In depth perspectives: Huskie videos
on wrestling and family
01/31/2010
Several weeks ago, OPRF Head Coach Mike Powell sat
down with Michele Weldon to share several of his thoughts on video.
One of his four videos is embedded below. Since that time,
Michele has posted several other videos pertaining to OPRF wrestling
and family.
We thought you could enjoy these videos this week as
the Varsity squad prepares to reemerge this Saturday at 9 am for a
Regional at St. Ignatius High School. More details on the
Regional to come later in the week. Until Saturday (and beyond),
perhaps you'll enjoy watching some of these fine videos.
Weekend preview: Varsity has bye, JV,
Sophomore and Freshman finish 2009-2010 season with tournaments
01/27/2010
On Saturday, February 6, the Varsity Huskies will
re-enter matland with its IHSA Regional at St. Ignatius High School
(Chicago). They are off this weekend.
However, there are three levels of OPRF wrestling in
action. All three take place on Saturday.
Junior Varsity team
| Travels to Hinsdale South for a
tournament. Wrestling begins at 9:00 am.
Sophomore team
|Travels to York for the
conference tournament. Wrestling begins at 8:00 am.
Freshman team
| Travels to Lyons Township. Other
teams include conference foes Hinsdale Central, York, Glenbard West,
and Proviso West and cross-conference foes Hinsdale South and Morton.
Wrestling begins at 9:00 am.
Freshmen second to none:
Varsity/Freshman tourney overview
01/26/2010
1st place Freshman (photo by Peter
Kowalczuk)
OPRF's Freshman group bested the field en route to the
team title. Five Freshman Huskies took home individual titles:
Jake O'Mara (130), Sam Koenigsburg (135), Joe Ariola (152), James
Henry (160), and Nick Kowalczuk (215).
* - Bracket needs two corrections at 171 pounds: Corey
Cepak of OPRF-O took 4th and Luke Pederson of OPRF-B took 6th.
In Varsity's last regular season action, OPRF tied
Marmion for second in the team standings. This is the same
Marmion team that took first to the Huskies' second at the Conant
tournament in November.
Here are the Varsity results:1st - Nick Dardanes (140), Ben Brooks (189); 2nd - Chris
Dardanes (135), Sam Brooks (160), Brock Friesen (171), LaQuan
Hightower (215); 3rd - Charlie Johnson (152); 4th -
Cameron Harris (103), Colin Rogers (119); 5th - Anthony Manetti
(145); 6th - Marq Brumant (285); DNP - Darius Henry
(112), Frankie Picchiotti (125), Chirino Watson (130).
To view the Varsity bracket of Saturday's tournament,
click here.
Worth one more look: Fred Arkin
elected to Hall of Fame
01/24/2010
I came across this article about Fred written by a
member of the IWCOA Hall of Fame selection committee:
Fred Arkin began his wrestling career at OPRF. He then
went on to wrestle at Washington University in St. Louis, where he was
a Division II National qualifier at 167 pounds. Fred coached for both
the Oak Park Junior Huskies and the Warhawks. He also coached for the
Junior Cougars in Hoffman Estates. He is a Bronze Level Certified
coach for USA Wrestling. Fred also served in the Illinois Wrestling
Federation’s coaching staff in the Kids, Cadet and Junior Nationals
divisions. Fred is currently the tournament director for Conant HS
tournament as well as for the OPRF tournament. Fred is currently the
Freshman wrestling coach at OPRF. For all of these accomplishments,
and all of the things he has done for the sport of wrestling, the
Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association has elected Fred Arkin into its Hall of Fame.
Congratulations, Mr. Fred Arkin!
Pack the place and then some: Little
Huskies tournament a big hit
01/24/2010
If you host it, they will come (left).
A few of the many enjoy a moment before the next wave hits (right).
In its third major event in three days (did someone
say, "Three-peat"?), the OPRF Field House hosted the Little
Huskies/Susan P. Collins Memorial Tournament. It was busy, busy
and fun, fun. Kids of all ages had their shot at the prestigious
Little Huskie medallions. Many of our own junior members of the
Orange & Blue
Wrecking Crew participated as well. We even had one wrestle
in two separate brackets: Drew Matticks! If you've never heard
the name before, I suggest you look him up on your favorite search
engine.
We certainly could not have done this without all of
the dedication and efforts from wrestlers, family members, and die
hard fans. A special thanks to Matt McDermott, Mike Powell, and
the legion of can-doers.
Second to one: OPRF ties for
runner-up at home tourney
Six Huskies in the finals as Nick Dardanes and
Ben Brooks take titles · 01/23/2010
OPRF's Field House (above in 2009)
hosted the action.
Just to make the finals in the ultra-tough single day
tournament is an achievement. Six Huskies made that a reality:
Chris Dardanes (135), Nick Dardanes (140), Sam Brooks (160), Brock
Friesen (171), Ben Brooks (189), and LaQuan Hightower (215).
Only two were successful in the championship round: Nick Dardanes and
Ben Brooks. To see the finals results, please visit
Illinois Matmen.
In the team battle, Minooka won the tournament as OPRF
and Marmion tied for third.
More to come on this tournament soon.
Silver is gold: OPRF wins conference
title in 36-28 win over Lyons
Huskies outhustle, outmuscle pesky Lions en
route to 18th consecutive conference victory ·
01/22/2010
Wrestlers and coaches celebrate
the "three peat." (Photo by Brian Tideman)
For the third straight season, you and I can share the
words, "Oak Park-River Forest is conference champion." On this
late January night, the Huskies welcomed a fierce, familiar foe in the
Lions of Lyons Township. In rivalry matchups, spectators yell
(do they ever), hearts palpitate, and legends persevere. All
were true in this case as the West Suburban (Silver) Conference title
was in the balance.
The action began prior to the first bout when OPRF seniors and their
families were honored. Once again, may we extend our deepest
congratulations and thanks to these amazing young men and their
families.
The dual began at 140 pounds. The Huskies (18-2, 6-0) sent out
their state champion to get the ball moving in their direction.
Nick Dardanes scored a decision victory over one of LT's best in Matt
Nora. The Lions surged to a 10-3 lead after wins by Lucas Polka
and RJ Dilcher. The Huskies took the next four bouts with a team
point combo of 6-5-4-3 (respectively) in wins by Sammy Brooks (160),
Brock Friesen, Nick Kowalczuk, and Ben Brooks (215). Benny's
victory was over Joe Gonzalez (ranked #8 at 215). LaQuan
Hightower won his heavyweight debut this year with a decision victory,
and Cameron Harris kept the party going with a major decision at 103.
Lyons Township (14-6, 3-2) won three of the following four matches
(victories by Bob Gavrick, Kevin Reimer, and Drew Bates) to pull
within 32-28. Colin Rogers (119) picked up the lone victory for
the Huskies in that stretch. In the final bout, Jack Windmoeller
had to beat Chris Dardanes by at least 8 for a Lyons team victory.
