seniors in the program the Rams will be fielding a pretty young team this winter. But first-year coach Catanzaro hopes that his underclassmen will develop as the season progresses and his squad can be competitive in the powerful FVC.
Grayslake North
Coach: Tom Frye (second season)
Last year's record: 11th in FVC
Top graduated seniors: none
Top returning competitors: seniors Danny Mendoza (152, 160), Tyler Barbacovi (171), Dan Lutz (285), Dominic Cervantes (145), Ricardo Hernandez (152);juniors Cory Bergstrom (125), Sean Bergstrom (130), Rich Downes (135), Jack Becker (171, 189);sophomores Nick Klein (112), Angel Cabrera (119), Jimmy Prince (160)
Key newcomers: junior Alex Thompson (152);sophomores Aaron Hoover (140), Zach Young (215);freshmen Luke Pritchett (103), Anthony Downes (119)
Outlook: With every single varsity starter from last year returning, the Knights should see significant improvement from last season. Second-year coach Frey is very optimistic headed into the new campaign despite having to face pre-season league favorite Crystal Lake Central and other perennial powers in the FVC.
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