Leadership's a key for WW South
Wheaton Warrenville South is quietly having a fine season, with dual wins this year over Wheaton North and West Aurora, and a 9-5 dual record this year.
"It's a step in the right direction," said Tigers coach Ryan Ferguson. "We've had good senior leadership, and that's something that has really helped our team."
That leadership has come from Mike Olp, Bryce Mitchell, Jim Franke and Tim Savenok.
"Bryce is something like 15-9 at 145, but he's such a hard worker and the kids see that, and they buy into the belief that hard work is going to pay off," Ferguson said.
The Tigers have also had their share of match-winners this year. Savenok is 21-5 at 152, Franke is 19-2 at 171, Spartacus Chino is 21-3 at 135, and Olp is also 21-3 at 189 pounds.
"Chino has really stepped it up in the last few weeks," Ferguson said. "He made some changes with his technique, and he's a different wrestler because of it."
In the win over West Aurora, the Tigers led 28-3 when the Blackhawks reeled off 5 pins to take a 33-28 lead. Chino and Mitchell closed out the dual with a pair of victories that gave WWSouth the win.
"At our school there are so many sports that are so successful, that if we don't have success we can lose kids," Ferguson said. "It's our job and our goal to make our program just as successful, so the kids can take pride in what we're trying to accomplish."
Raiders 3rd at Glenbard West: Glenbard South got titles from Mike Peters (135) and Austin Teistma (285), and seconds from Andrew Hiller (130) and Channing Seeger (140) in placing third at Glenbard West's annual 8-team tournament on Saturday.
Angelo Minnitti (103), Pat Williams (125), and Ryan McKean (152) also won their last matches of the day on the third-place mat for the Raiders.
"We're getting a lot of young guys stepping up this year," Peters said.
Coach Derrick Crenshaw also likes what he's seeing thus far this year.
"They're getting better. We did a lot of wrestling over the summer, and that has made a big difference," Crenshaw said. "We ran a summer league and got about 300 total matches in.
"It's a young team. It's all juniors, for the most part. We only have four seniors in the lineup. Everybody else is real young, and they're learning. They have to stop making some basic mistakes, but it's a good group of kids to be around."
Hilltoppers' seniors leading the way: Sam Littlehale (112) was named the outstanding wrestler at Saturday's eight-team tournament hosted by the Hilltoppers, the Chris Chappell Invitational.
Littlehale posted 2 quick pins and upset one of the state's best at 112 in St. Charles East's Brandon Rubino.
"That was a big deal for Sam," said Hilltoppers coach Nick Posegay. "We were all real happy for him."
Littlehale finished fourth at the sectional in his sophomore year, but he struggled a bit last season. He improved this year's record to 23-4 with his title win in Glen Ellyn.
"He just keeps working harder. Everything we ask him to do, he does it hard," Posegay said. "And he's a good leader. He understands what his responsibility is as a senior leader."
The Hilltoppers' Mike Letmanski improved to 22-6 with a title win at 125 pounds on Saturday, winning a 13-2 decision on the title mat.
"He's been throwing a few different moves in with his arsenal, and he's not hesitating in the middle of his moves," Posegay said. "He has really turned it up a notch."
Dave Weaver also reached the title mat at 171 pounds for Glenbard West, and has gone 16-6 at 171 since dropping down from 189 pounds. Ethan Knowlton is also having a solid year for Posegay, with a 20-8 record at 130 pounds this year.