Few in the Field House thought this was possible, and Chris Dardanes
proved them right in an 18-5 triumph.
Huskie Highlight: Who cares?
Sit back and enjoy, everyone. At least for tonight.
Tomorrow's tournament brings a new challenge.
For more on Saturday's tournament, look below on this page.
Saturday tournament update: Wrestling
begins at 9 am
01/21/2010
Saturday's wrestling is slated to begin at 9:00 am.
It was previously reported to begin at 8 am. The Varsity teams
are: Oak Park-River Forest, Minooka, Marmion, Notre Dame-Niles, Argo,
Sandwich, Riverside-Brookfield, Morton, Lyons Township, Fort Zumwalt West
(MO), and Hartland Arrowhead (WI). The Freshman tournament
should be an elite affair as well.
Speaking of Lyons Township, come one, come all to
Friday night's conference showdown!
OPRF shoots for its 3rd
straight conference title against rival Lyons Township!!
OPRF High School!!
Junior Varsity 1 and 2 to begin at 6 pm!!
Varsity to begin at approximately 7:30!!
Huskie Pride!!
Final fury: Upcoming weekend marks
end of Varsity regular season
OPRF HS to host Lyons for conference title
(Friday), OPRF tournament (Saturday), Little Huskies (Sunday) ·
01/17/2010
Friday: The dual season comes to an end as
Lyons Township (all levels) travels to OPRF in a rivalry affair.
Much is on the line, as OPRF (5-0 in conference) must defeat the Lions
(3-1 in conference) for the third straight time to garner its third
straight conference championship. Junior Varsity wrestling is
slated for 6:00 pm with Varsity and Freshman at approximately 7:30 pm.
Here is a snapshot of the rankings (per Illinois Matmen)
updated 1/20:
Saturday: OPRF will leave the mats out as it runs two
tournaments (Varsity and Freshman). In the Varsity tilt, old and
new faces will be abound. The Varsity Huskies welcome Lyons
Township, Arrowhead (WI), Fort Zumwalt West (MO), Marmion, and Minooka
among others. The Freshman tourney will consist of a different
lineup. The tournament is slated to begin at 9:00 am.
Sunday: The Little Huskies (click
to visit their website) will run their annual youth tournament,
the Susan P. Collins Tournament, in the Field House. If you can
volunteer during this day, it is greatly appreciated. Please
contact the Little Huskies coaches (littlehuskieswrestling@yahoo.com).
The building is packed, and any and all help is greatly appreciated.
(Dundee-)Crown us kings for the day:
Huskies win all three in quad
Winning the name of the game as OPRF ends with
eye-popping 71-6 victory over host Chargers · 01/16/2010
Dundee-Crown's gym hosted the action.
The trip to Carpentersville was one of the longer one
day travels the Huskies have made this season, but it sure was one of
the most enjoyable. OPRF took all three duals by a combined
score of 161-46. The Huskies defeated Lane 48-18, Prospect
42-22, and Dundee-Crown 71-6. Dundee-Crown did elect to wrestle
with mostly Junior Varsity wrestlers in its dual with Oak Park.
Winning Huskie wrestlers on the day were Cameron Harris (3-0 @ 103),
Darius Henry (2-1 @ 112), Colin Rogers (2-1 @ 119), Frankie Picchiotti
(2-1 @ 125), Nate Crain (2-1 @ 135), Chris Dardanes (3-0 @ 140), Tony
Manetti (2-0 @ 145), Brock Friesen (3-0 @ 171), Nick Kowalczuk (1-0 @
189), Ben Brooks (2-0 @ 189), LaQuan Hightower (3-0 @ 215), and Marq
Brumant (3-0 @ 285). Two bouts of note came when Max Schneider
of Lane (#2 @ 145) defeated Nick Dardanes (#1 @ 140) by a score of
13-5. Also, in an off the record exhibition, Chris Dardanes (#2
@ 135) defeated Blaise Butler of Boylan (#3 @ 135) by a score of 10-6.
Huskie Highlight:
Nate Crain. Nate came out with a fury on Saturday in a technical
fall victory over his first opponent. After a tough loss in the
middle round, Nate returned with an outstanding showing in the last
round. After trailing early 6-2, he outscored his combatant
by a score of 5-0 in the third period to win the match in the final
seconds. Congratulations, Nate!
Next week, all
levels will wrestle at home on Friday against Lyons Township in the
last conference meet of the season. On Saturday, OPRF will again
host its yearly Varsity and Freshman tournaments.
Panthers tamed: OPRF defeats Proviso
West 46-22
Huskies fare well across the board, spoil
Panthers' Senior Night · 01/15/2010
Proviso West's field house hosted the action.
Proviso West came into this matchup with six ranked
wrestlers (one was injured). However, the Panthers have major
holes in their Varsity lineup. In the dual within the dual,
Proviso West won the bout count 5-4. Due to the unopposed bouts,
the Huskies (14-2, 5-0) breezed to the conference victory.
Tonight's dual was also a great opportunity for Huskies to step in
with a few major contributors watching from the bench. The dual
began at 135 pounds. Chris Dardanes defeated Jameer Thurman by
major decision. At 140, the Panthers' Devin Weaver won by fall
over Nate Crain. Nick Dardanes (145) scored a tech fall victory
over Reggie Smith. Proviso West scored the next two victories (Malik
Thurman over Brian Toledo and James Burns over Ivan Castro). The
Huskies' Brock Friesen wrestled a phenomenal match against Julius
Johnson in a 7-1 Friesen decision win at 171. At 189, Nick
Kowalczuk fared well but lost to Rasheen Lemon. At 103, Cameron
Harris and Roderick Smith went toe to toe, but the Panthers' Smith
took the 3-0 win. In the last contested bout of the dual, Colin
Rogers kept his momentum going with a 12-1 major decision.
Huskies winning by forfeit were LaQuan Hightower (215), Marq Brumant
(285), Darius Henry (112), Frankie Picchiotti (125), and Chirino
Watson (130).
Huskie Highlight:
Ivan Castro. Ivan made his Varsity debut with the Huskies.
After giving up two first period takedowns, Ivan's defense improved
with his opponent only managing two more during the remainder of the
match (the latter was highly questionable).
Congratulations, Ivan!
It appeared to my untrained eye
that all levels handled Proviso West pretty easily. That marks
two straight conference duals where OPRF's all levels won.
