2008 Offseason

OPRF cracks top 40 in the nation -- ranked #38.

This information comes from a subscriber of Amateur Wrestling News....

Amateur Wrestling News (AWN) has just released its National Pre-Season Team Rankings.  AWN ranks the top 40 high school programs across the country.  Oak Park-River Forest comes in at number 38.  This further solidifies the claim that OPRF is primed to have a special season this year.  OPRF has steep Illinois competition, however.  Both Montini Catholic (#10) and Providence Catholic (#22) are also ranked nationally.  OPRF would only compete with Providence for individual and team titles due to the fact that Montini is in IHSA Class AA for wrestling.  OPRF and Providence are both in IHSA Class AAA. 

View the full list here.

Super 32 Challenge Results
November 1, 2008 - Greensboro, North Carolina

In perhaps the fastest-paced one day tournament in the country, six OPRF Huskies displayed a collectively courageous performance against a field of many of the nation's best wrestlers.  This preseason tournament featured over 1,000 wrestlers from over 34 states.  The field was tough.  175 of the tournament wrestlers were state champions.  Many more wrestlers medaled in their state competitions.  The Huskies came to the tournament to make noise -- and make noise they did.  Every single Huskie wrestled to a .500 record or better, half of the wrestlers placed in the top 8, and each place-winner scored a victory in his last bout. 

Here are the records and results:

Chris Dardanes (130 lb): 4-1 record; 1 victory away from placing.
Nick Dardanes (130 lb): 6-2 record; placed 7th.
Ellis Coleman (135 lb): 6-1 record; placed 3rd.
Sam Brooks (152 lb): 2-2 record; Sam is only a freshman.
Danny Martin (152 lb): 3-2 record; 2 victories away from placing.
Ben Brooks (189 lb): 5-2 record; placed 7th.

Overall, OPRF wrestlers won 26 of 36 matches for a winning percentage of 72%.

Visit super32.com for brackets and full results.  Brackets (103-140) | Brackets (145-285)

If you were "watching" the results come in via this website, thank you for your time and interest.  Early on November 1, I decided to post a few of the results online.  Well, a few grew into more, and I ended up "live blogging."  I had fun, but I don't think I'll be doing any of that for a long time.  I didn't get much of anything else done!  =)  And besides, I'll be there at the events next time.  This time, I could follow while sitting in my living room!  View my summary below:

Remembering Devontae Green

In tragic news, OPRF junior Devontae Green was killed in a motorcycle accident on October 25.  Devontae wrestled as a sophomore at OPRF until a nagging shoulder injury forced him to stop.

Taken from the Wednesday Journal article on 10/28/08:

For the complete article, click here.

Our thoughts and wishes go out to Ebony and her family.

Six Huskies to Compete in the Super 32 Challenge
November 1, 2008 - Greensboro, North Carolina

Ben Brooks, Sam Brooks, Ellis Coleman, Chris Dardanes, Nick Dardanes, and Dan Martin are preparing to compete in the Super 32 Challenge tournament that will take place on November 1, 2008 in Greensboro, NC.  The Super 32 Challenge is a national preseason tournament that is open to wrestlers from all states.  The 2008 competition will consist of approximately 1,250 wrestlers competing in 14 weight classes.  This individual competition has traditionally featured several state champions, state place winners, and nationally ranked wrestlers.  Good luck, Huskies!

Here are the wrestlers' weights in the tournament and years: Chris Dardanes (130, Jr.), Nick Dardanes (130, Jr.), Ellis Coleman (135, Sr.), Sam Brooks (152, Fr.), Danny Martin (152, Sr.), and Ben Brooks (189, Jr.).

Super 32: Homepage | Preview

OPRF & LH Wrestlers Had a Great Offseason!

Once again, Oak Park-River Forest and Little Huskies wrestlers had a tremendous offseason.  Here are some of the highlights:  (OPRF  LH)

• Ben Brooks won the Freshman-Sophomore State Championship at 194 lbs.
• Ryan Fish placed 6th at Folkstyle Nationals in the Novice division.
• OPRF had 8 place-winners at FILA Cadet Nationals.
• Three Little Huskies placed at the Illinois Greco-Roman State Championships, including Sam Brooks' 1st place finish.  Fourteen OPRF Huskies placed in the competition as well.  Lillashawn Coleman also took home a state championship.
• At the Northern Plains Freestyle Regionals, five Huskies competed.  Ellis Coleman and Chris Dardanes each finished 1st, and Nick Dardanes finished 2nd.
• The Illinois Freestyle State Championships had six OPRF place-winners.  Ben Brooks and Ellis Coleman took home titles.  Sam Brooks also took home a championship in the Schoolboy/girl division.
• Sam Brooks competed in the Schoolboy National Duals and had a combined record of 16-3 in both Greco-Roman and Freestyle.
• Ben Brooks competed in the Cadet National Duals in Greco and Freestyle.  His combined record was 8-1.
• OPRF sent four wrestlers to each of the Junior National Dual teams.  Kendall Hutchinson, Lillashawn Coleman, Ellis Coleman, and Dan Martin competed on the Greco team.  Nick Dardanes, Chris Dardanes, and Ellis and Lillashawn Coleman competed on the Freestyle team.  Both teams won 1st place in this National competition.
• OPRF had three place-winners in Fargo at Greco Nationals.  As a Cadet, Ben Brooks took 4th place.  Lillashawn Coleman (6th place) and Ellis Coleman (2nd place) took home medals in the Junior division.

For more information, visit our Offseason page.

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2007-2008 Season Review...

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