Sign of the times: Letter of intent
recap
Three Huskies sign up with two universities ·
11/17/2009
OPRF coaches Jim Messer (left) and Paul
Collins (right) stand guard as Chris Dardanes,
Nick Dardanes, and Ben Brooks (left to right) ink their intent.
OPRF seniors Chris Dardanes, Nick Dardanes, and Ben
Brooks all recently signed letters of intent to wrestle at
universities. Chris Dardanes and Nick Dardanes signed on to
wrestle at Minnesota. Ben Brooks signed on to wrestle at North
Carolina. Congrats to these fine Huskies!
Orange and (Carolina) blue: Ben
Brooks to attend UNC
OPRF's 189 pounder of yesteryear to wrestle in
the ACC · 11/15/2009
OPRF senior Ben Brooks chooses to attend
and wrestle at the University of North Carolina. Congratulations to
Benny! Follow him and the rest of the Huskies this season as
they attempt the repeat feat! |
Article
Golden futures: The Dardanes brothers
to attend Minnesota
OPRF twins Chris and Nick Dardanes to wrestle in
the Big Ten · 10/15/2009
OPRF seniors Chris and Nick Dardanes choose to attend
and wrestle at the University of Minnesota. Congratulations to
these two outstanding wrestlers! Be sure to watch these two
during the upcoming IHSA season. View:
YourSeason |
The Open
Mat
Don't forget: OPRF wrestling alumni
news always welcome
Keep OPRFwrestling.com infomed of alumni
achievements · 09/28/2009
In case you hadn't noticed, this site is jam-packed
full of valuable news and information. Just navigate the links
in the menu bar to the left.
One of these links is the
Alumni page in the OPRF
Wrestling section. On this page, OPRF Wrestling.com keeps track
of OPRF Wrestling alumni. Whenever news is made, send a message
to us at
oprfwrestlingwebmaster@yahoo.com. Include a photo if you
have one. Send news about any OPRF Wrestling alumnus: your
family member, friend, or even yourself.
Our latest news comes from Brad Bolen. He is
currently ranked #1 in the U.S. Judo Senior Division 66 kg weight
class.
By the way, don't forget to send us links to
articles you find on the
web!
Orange
and Blue Wrecking Crew
OPRF Wrestling receives additional name ·
09/10/2009
Webmaster and statmagician Brian Tideman works hard to
bring the epic tale that is OPRF Wrestling to you in electronic form.
Recently, he has been hard at work to think of ways to improve OPRF
Wrestling and OPRF Athletics. He has stumbled upon gold!
Here's the story:
As you know, the OPRF mascot is the Husky
(Huskie/Huskies in athletics). The OPRF student section and fan
base are known as the Dog Pound. I have no qualms against the
Dog Pound, but it isn't original. As we all know, OPRF is
anything but original. I don't want OPRF to be lumped together
with the Naperville North Huskies, Waukegan Bulldogs, or even the
Cleveland Browns. I was thinking, "What could be an original and
catchy name to describe the OPRF fan base?" Then, it came to me:
Orange
and Blue Crew
That's it! The Orange and Blue Crew!
Instead of (or, for the traditionalists, in addition to) the Dog
Pound, let's call OPRF Athletics supporters members of the Orange and
Blue Crew! In order to push this new moniker, I invite you to
become one of the members of the Orange and Blue Crew!
Get your own Orange and Blue Crew membership card
here.
Isn't it so professional looking?
Orange
and Blue Wrecking Crew
The Orange and Blue Crew is for wrestling and all other OPRF
enthusiasts. However, the Orange and Blue Wrecking Crew is the
group of dedicated, dominant, and privileged youngsters known as OPRF
Wrestlers.
Be sure to use the new terms freely!
And remember, they're always in good fun!
Little Huskies preseason wrestling
starts Wednesday (Sept. 9)
Have your child get a fun, early start on the
season · 09/02/2009
This just in from the
Little Huskies coaching staff:
We will be having practices each Wednesday in the
preseason, starting next Wed., the 9th. Little Huskies are
invited and should make sure they have a workout partner their size.
6:30 – 8:15 PM.
Any Little Huskies looking for a partner, please respond to the
coaches we'll get a list going and try to match the kids up.
OPRF bake sale this Saturday (Sept.
5) at Farmers Market
Bakers (and buyers) are needed · 09/01/2009
Contribute to the OPRF wrestling family by
baking and/or buying!
We will be selling bake goods at the Farmers Market
next Saturday, September 5th. Our goal is to make enough money to
finance a trip to the preseason nationals in Iowa over Halloween
weekend. We are in need of Bakers! Anyone interested in helping out
with the baking of cookies, brownies, etc. please contact Coach Powell
(opwrestling@gmail.com or
773 715 9952). The Huskie grapplers will reap 100% of the profits from
the sale of all baked goods.
To read more news about
OPRF wrestling, read the Coaches Newsletter from August 28:
Road to repeat: 2009-2010 season
schedule released
Midwest Classic is out, Dvorak is in ·
08/18/2009
After the history-making season of 2008-2009, Huskie
wrestling will be back on the trail this November. It is
important to know that minor changes in OPRF's schedule may occur up
to and through the season, but most, if not all, details are in the
books. Visit
athletics2000.com/oprf to stay updated on all of OPRF's sports.