Hall Call: Oak Park's own Fred Arkin
elected to Hall of Fame
01/12/2010
The New Hall of
Fame Inductees will include: Fred Arkin - Oak
Park; Dan Carroll - St. Rita; James Chalupka - Chicago;
Terry Clarke - York; Ron Coit - Farmer City; Bob Grizzi - Reavis;
Marty Kaiser - Rockton-Hononegah; Robert Long - Yorkville; Foster
McCarthy - Champaign Central; Tom Seeman - Crystal Lake Central; Jeff
Simon - Peoria Richwoods; Dr. Wayne Watson - Chicago and Neil Weiner -
Wheeling. Congratulations to All.
If you have further information on this wonderful
achievement, please email us. Send us a picture, too, if you
have one!
From all of us in the Oak
Park, River Forest, and Oak Park-River Forest communities, let us say
thank you, Fred, for your tireless work, amazing contributions, and
generous spirit. A well-earned congratulations!
"Reading
is to the mind what exercise is to the body." ~ Joseph Addison
Please enjoy the many articles about OPRF wrestling
found on the web. They can easily be found in our
Articles section.
Chicago Tribune photo by Chris Sweda for Chicago Tribune article on
Jan. 10.
Home cookin': OPRF defeats Wheaton
N., Libertyville, and St. Rita
Very long day leaves Huskie faithful happy after
notching three wins · 01/09/2010
The setup was similar to the one in 2008-2009 (above).
The home quad is a cherished event. Instead of
driving to locales like Glenbard North, Conant, or Dundee-Crown for
the day, you can read your morning paper before putting on your boots
and coat for a short trip to OPRF High School. The only bad
thing about this quad was the length. It's a sign of good and
balanced wrestling. The Huskies (13-2, 4-0) prevailed in three
tests of "good and balanced wrestling" in their friendly confines
today. OPRF defeated Wheaton North (33-16), Libertyville
(31-22), and St. Rita (47-22).
Winning Huskies on the
day were Colin Rogers (2-1 @ 119), Frankie Picchiotti (3-0 @ 125),
Chris Dardanes (3-0 @ 135), Anthony Manetti (2-1 @ 140), Nick Dardanes
(3-0 @ 145), Charlie Johnson (3-0 @ 152), Sammy Brooks (3-0 @ 160),
Brock Friesen (2-1 @ 171), and LaQuan Hightower (3-0 @ 215).
LaQuan scored a nice decision victory over the #9 wrestler in state,
Luke Miller of Libertyville. Also of note, Ben Brooks was out
ill for the Huskies, and Eddie Guen-Murray (189) made his Varsity
debut.
Huskie Highlight:
Colin Rogers. Colin is beginning to get settled into the 119
weight class. Colin's only loss on the day was to a ranked
wrestler. In the other two bouts, Colin utilized a combination
of takedowns and near falls to blaze his way to victory.
Congratulations, Colin!
Next week, OPRF (all levels) travels to Proviso
West for the penultimate conference dual of the year. On
Saturday, Varsity travels to Dundee-Crown for a quad; Junior Varsity
travels to New Trier for a quad; Sophomore travels to Niles-Notre Dame
for a tournament; and Freshman travels to Morton-East for a
tournament.
King of the hill: OPRF tops 'toppers
of Glenbard West 68-3
Varsity flirts with perfection as all four
squads handily defeat the Hilltoppers · 01/08/2010
Glenbard West ruled the conference this year in
football. Their wrestling team is quite another story. The
Huskies made the trek to Glen Ellyn and finished with four team
victories in four tries. The home fans and production were
great, but they endured an OPRF run that neared a shutout. It's
difficult to say that a team is "running up the score," since
wrestling is -- in its purest form -- an individual sport. Each
individual wrestler wants to grow and do well. OPRF won 13 of 14
bouts en route to the lopsided victory. In other unofficial
scores, OPRF defeated Glenbard West in Junior Varsity (58-24), Junior
Varsity 2 (72-15*), and Freshman (39-33).
* - I'm not sure how this total is possible, since the
most cumulative points in a 14 bout dual is 84. A team can lose
a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct, but a team can never be
awarded a team point. So, for example, a team can win 84-0, or a
team can win 84-(-1). Oh well, it was a pasting nonetheless.
Huskie Highlight: The entire team. Each wrestler
and coach contributed to the momentum that brought on tonight's
avalanche. Enjoy this one. Congratulations, Huskies!
There's "snow" stopping them: Huskies
control Red Devils 38-31
LaQuan Hightower's return to the lineup
highlights hard fought victory · 01/07/2010
The anticipation had been building for months.
Hinsdale Central, undefeated in dual meets this season coming into its
match with Oak Park-River Forest, had its sights set on dethroning the
champion Huskies and perhaps attaining the crown for itself.
However, the Red Devils tasted defeat for the first time as the
Huskies extended their consecutive conference dual meet streak to 15
duals.
OPRF (9-2, 3-0) began the dual with Hinsdale Central
at 112 pounds. Darius Henry, an impressive freshman with a
limitless sky, gave a spirited performance but lost to Matt Freyn of
the Red Devils. Hinsdale Central extended to a 10-0 lead
after a win by Ernest Battaglia at 119 pounds. The Huskies won
six of the next seven matches to claim a 26-13 lead. Frankie
Picchiotti muscled a fall victory at 125 pounds before Chrino Watson
won a gutsy overtime decision for the Huskies. At 135, two
ranked wrestlers came to head as Chris Dardanes (#2) scored a major
decision over Terry Ward (Honorable Mention). Oak Park's Tony
Manetti lost a close decision at 140, but Nick Dardanes (fall),
Charlie Johnson (decision), and Sammy Brooks (major decision) all won.
At 171, David Lutz (#8 at 171) scored a pinfall victory over Brock
Friesen to cut the lead to 26-19. OPRF persevered with pins by
Ben Brooks (189) and LaQuan Hightower (215). Jack Allen (#3 at
285) and Tommy Ward scored falls for Hinsdale Central to end the meet,
but it was too little too late. The Huskies won 38-31.
Huskie Highlight:
Frankie Picchiotti and Chirino Watson. In back-to-back bouts,
these two got the tide rolling in the Huskies' direction.
Frankie won by a fall in 3:06, and Chirino rode out his opponent in
the third period before prevailing in overtime. Congratulations,
Frankie and Chirino!
"Fresh" Perspective: The Freshman team jolted
Hinsdale Central by a score of 48-29. OPRF's Junior Varsity won,
too.
Thursday throwdown highlights two
home events this week
Conference battles with Hinsdale C. (home),
Glenbard W. (away) lead to Saturday OPRF quad · 01/04/2010
Thursday - Jan. 7 - vs. Hinsdale Central - HOME -
JV at 6:00, V at approx. 7:30
I can assure you that the Hinsdale Central Red Devils
are licking their chops in anticipation of Thursday's mega-dual at
OPRF High School. They may even be sharpening their pitchforks
in preparation. In recent years, Hinsdale Central has been at
the upper echelon of the conference and state, only to be foiled by
Oak Park (or Lyons Township). Last year's HC/OPRF dual was an
aberration, with OPRF winning the first 8 bouts in the dual. Two
years ago, a big Ben Brooks fall after -- ahem -- being on his back,
propelled the Huskies to a 42-15 victory over the Devils that had a
number of matches that could have gone either way.
