Scouting Fox Valley area wrestling teams
Bartlett
Coach Gary Cotie
Last year 11th, Upstate Eight
Graduation losses None
Key returnees Senior Eric Moreno (sectional qualifier, 3rd, UEC, 160, 28 wins), Camilo Garzon (sectional qualifier, 3rd, UEC, 152); junior Eduardo Ruiz (189)
Newcomers to watch Freshmen Sal Annoreno (112).
Outlook Opening weekend for the Hawks proved successful when Moreno captured the first-place trophy and MVP honors at the Ewoldt Invite, while teammate Garzon turned in a terrific performance en route to a third-place finish to help validate their status as undisputed leaders on young 2009-10 club. "With just 3 seniors in our starting lineup, we're obviously in a rebuilding year this season, but the lower level (numbers) are coming up, and hopefully we can find some depth at the upper weights during the next couple of years," said Cotie.
Burlington Central
Coach Tony Rigatano
Last year 15-7 (4-1-0 Big Northern East)
Graduation losses Kevin Marshall (sectional champ, 25 wins)
Key returnees Senior Shane Burke (state qualifier, regional champ, 130, 35 wins), Tim Vincent (sectional qualifier, 215, 22 wins), DeMetrius Phillips (140, 145, 16 wins), Tim Botsford (140, 145, 19 wins); juniors Tim Maroder (sectional champ, 29 wins, 189), Ryan Metz (145, 152, 9 wins), Aaron Baltazar (160, 171); sophomores Johnny Major (state qualifier, 125, 20 wins), Omar Awad (sectional qualifier, 145, 18 wins), Buddy Toth (sectional qualifier, 20 wins, 135), Joe Gannon (152, 160, 9 wins), Alejandro Cardenas (189, 215, 10 wins).
Newcomers to watch Freshmen Brady Weinrich (103), Jake Turk (160).
Outlook If not for eventual state medalist Kyle Logsdon and his veteran loaded Rockford East club, the Rockets would have gone through regional and into dual-team sectional on the 2A side. The good news this season is most everyone returns, including their 2 state qualifiers (Burke and Major) and plenty of others ready to make their mark on the wrestling landscape this winter. "This is the most talent that we've had in my 5 years here, and plenty of the guys had their taste of success a year ago, which has made them hungry for more," said Rigatano, who is nearing 200 career wins. Program numbers continue to rise, as do expectations, which begins in earnest in late December when the club competes at quality tournaments at both Harvard and DeKalb.
Cary-Grove
Coach Dan Cysewski
Last year 11-9 (5-3 Fox Valley Valley).
Graduation losses Jake Stewart (sectional qualifier, regional champ, 22 wins), Nick Sarillo (20 wins), Matt Springer (17 wins), Cody Heche (17 wins), Ray White (11 wins), Connor Frank (13 wins).
Key returnees Seniors Josh Nelson (state qualifier, regional champ, 36 wins), Terrence Fox (140, 24 wins); juniors Zach Spielman (112), Cory Meyer (125, 16 wins), Collin Hansen (171), David Henry (160), Rich Kerstin (215, 285, 14 wins), Jake Mishall (135).
Newcomers to watch Senior Hayden Baker (285), Kyle Leibforth, Matt Leibforth; juniors Danny Sarillo (171), Kyle Panwell.
Outlook The Class 6A state football championship will slow the return of many of their vital big men as 6 contributed to the Trojans' victory over Providence, including the lone state qualifier in Nelson, who clearly is one of the best at his weight in the area. "The FVC is always a very competitive wrestling conference, and in time, when get everyone back and we get our lineup settled, we should be in the mix of things at the end," said Cysewski, who is second only to Dundee-Crown's Al Zinke in years on the job in the league with 26.
Crystal Lake South
Coach Ross Ryan
Last Year 13-5 (4th, FVC tournament)
Graduation losses Joe Fontanetta (sectional qualifier, 28 wins), Gerard Golston (24 wins), Alec Uidl (sectional qualifier, 17 wins).
Key returnees Seniors D.J. Nee (125, 13 wins), Brad Wiegand (130), Mark Mohler (140, 9 wins), Jason Luizzi (152), Tyler Simmons (171), Ron Eshoo (285), Alex Plimpton (171), Anthony Woods (152), Pat Adams (130); juniors Kean Loupee (sectional qualifier, 160, 30 wins), Cullen Smith (112, 119, 20 wins), J.W. Sullivan (145), Kyle Enos (215); sophomore Nick Fontanetta (sectional qualifier, 103, 26 wins), Tom Gerszewski (130, 135, 19 wins).
Newcomers to watch Junior Ben Murdock (145); sophomore Reese Dziedzic (189).