Why should you come to OPRF High School this Thursday?
My answer will be five fold:
The dual could be for the conference title.
Nothing is for sure as both teams have yet to play Lyons Township.
It's cold outside. It's warm in the high
school.
These kids are phenomenal athletes. It is an
absolute treat watching them get after it.
The Huskies have won 14 consecutive conference
duals. Hinsdale Central hasn't. 'Nuff said.
Mike Powell is the "Garry Kasparov" of IHSA
Wrestling.
Head to head facts:
Hinsdale Central (10-0, 3-0) - Ranked #15 in the state
- Five ranked wrestlers
Oak Park-River Forest (8-2, 2-0) - Ranked #9 in the
state - Seven ranked wrestlers
All levels will wrestle vs. Hinsdale Central (JV at
6:00, Varsity at approx. 7:30)
Friday - Jan. 8 - at Glenbard West - Away - JV at
6:00, V at approx. 7:30
All levels - Conference dual
Saturday - Jan. 9 - OPRF Quad - HOME - V and JV at
10:00
Libertyville (#12 team in state), St. Rita (Honorable
Mention in state), Wheaton North (also HM)
Freshman - Saturday - Jan. 9 - at New Trier Quad -
Away - F at 9:00
It's all about the Benjamins: Ben
Brooks is rich with 100 victories
Four years of intense work ethic, exponential
growth drive the OPRF senior · 01/03/2010
Ben Brooks won his weight class at
Conant this year. (Photo by Peter Kowalczuk)
"Blazin'" Benny Brooks has been setting opponents and
mats on fire as an Oak Park-River Forest Huskie since the 2006-2007
season. At the Granite City tournament, Ben won his 100th
Varsity match. Also known as "The Bulldozer," Benny immediately
entrenched himself into the history books by being the first non-103
pound freshman to advance to individual sectionals (Ben took 2nd at
171 pounds in the 2007 regional).
As a sophomore, Ben engaged in an epic battle in the
3rd place match at individual sectionals that he ultimately lost.
Ben did not advance to state because only the top three finishers were
able to compete in Champaign. Ben shrugged it off en route to
the 194 pound state title in the Illinois freshman-sophomore state
tournament.
As a junior, Ben placed 2nd at individual sectionals
and made the state tournament for the first time. He did not
place, but his future contributions were elemental in aiding the
Huskies to their first team title in history. Prior to the
2009-2010 season, Ben signed a letter of intent to wrestle at the
University of North Carolina.
Benny has unfinished business during this senior
season. Without question, he is focused on a state title.
His 136 takedowns are second on the team behind Nick Dardanes' 150.
His contributions aren't only for himself, as he serves as a mentor
and leader to the younger wrestlers on the squad.
Career records: 12-12, 29-11, 42-6, 22-3 (and
counting)
Granite growth: OPRF places second as
team matures
Big first day paces the Huskies with everyone
contributing · 12/31/2009
Players and coaches gather after
receiving their 2nd place team trophy (middle).
Granite City tournament preview: New
format, teams
Missouri, Illinois clash as competition will
wrestle out places 1-24 · 12/25/2009
Picture from 2008-2009 season
tournament.
Last year, OPRF beat out 17 other teams to won the
Granite City crown. This year's tournament is quite a bit
different. There are 24 teams this year instead of 18.
This year's format is similar to the "old" Kansas City Toshiba Midwest
Classic. There will be pool play on day one with three brackets
(red, black, and white) on day two. Wrestlers will wrestle out
to places 1-24 in each weight.
When: Tues
and Wed, December 29 and 30 Where: Granite City High School (Granite City, IL)
| 3101 Madison Avenue, Granite City, IL,
62040 Times: Tuesday at 8:30 AM; Wednesday at 8:30 AM Finals: Wednesday 5:00 PM on two mats in main gym (103 &
285, 112 & 215, etc.)
Format:Wrestling is expanded to two rooms.
On the first day, wrestlers will compete in a round robin pool of 6
wrestlers. After wrestling up to five matches on day one, the
top two wrestlers will advance to championship bracket (red), the
middle two wrestlers will advance to middle bracket (black), and the
bottom two wrestlers will advance to consolation bracket (white).
Starting fresh on the second day, wrestlers in each bracket will be
wrestled out from 1-8. Teams to watch:IL:
OPRF, Granite City, Edwardsville; MO:
Neosho, Oak Park, Ft. Zumwalt West, Francis Howell Central, Francis
Howell North, Raymore-Peculiar Team scoring: Team scoring will be kept for all
wrestlers on day one, and for only the red (championship) and black
(middle) brackets. White (consolation) bracket wrestlers will
not score team points during their matches on day two.
Two headed monster: Dardanes duo leads
OPRF with Dvorak titles
Sam Brooks, Brock Friesen, and Ben Brooks also
place; Huskies finish 7th of 30 · 12/22/2009
"You have to dance with the girl who brung ya." At this
tournament, the Huskies fielded entrants in 11 of 14 slots.
Nearly half, five, of those eleven placed at this la creme de la
creme tournament.
Placing for OPRF were Chris Dardanes (1st @ 135), Nick Dardanes (1st @
140), Sam Brooks (4th @ 160), Brock Friesen (8th @ 171), and Ben
Brooks (4th @ 189).
Chris Dardanes defeated Greg
Jackson (Edwardsville) in the finals and Tyler Argue (Mt. Carmel) in
the semifinals. Nick Dardanes
defeated Stephen Robertson (Montini) in the finals and Matt Nora
(Lyons Township) in the semifinals.
Charlie Johnson turned -- and pinned -- the #10 ranked
152'er in the state, Lyons Township's RJ Dilcher.
Benny Brooks won his 99th career
Varsity match. His next victory will be his 100th.
Kris Ellis made his Varsity debut
with the Huskies.
OPRF Varsity next visits Granite City, IL (St. Louis area), for a two
day tournament this coming Tuesday and Wednesday (Dec. 29-30).
Dvorak tournament preview: Machesney
Park (Harlem HS) to host
OPRF Varsity to test its mettle against loaded
field this Monday and Tuesday · 12/18/2009
The 30-team individual tournament hosts some of the best in-state
talent. It even has a spice of out of state talent as well.
We hope you consider driving to Machesney Park (north of Rockford) on
Monday and/or Tuesday to support the Huskies.
When: Mon
and Tues, December 21 and 22 Where: Harlem High School (Machesney Park, IL)
| 9229 N. Alpine, Machesney Park, IL
61115 Times: Monday at 9:30 AM; Tuesday at 9:00 AM Finals: Tuesday at 2:00 PM (1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th place
matches) Info:
Dvorak PDF
Teams (as of 11/16/09): Barrington, Bishop Lynch
(TX), Bloom Township, Bolingbrook,
Crystal Lake Central, Dixon, Dundee-Crown,
Edwardsville, Fenwick, Glenbard North, Harlem, Hersey, Hoffman Estates,
Hononegah, Iowa City West, Libertyville, Lyons
Township, Mahomet-Seymour, Marist, Montini, Morton, Mt. Carmel, Neuqua
Valley, Oak Park & River Forest, Plainfield Central, Providence, Springboro
(OH), St. Rita, Wheaton North,
Yorkville
Here is a Dvorak preview by InterMat
(thank you to Charlie Brooks for the find):
Fourteen wrestlers currently ranked by
InterMat anchor the field, with three slated to compete at 160 pounds;
which, like last year, will be the featured weight bracket of the
event. Nick Moore (Iowa City West, IA) -- ranked second in the country
- seeks to repeat as Dvorak champion in a weight that his teammate
Derek St. John, now at Iowa, won last year. The two prime challengers
will be Nick Proctor (Neuqua Valley, IL ) and Jahwon Akui (St. Rita,
IL); Proctor is ranked eighth at 171, and Akui ranked ninth in this
weight. Three other wrestlers will lead the charge seeking to derail
the big three -- Trey Adamson (Bishop Lynch, TX); Sam Brooks (Oak Park
River Forest, IL); and Jeff Koepke (Hersey, IL).
While there is only one ranked wrestler at 189 pounds -- 16th ranked
Stephen McPeek (Bishop Lynch, TX) -- the competition will be very
rigorous. Challengers of note include Cadet freestyle champion Austin
Mardsen (Crystal Lake Central, IL); two-time Super 32 placer Ben
Brooks (Oak Park River Forest, IL); and a pair of state placers in
Sterling Hecox (Machesney Park Harlem, IL) and Matthew Dwyer
(Hononegah , IL).
At 135 pounds, Chris Dardanes (Oak Park River Forest, IL) and Jed
Lightfoot (Yorkville, IL) are ranked; Dardanes 13th at this weight,
and Lightfoot 17th at 130 pounds. Two others to watch are Tyler Argue
(Mount Carmel, IL) and Troy Silver (Bishop Lynch, TX), who placed
fifth and sixth at the Walsh Ironman. Finally at 140 pounds, Nick
Dardanes (Oak Park River Forest, IL) is ranked second in the country
while Stephen Robertson (Montini Catholic, IL) is ranked 17th at 135
pounds.
Swept away by the Caravan: OPRF falls
48-19 to Mt. Carmel
#9 Huskies fall to #3 team in the state; win
only 4 of 14 bouts · 12/17/2009
Mt. Carmel and OPRF were one bout away from meeting
last season. In the IHSA State Dual Team quarterfinals, Mt.
Carmel faced Edwardsville while OPRF faced Naperville Central.
As you know, Naperville Central fell to OPRF. An Edwardsville
victory in the last bout propelled them to a date with the Huskies.
Fans of a Mt. Carmel/OPRF matchup had to wait -- until now.
The dual began at 112 pounds. OPRF (8-2, 2-0)
was shorthanded with Chrino Watson and Chris Dardanes sitting out with
nagging injuries. The Caravan took the first three bouts until
the Huskies' Frankie Picchiotti won in an injury default over Kevin
Skryzpiec. Mt. Carmel led 16-6. Two Varsity newcomers for
OPRF (Nate Crain @ 135 and Andrew Davenport @ 140) gave their best but
fell. Nick Dardanes (145) notched the second win for the Huskies
against Tim Corse. Mt. Carmel won the next four including a
matchup between Charles Argue (#1 at 171) and Sammy Brooks (#4 at
160). Sammy lost his second match this year against #1
opponents. He lost to Nick Proctor of Neuqua Valley (#1 at 160)
last week. Ben Brooks (215) and Cameron Harris (103) won two out
of the final three bouts with a tech fall and decision, respectively.
Huskie Highlight:
Cameron Harris. After being blitzed to a 7-1 deficit, Cameron
regained composure and outscored his opponent by a score of 16-3 to
end the match in a 17-10 decision victory. Cameron persevered
wrestling Huskie Style! Congratulations, Cameron!
OPRF Varsity to attend Dvorak tournament this Monday
and Tuesday. OPRF Junior Varsity and Freshman to visit Lake Park
on Friday (12/18). OPRF Sophomore to visit Maine South on
Saturday (12/19) for a tourney.
Chris and Nick Dardanes: All-Century
Duo
Senior twins eclipsed the 100 win mark as
juniors · 12/14/2009
On January 15, 2009, Chris (left) won
his 100th Varsity bout. Two days later, Nick (right)
collected his 100th Varsity win. (Photos by Brian Tideman from
2008-2009 season.)
(January 15, 2009; OPRF at
Hinsdale Central)
Announcer 1:
Here comes Chris Dardanes for the Huskies....His opponent will be Brad
O'Donnell for the Red Devils. Announcer 2: Right you are, Hal. Here we go.
Takedown Dardanes, escape O'Donnell, takedown Dardanes, another escape
O'Donnell, takedown Dardanes.... Announcer 1: It looks like Dardanes is dominating, Ken. Announcer 2: I agree. Second period now, Dardanes chooses
bottom...quick escape. Takedown, Dardanes...near fall! Announcer 1: Three more takedowns for Dardanes. He's got
O'Donnell's number. Announcer 2: You called it. Third period now...and one
more takedown for good measure. And that's it! Chris
Dardanes has just won his 100th Varsity match with a 17-7 major
decision over Brad O'Donnell of Hinsdale Central!
Congratulations, Chris!
(January 17, 2009; OPRF at Dundee-Crown)
Announcer 1: The Huskies keep on rolling.
That victory over Dundee-Crown was OPRF's 17th in a row to start the
season. It's time for OPRF to face Boylan. Announcer 2: Huskie Style wrestling is in full force today,
Hal. This team appears to be on a mission.... Announcer 1: Let's settle into this next bout. Nick
Dardanes is up for the Huskies. He'll face Lucas Schumacker of
Boylan. Announcer 2: There's the whistle. Takedown Dardanes!
Escape Schumacker. Takedown...to his back! It's 9-3
Dardanes after the first! Second period...more back points for
Dardanes, and three more takedowns! Announcer 1: It looks like Dardanes might tech here, Ken. Announcer 2: Dardanes will score a fall or tech for sure, I'd
say. Third period....takedown, escape, takedown, more back!