Outlook If top 8 finish at the prestigious Moore-Prettyman tourney during the first week of the season is any indication, the Gators will be a force in the FVC and around the area when the postseason rolls around. "I've been impressed with the work ethic in and away from the room, and how it carried over into the tournament and in the results the team and many of the individuals had," says Ryan, who nabbed Gus Silva when the longtime D-C assistant was unable to secure a full-time teaching position at the school to ensure his place as the next Chargers' head coach. "We have a terrific coaching staff with (Gus), Joey Forsburg, Brian Murphy and Ryan Felz, and it's incredible how much of an influence they have already made on the kids here," added Ryan, whose club will be in the chase for FVC top honors.
Dundee-Crown
Coach Al Zinke
Last year 21-3 (2nd in FVC tournament)
Graduation losses Jack Lewis (state qualifier, regional champ, 38 wins, Elmhurst College), Jeremy Lee (state qualifier, FVC champ, 37 wins, Elgin Community College), Jermaine Lee (state qualifier, 33 wins, Elgin Community College), Josh Lee (sectional qualifier, 29 wins, Elgin Community College), Alex Laverd (25 wins), Cody Muscat (27 wins), Tim Brennan (21 wins), Ronnie Dumas (19 wins)
Key returnees Seniors Miko Villanueva (3rd place state medalist, FVC champ, 103, 112, 38 wins), Mike Rust (160); juniors Cody Churkey (171, 26 wins), Travell Rounds (119, 10 wins), Gustavo Jacobo (140)
Newcomers to watch Junior Frank Abitua (145)
Outlook Hall of Fame coach Zinke returns for his 31st season of leading the Chargers' program. "We lost some very good kids, many of them capable of not only giving us 30-plus victories, but also capable of providing the kind of efforts to keep us in the hunt for a conference and regional title, and also to advance into the state tournament," said Zinke, who enters the season with 522 career victories. State medalist Villanueva came back from a disappointing result at the regional tourney to climb up and over many who defeated the senior earlier to earn his place in school history and to set up what could be another superb season, in this, his senior year.
Elgin
Coach Jason Goebel
Last year 5-17, 10th, UEC.
Graduation losses Eric McGinn (sectional qualifier, 18 wins, 3rd, UEC)
Key returnees Senior Jesus Aguirre (152, 17 wins); junior Nathan Andersen (sectional qualifier, 21 wins, 103), Terrence Bruessar (171, 8 wins); sophomore Ivan Ceballos (189, 10 wins)
Newcomers to watch Toby Schimel (215), Richie Santana (160), Tyler Easter (135).
Outlook The Maroons opened the 2009-2010 season by capturing 4 medals at the Ewoldt Invite with big man Ceballos dropping a tight 3-2 match in the final while newcomer Schimel showed promise while joining his teammate with a second-place medal. "We're looking forward to earning a few more medals at the conference tournament at the end of the season, and for now, our strength is in our returning starters and big numbers at the lower levels which bodes well for our future," said Goebel.
Hampshire
Coach Terry Wilkinson
Last year 4-17 (1st year of program)
Graduation losses None
Key returnees Tyler Espino (112, 9 wins), Cody Kleiser (125, 130, BNC all-conference, 12 wins), Glen Buckwinkler (189, 215, BNC all-conference, 11 wins), Nathan Sorg (189, 215), Tyler Song (285)
Newcomers to watch 11 freshmen
Outlook Adding to a second-year program that "lost nothing from the previous season can only be a positive thing for us," says Wilkinso, of his club, which went 1-5 in the BNC East in its first season. "The guys wrestled well over 200 matches during the offseason, and hopefully that will help close the gap for a still new and developing team."
Huntley
Coach Kevin Summerville
Last year 12th, FVC
Graduation losses None
Key returnees Seniors Colt Claudio (sectional qualifier, 119, 34 wins), Anthony Giuffre (152, 16 wins); juniors Lucas Rogers (130,135, 33 wins), Josh Symbal (160, 171, 14 wins), Matt Zeis (215), Josh LaLuz (285); sophomore Jacob O'Neil (112, 13 wins)
Newcomers to watch Jeff Lucas (130), Kyle Quinlan, Jimmy Davidge, Clayton Oats
Outlook When Summerville, the former Leyden head coach, can finally field a full 14-man starting lineup, then the Red Raiders will finally make a big jump forward in the conference standings. "The numbers are getting better, and more kids are coming through on the club level, but it's a slow process to build a program, and for now, we just have to practice a little patience as we grow," said Summerville. For now, the affable head coach will count on a solid core of 5 veterans to give the club plenty of victories along the way. Symbal nearly joined teammate Claudio as a sectional qualifier with a fourth-place regional finish, while O'Neil did well in his rookie season.