It's over at 5:32. Nick Dardanes has just won his 100th Varsity
match with a 26-10 technical fall over Lucas Schumacker of Boylan!
Congratulations, Nick!
The 2008-2009 season set all sorts of milestones for the Huskies.
Aside from the team, there were several individual accolades.
For three plus seasons now, Chris Dardanes and Nick Dardanes have
shown the state of Illinois how determined and talented they are.
On cold January days, Chris and Nick climbed the summit that is 100
career victories. These two have amassed several achievements in
their careers, many more than we will ever hope to post. Here is
a look at the records of these two amazing athletes.
Who's the next Huskie to 100 victories? Ben Brooks needs only
five more to realize that feat. You can be sure that Chris and
Nick will be one of the first to congratulate him. They know
first hand the time, energy, and dedication that is needed to
accomplish such a moment.
Huskie hiccup: OPRF wins first two
before losing to Neuqua Valley
Huskies defeat West Aurora and Glenbard North;
winning streak ends at 35 · 12/12/2009
On Saturday, the Huskies visited Glenbard North for a
quadrangular clash with West Aurora, Glenbard North, and Neuqua
Valley. The day started well for the Huskies, blitzing the
Blackhawks of West Aurora to a 38-6 lead. West Aurora finished
strong but fell to OPRF 44-24. OPRF received falls from Chris
Dardanes, Sammy Brooks, Nick Kowalczuk, and Benny Brooks.
In the second matchup, the Glenbard North dual with
the Huskies was a seesaw affair. OPRF opened with a 31-0 lead
after seven straight victories: Chris Dardanes (135), Anthony Manetti,
Nick Dardanes, Charlie Johnson, Sammy Brooks, Brock Friesen, and Benny
Brooks (189). The Panthers returned with five straight victories
of their own (215-119). The 125 pound match was pivotal; Chirino
Watson needed a win of any kind to ensure team victory. He came
through with an 8-2 decision over Jorge Rocha of Glenbard North.
The Panthers' Joey Gosinski finished the dual with a fall, but the
Huskies prevailed 34-33.
OPRF met Neuqua Valley in the last dual of the day.
The dual began at 140 pounds, and Anthony Manetti and Nick Dardanes
scored decision victories for the Huskies. Neuqua Valley scored
the next four victories with two decisions and two falls. Ben
Brooks took an OPRF forfeit at 215, but the Wildcats took four of the
next five bouts, with Cameron Harris taking a forfeit at 103.
Frankie Picchiotti scored a major decision over Julian Ochoa of Neuqua
Valley at 130. Chris Dardanes finished the dual with a forfeit
victory at 135. After 35 successes, the OPRF Varsity took second
in a dual meet.
Going undefeated on the day were Chris Dardanes (3-0,
135), Nick Dardanes (3-0, 140/145), Anthony Manetti (3-0, 140/145),
and Ben Brooks (3-0, 189/215).
As any coach will tell you, the regular season is
preparation for February (when the playoffs begin). Today is one
of the many, many lessons that will shape this squad for the future.
To the future and beyond!
Huskie Highlight:
Anthony Manetti. Anthony, known as "A...Tony" to some, scored
three decisions against three tough-as-nails opponents while
completing a perfect day. He now holds an impressive record of
10-3 on the season. Congratulations, Anthony!
OPRF (all levels) host Mt. Carmel this coming Thursday
night, December 17.
Let's play chess: Powell, Huskies
outduel McGrath, Trojans
Head coaches match wits as OPRF finishes dual
with four straight wins · 12/11/2009
Friday's conference matchup between the OPRF Huskies
and Downers Grove North Trojans was one to remember -- if you were an
OPRF fan. The Huskies entered the dual with a 1-0 conference
record after beating York. Downers Grove North had not yet
wrestled a WSC (Silver) dual this season. The anticipation was
building in many circles, and the dual did not disappoint.
The dual began at 160 pounds. Sammy Brooks began the dual in
fantastic fashion with a fall victory. Brock Friesen battled toe
to toe with Danny Balderas (ranked #8 at 171) but lost in a decision.
Nick Kowalczuk and Benny Brooks continued well for OPRF with a
decision and fall victory, respectively. OPRF's Marq Brumant
made his Varsity debut and gave up plenty in weight but nothing in
heart. Marq scored an impressive 4-3 victory at heavyweight over Mikey Foreman.
The Trojans began a roll with a decision victory by
Cory Signa (ranked Honorable Mention at 103) over Cameron Harris.
The Trojans won the next four bouts with three falls and a decision;
they now led the Huskies 27-18. With four bouts remaining, the
Huskies sent out Frankie Picchiotti for a forfeit victory. At
140 pounds, Chris Dardanes scored a technical fall victory of Mario
Lozano. The Huskies retook the lead by a score of 29-27.
Nick Dardanes wrestled the penultimate match of the night in a
dominating 17-8 major decision over David Tessitore. After
simple calculation, the Trojans needed a pin at 152 pounds for the
victory. However, OPRF's Charlie Johnson spoiled the purple
party with an 8-6 decision over Cody Pooler (ranked HM at 145).
The Huskies (6-0, 2-0) will resume conference play on January 7th at
home versus Hinsdale Central.
Huskie Highlight: Marq Brumant. This heavyweight put on a Huskie Pride clinic in a big
match -- literally. Marq showed determination and focused,
gritty aggression the entire six minutes of the match.
Congratulations, Marq!
"Pack-the-place!
Pack-pack-the-place!"
12/09/2009
Winter Fun Fest and Pack-the-Place
| Friday
night, December 11
Friday night is "Pack the Place" night at OPRF. Come to the OPRF
Field House for Games, a Cake Walk, Joust, and much more! Adult
admission is $5 and grade school students are free with a printed
flyer. View the flyer here:
Pack the Place at OPRF
5 - 7 pm: Games and activities in the Field House 6 pm: OPRF Wrestling versus Downers Grove North in 1 West Gym 7:30 pm: OPRF Basketball versus Downers Grove North in Field
House | Varsity OPRF Wrestling
Birth announcement: It's a website!
Little Huskies, our youth program, gets new site
· 12/07/2009
The
Little Huskies, the youth wrestling program in Oak Park & River
Forest, has a new website up and running! It really looks
outstanding. Take a look here:
A big thanks to
Eric Davis for the site. Throughout the season, you can keep
updated on all the great things that are happening with our
youngsters.
It is never too late to join the Little
Huskies. If you have questions about the program or if you wish
to contact the coaches for any reason, send an email to:
littlehuskieswrestling@yahoo.com.
Don the den with three more
victories: OPRF sweeps
Notre Dame quad, going 3-0 as a team
Team rebounds after slow starts in all
three duals · 12/05/2009
Niles rolled out the "green" carpet for
our arrival (left), and Notre Dame's main gym held all the action
(right).
It wasn't easy in Niles, but the Huskies persevered to
win all three dual meets at Notre Dame High School on Saturday.
OPRF (5-0, 1-0) benefited from a strong middle and upper weight lineup
en route to defeating Conant (44-33), Addison Trail (44-28), and Notre
Dame (38-27). Undefeated wrestlers on the day were Anthony
Manetti (3-0), Chris Dardanes (3-0), Nick Dardanes (2-0), Connor
Harmon (1-0), Charlie Johnson (3-0), Brock Friesen (3-0), Nick
Kowalczuk (2-0), Ben Brooks (2-0), and Isaac Chadri (2-0).
Huskie Highlight: Isaac Chadri and
Charlie Johnson. Isaac came back from a tough loss on Friday to
dominate his opponents with two falls in two matches by a combined
time of 2:57. Charlie made his Varsity debut this year and did
not skip a beat with two pins and a technical fall.
On Friday, all levels of Downers Grove North visit
OPRF in another West Suburban (Silver) contest. On Saturday,
Varsity and JV1 visit Glenbard North for a quad, and Freshmen are at
Conant for a tournament.
OPRF breaks serve in conference
opener, defeats York 46-27
Huskies storm to 40-love lead as they bounce the
Dukes from their own court · 12/04/2009
The Huskies visited York on Friday night in the first
West Suburban (Silver) Conference matchup of the season. OPRF
(2-0, 1-0) continued its dominance in the conference with its 13th
straight conference victory. The Huskies haven't lost a
conference dual meet since the 2006-2007 season.
The
dual began at 130 pounds. In the first eight bouts, the Huskies
showed their middle and upper weight strength by reeling off eight
straight wins. The OPRF streak consisted of wins by Chirino
Watson (130), Frankie Picchiotti, Anthony Manetti, Chris Dardanes,
Nick Dardanes, Sam Brooks, Brock Friesen, and Benny Brooks (189).
The score was 40-0 OPRF with six bouts remaining. Chirino's win
was over an Honorable Mention ranked opponent, Rudy Guthrie. The
final six Huskies to wrestle were Isaac Chadri (285), Dominique Peel
(285), Cameron Harris (103), Andrew Sparks (112), Donald Hicks (119),
and Colin Rogers (125). All fought with Huskie Pride, but
Cameron was the only one to earn a victory. He pinned Frank
Connell of York in the second period.
Huskie Highlight: Andrew Sparks.
"The Spark Plug" enthusiastically made his Varsity debut. Many
veterans fail to show the energy and go-get-'em attitude that this
newcomer brought to the table on this night. Despite the fact
that he lost a tech fall decision to his opponent, Andrew was a model
of tenacity.
"Fresh" Perspective: The Freshman engaged York in a hard fought dual.
Going into the last bout, the Freshman trailed York 39-37. The
winner of the bout would win the dual. Unfortunately, York won
the bout and the dual. It was a great effort by the Freshman
squad. Look for great things from this group this year.
"Simply do the absolute best with the team we have and
max out our potential." Head Coach Mike Powell's words ring true
for this tournament. Facing the daunting task of overcoming two
weight class forfeits in addition to an extremely strong Marmion
lineup, OPRF maxed out its potential as a team this past Friday and
Saturday.
The Huskies placed 2nd out of 19 teams in the two day
tournament. OPRF had 8 wrestlers
place in the top 6: Colin Rogers (6th @ 125), Anthony Manetti (5th
@ 145), Chris Dardanes (1st @ 135), Nick Dardanes (1st @ 140), Sam
Brooks (1st @ 160), Brock Friesen (4th @ 171), Nick Kowalczuk (4th @ 189), and
Ben Brooks (1st @ 215). Varsity wrestlers that did not place
were Cameron Harris (103), Donald
Hicks (119), Chirino Watson (130), and Connor Harmon (152).
The top 5 teams in the team standings were Marmion,
OPRF, Providence, Glenbard North (tie) and Schaumburg (tie).
OPRF (all levels) visits York this Friday night for a
WSC Silver showdown. On Saturday, the Varsity travels for a quad
meet at Notre Dame (Niles), the Junior Varsity is at home in a quad,
and the Freshman are at Glenbrook South for a tournament.
New Crew: Huskies begin year with
44-27 win over St. Pats
Faces old and new get the season off to a strong
start · 11/25/2009
The Huskies and Shamrocks kicked off
the season.
And the season is officially
underway! The dual began at 125 pounds. The Huskies won
the first five bouts with victories by Colin Rogers, Chirino Watson,
Frankie Picchiotti, Chris Dardanes, and Nick Dardanes. Anthony
Manetti (152) started fast but lost to St. Pats' Joe Cortese.
Sammy Brooks continued his winning ways with a tech fall victory over
the Shamrocks' Charlie Doyle. At 171 pounds, OPRF's Brock
Friesen gave a battle but fell in a close decision. Freshman
Nick Kowalczuk made his Huskie debut in dominating fashion with a fall
victory. Ben Brooks (215) won by a major decision before St.
Patrick won three of the last four bouts. OPRF forfeited 285
pounds and 112 pounds, with Cameron Harris outfoxing St. Pats' Cody
Aguda at 103 pounds. Darius Henry (119) completed the dual with
a hard fought loss against Stephan Kettner of the Shamrocks.
Huskie Highlight: Brock Friesen and Nick Kowalczuk.
Brock, an impressive sectional qualifier from a year ago, took on a
highly ranked wrestler in Alex Ortiz. Brock fought valiantly and
rose to the occasion. He continued to work hard and scored a
takedown as time expired. Nick Kowalczuk, a freshman, wrestled
in his first high school match. Nick dominated from the get go.
He easily pinned his opponent in the first period.
Off, off, and away: Wrestle offs turn
the heat on
St. Patrick dual lineup is decided · 11/21/2009
Huskie pride was at max capacity on
Saturday.
You gotta love the annual Orange and Blue intrasquad
affair. Varsity and Freshman challenged each other for starting
spots in this upcoming week. Who won, you ask? Come out
to the Field House at 6 pm this Wednesday to find out!
Details below!
Parental advice: Two wrestling moms
to educate parents on wrestling on Wed. in OPRF Monogram Room at 6 pm
Learn what your son or daughter is doing on the
mat · 11/23/2009
Knowledge is power! Calling Huskie parents who
want to learn everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to
ask! Two wrestling moms, Paula Kowalczuk and Caryn Brooks, share
their collective wisdom with you. Whether you're clueless like
they once were, want a refresher, or are interested in picking up one
or two new tidbits, come on up!
This Wednesday (11/25) at 6 pm in the OPRF Monogram
Room! What's stoppin' ya?
If you're not technically a parent but are interested
in good information (and bad jokes), you can come too!