Jacobs
Coach Chris Taylor
Last year 7th, FVC
Graduation losses Joey Diehl (sectional qualifier, 24 wins), Nate Mohlman (14 wins), Jay Garfield (12 wins), Justin Kozak, Jacob Willwerth
Key returnees Senior Aaron Ryan (sectional qualifier, regional champ, 2008 state qualifier, 112, 28 wins), Mike Stein (152, 10 wins); junior Joey Ladick (135, 10 wins), Brad Jenisch (145), Kyle Cook (171)
Newcomers to watch Senior J.P. Engracia (215); sophomores Nick Lorusso (125), Colin Zaio (130)
Outlook Taylor was a late arrival on the scene, and the first-year head coach has already made a strong impression on the club's top wrestler (Ryan), who the first weekend of the season proved he is ready to improve on a superb junior campaign. "Coach hasn't been here long, but he's made a big difference in the room and I can see he's going to be the person to help turn around our program," said the 3-time sectional qualifier. Ladick was FVC runner-up in his first full season with the big club.
Larkin
Coach Mike Mulhearn
Last year 5th, UEC
Graduation losses Tony Feliciano (state qualifier, UEC champ, 41 wins, Elgin Community College), Cameron Tanner (sectional qualifier, 30 wins), Gavin Dillehy (15 wins), Edir Nevarez (25 wins).
Key returnees Seniors Patrick Lipscomb (119, 18 wins), Tim Einhorn (3rd, UEC, 130, 27 wins), Jordan Perez (19 wins, 171), Cam Martin (sectional qualifier, 215, 9 wins)
Newcomers to watch Sophomores Joey Rodriguez (140), Brett Baray (145), David Perez.
Outlook The Royals will miss a quartet of talented seniors who collected nearly 110 victories between them, including their lone state qualifier (Feliciano), however the cupboard isn't totally bare according to coach Mike Mulhearn. "We are fortunate to have a quality core group of returning seniors, who are very capable of winning a lot of matches for themselves and the team," Mulhearn said. Mulhearn adds there's more good news with the arrival of several rookies who have the potential to make an impact in their first varsity season.
South Elgin
Coach Mark Cameron
Last year 14-15 (4-1-0 Upstate Eight)
Graduation losses Nick Potts (3rd, UEC, 20 wins, Loyola), Dan Hoelting (24 wins, Illinois).
Key returnees Seniors Kevin Gianaris (112, 26 wins), Mike Schoening (sectional qualifier, 2nd, UEC, 189, 24 wins), Kyle Henry (285, 28 wins), Tyler Toczek (140, 19 wins).
Newcomers to watch Seniors Jake Randich (Class 1A second-place state medalist, regional, sectional champ, transfer from Driscoll, 189, 215, 33 wins), Tom Randich (sectional qualifier, regional champ, transfer from Driscoll, 28 wins), juniors Kyle Rodriguez (125, 20 wins), Billy Scott (140, 18 wins); sophomores Nick Citta (130), Cody Pych (145).
Outlook Already on course to improve on its season from a year ago, the Storm picked up some added firepower with the addition of the Randich brothers when Driscoll closed its doors to help give its club an even stronger group at the top of its lineup. "We were fortunate to have both Jake and Tom join us this season, and they will be joining a team which is made up of a bunch of hard-working kids who love this sport and have been willing to constantly work to get stronger, fit and ready to compete for the upcoming wrestling season," says Cameron. In just its fifth season, the Storm will field a mostly senior lineup and one that now has the experience to win critical matches in the third period when the opportunity arises.
Streamwood
Coach Bill Peach
Last year 9th, UEC.
Graduation losses Chad McMahon (4th, UEC, 25 wins), JD Palomo (18 wins), Nick Lockwood (14 wins), Frank Adame (23 wins), Luke McArthur (14 wins).
Key returnees Seniors Joey Mendoza (5th, UEC, 145, 14 wins), Ben Ortiz (285, 9 wins), Jerrick Gumila (171, 8 wins); junior Ben Fritz (171)
Newcomers to watch Juniors Mike Kim (152), Nico Khoshbin (215), Nathan Korpics (171), Garrett Surges (285)
Outlook Only 4 wrestlers return from the regional starting lineup (Mendoza, Fritz, Ortiz, Gumila) with the Sabres looking to the UEC medalist Mendoza to pick up where he left off after his strong run, which brought him close to a sectional appearance.
Note St. Edward failed to respond to messages for this preview.
<div id="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Related stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=341429">After much thought Zinke returns to D-C <span class="date">[12/04/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>