Reminder: Junior Varsity at 6 pm, Varsity & Freshman
at approx. 7:30.
OPRF Alumni
event following the dual at Molly Malone's in Forest Park!!
1 week and counting: OPRF to host St.
Pats on Wed. Nov. 25
Huskies to make first appearance since winning
3A state title · 11/18/2009
The 2009-2010 OPRF Huskies will make their season
debut at home versus St. Patrick this coming Wednesday night, November
25, at 6:00 in the Field House. Varsity is slated to begin at
approximately 7:30. Come early to get a good seat!
Wednesday, November 25 - "The Day before Thanksgiving"
OPRF Field House
Wrestling begins at 6:00 pm for Junior Varsity; at approx. 7:30 for
Varsity & Freshman
33rd consecutive season opener between the Huskies and Shamrocks
9, 25, and 27
11/11/2009
9
| Many believe
that November 9 is the first step on a long journey. Not so.
I will grant to these believers the fact that November 9 is the IHSA
beginning to the wrestling season. Athletes can officially call
themselves wrestlers. The primary step, however, takes place
prior to November 9. That step consists of the decision to join.
The decision to sweat. The decision to push yourself. The
decision to be an essential element of the entire team.
25
| On November
25, OPRF's first competition will take place. For the 33rd
consecutive year, the Huskies will face St. Patrick to begin the
season. The event will take place at home in the Field House of
Oak Park & River Forest High School. Junior Varsity wrestling
begins at 6:00 pm, and Varsity wrestling begins approximately at 7:15
pm. Without question, OPRF will roll out the welcome mats for
the Shamrocks until just prior to hearing that first whistle.
27
| Last year, OPRF's Varsity made history as the first ever team state champion
in the high school's history.
Better yet, the Orange and Blue Wrecking Crew went undefeated! No other Illinois team
from a year ago can make that claim. Last year's squad won 24
consecutive duals. In 2007-2008, OPRF's Varsity won their last
three dual meets. Therefore, the Huskies have won an
unprecedented 27 straight dual meets! And counting!
A quick glance at the upcoming Varsity season:
Defending team state champions, finishing with a
24-0 record
Two-time defending undefeated conference champions
Five returning state qualifiers, including one
returning state champion
Six returning wrestlers from the regional lineup
(all sectional qualifiers)
Top home duals with Mt. Carmel, Hinsdale C.,
Libertyville, Wheaton N., and Lyons T.
Top away duals with York, Glenbard N., Neuqua V., W.
Aurora, and Dundee-Crown
Four challenging tournaments including OPRF's
inaugural visit to the Dvorak
Who wouldn't want to be a part of this landmark
program?? See Mike Powell or a wrestling coach if you'd like
to join the wrestling squad today!
9 Huskies compete, 3 place, in
preseason tourneys
Ben Brooks, Chris Dardanes, and Nick Dardanes
all place · 10/31/2009
Super 32 Challenge (Greensboro, NC) - October 24, 2009
Sam Brooks (171)
Ben Brooks (189) - 6th Place
USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals (Cedar Falls, IA) - October
31, 2009
Cameron Harris (103)
Colin Rogers (125)
Chirino Watson (130)
Chris Dardanes (135) - 3rd Place
Nick Dardanes (140) - 1st Place
Sam Brooks (160)
Nick Kowalczuk (189)
Kris Ellis (285)
Our guestbook is open
Share your thoughts! · 10/31/2009
Hostin' Huskies: IHSA releases
regional and sectional sites
OPRF to host one dual team sectional; IHSA
pairings unannounced · 10/31/2009
Some postseason sites to the 2009-2010 season have been predetermined
for some time. The individual state championships will be held
at Assembly Hall in Champaign, IL, on February 19-20. The team
state championships will be held at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum in
Bloomington, IL, on February 27. This week, the IHSA has
released the regional and sectional sites and times for Class 3A.
OPRF could be assigned to any regional or sectional site. Their
dual team sectional site is OPRF High School.
Postseason sites overview (Class 3A):
Regionals (Feb. 6) - Aurora (West), Chicago (Bogan), Chicago
(Lane), Chicago (Marist), Chicago (St. Ignatius College Prep), Darien
(Hinsdale South), TBA, Granite City, LaGrange (Lyons), Libertyville,
Machesney Park (Harlem), Normal (Community West), Palatine (Fremd),
Schaumburg (H.S.), St. Charles (East), Tinley Park (Andrew)
Individual Sectionals (Feb. 12-13) - Barrington, Carol Stream
(Glenbard North), Chicago (De La Salle), Edwardsville (H.S.)
Individual State (Feb. 19-20) - Champaign, IL
Dual Team Sectionals (Feb. 23) - TBA, Franklin Park-Northlake
(Leyden), Oak Park (O.P.-River Forest), TBA
Dual Team State (Feb. 27) - Bloomington, IL
Register on
Oct. 27 or 29: Little Huskies WC season to begin on Nov. 10;
Program structured around fun and fundamentals
Kids of all ages (5-14 yrs) and weights (40-275
lb) welcome · 10/22/2009
Develop physical
development, added self-confidence, new friends, increased
self-responsibility, and MUCH, MUCH more!
REGISTRATION: Tues., October 27 and Thurs.,
October 29 at 7:00 pm in the OPRF Monogram Room
FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE: Tues., November 10 at
6:30 pm
PARENTS MEETING: Tues., November 17 at 7:00 pm
FEES: $115 (insurance included); $10 discount
for additional children in same family; financial assistance is
available to families in need
Calling all high schoolers: IHSA
season to begin Nov. 9
Two and a half weeks of practice lead up to
first contest on Nov. 25 · 10/12/2009
Attention, all freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors! Come
join the juggernaut that is the Oak Park
& River Forest Wrestling Program. Who wouldn't want to be a
member of the defending state champion
Huskies! If you're deciding between two sports, it's a no
brainer. OPRF is a Wrestling school!
If you have
questions, see Mike Powell or one of the other wrestling coaches.
Fred Arkin began his wrestling career at OPRF. He then
went on to wrestle at Washington University in St. Louis, where he was
a Division II National qualifier at 167 pounds. Fred coached for both
the Oak Park Junior Huskies and the Warhawks. He also coached for the
Junior Cougars in Hoffman Estates. He is a Bronze Level Certified
coach for USA Wrestling. Fred also served in the Illinois Wrestling
Federation’s coaching staff in the Kids, Cadet and Junior Nationals
divisions. Fred is currently the tournament director for Conant HS
tournament as well as for the OPRF tournament. Fred is currently the
Freshman wrestling coach at OPRF. For all of these accomplishments,
and all of the things he has done for the sport of wrestling, the
Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association has elected Fred Arkin into its Hall of Fame.
Congratulations, Mr. Fred Arkin!