What's OUT (Varsity): Midwest Classic
tournament (Kansas City, MO); dual vs. Grant
What's IN (Varsity): Al Dvorak tournament
(Machesney Park, IL); dual vs. Mt. Carmel
In addition, all West Suburban Silver Conference duals
have switched to the opposite home venue. Some quad locations
have stayed the same, and others have rotated.
Use the menu bar to the left, or click
Schedule to view the 2009-2010 OPRF schedule.
Three Freestyle All Americans - Nick
Dardanes,
Chris Dardanes & Sam Brooks
Sam doubles, twins place 2nd & 4th · 07/25/2009
OPRF rising seniors Nick Dardanes (left)
and twin brother Chris Dardanes (right) were Freestyle
medalists this past week in Fargo, ND. (Photos by Brian Tideman
from 2008-2009 season.)
Sam Brooks had a record of 7-2 (8-2 with walkovers) en route to
a 2nd place finish in the Cadet Freestyle 160 pound weight class.
Sam is pictured below in the Greco section.
Nick Dardanes
had a record of 8-1 (9-1 with walkovers) en route to
a 2nd place finish in the Junior Freestyle 130 pound weight class.
Chris Dardanes had a record of 9-2 en route to
a 4th place finish in the Junior Freestyle 130 pound weight class.
In all, Team Illinois had six Freestyle finalists with three champions:
Cadet Freestyle: Edwin Cooper (130, 1st); Sam Brooks (160, 2nd);
Austin Marsden (189, 1st); Gage Harrah (215; 1st)
Junior Freestyle: Nick Dardanes (130, 2nd); Lee Munster (171,
2nd)
Of course, a great pat on the back to all of Team Illinois' coaches and assistants.
And, certainly, to all the family members for this long week.
Double Dardanes in top 4: Nick goes
for title, Chris for 3rd
130 pound competitors to wrestle Saturday
morning for medals · 07/24/2009
Nick Dardanes will go for the Junior Freestyle
national title at 130 pounds on Saturday, July 25. You can watch
it LIVE on
LiveSportsVideo. Finals begin at 9:00 am.
Chris Dardanes will go for the Junior Freestyle
3rd place medal at 130 pounds at the same time as Nick. Chris
lost to Cashe' Quirogo of Indiana in the semis (round robin).
Good luck, gentlemen!
Sammy Brooks takes second 2nd place
at nationals
Sam has great run in Freestyle, loses to Jake
Waste once again · 07/24/2009
Sammy will wrestle Jake Waste of Minnesota (a
rematch of the Greco championship) in the 160 pound Freestyle finals
in Fargo, ND. You can watch it LIVE on
LiveSportsVideo. Cadet Freestyle finals begin at 1:00
central time on Friday, July 24 (they began just BEFORE I posted this
update on the internet). Sammy's match should come on
approximately around 3:15 or 3:30, per my estimates.
UPDATE: At 3:20 pm, Sammy's match
is in the hole -- that is, it will be 145, then 152, then Sammy (160).
UPDATE: Sammy wins the first
period but loses the next two to Jake Waste of Minnesota to finish
2nd. What a great run Sammy! Cadet Greco and Freestyle
national runner up!
Also, Juniors Chris Dardanes and Nick
Dardanes are both undefeated in the 130 pound weight class.
If they win out, they will face each other for the national title.
Both are in line to garner All American status at the very least.
Junior medal matches are Saturday morning beginning at 9:00 am.
Two Greco All Americans - Ellis
Coleman & Sam Brooks
Ellis claims national title, Sam is national
runner up · 07/22/2009
OPRF rising sophomore Sam Brooks (left)
and OPRF graduating senior Ellis Coleman (right) were Greco-Roman
finalists this past week in Fargo, ND. (Photos by Paul Monson
from 2008-2009 season.)
Sam Brooks had a record of 6-1 (8-1 with walkovers) en route to
a 2nd place finish in the Cadet Greco 160 pound weight class.
Ellis Coleman had a perfect record of 9-0 en route to his Junior
Greco 135 pound title.
In all, Team Illinois had eight Greco finalists with 5 champions:
Junior Greco: Ellis Coleman (135, 1st); Josh Castellano (145,
1st);
Mark Stenberg (171; 1st); Josef Rau (215; 1st)
Of course, a great pat on the back to Mike Powell and all of
the Greco coaches and assistants.
Fargo Greco and Freestyle Nationals
are underway
Several Huskies compete · 07/17/2009
via USA Wrestling (TheMat.com)
Several Huskies traveled to Fargo to compete in
Greco-Roman Nationals, Freestyle Nationals, or both.
Competitions will be held between July 17-25 in Fargo, North Dakota.
For specific tournaments, click on the links below to
follow the OPRF entries.
Cadet Greco - Sam Brooks (160), Eddie Guen-Murray (189)
UPDATEDSam Brooks will
wrestle in the national championship match on Monday, July 20!
You can watch him live by visiting
LiveSportsVideo! Cadet Greco finals begin at 5:30 pm on July
20.
UPDATED (#2)Sam Brooks
wrestled his best but fell to Jake Waste of Minnesota; Dec 0-1, 1-0,
3-2. Congratulations on finishing 2nd in the country, Sam!
Junior Greco - Joey Schwartz (119), Ellis Coleman (135), Dan
Martin (160), Joe DiBenedetto (189)
UPDATEDEllis Coleman will
wrestle in the national championship match on Tuesday, July 21!
You can watch him live by visiting
LiveSportsVideo! Junior Greco finals begin at 3:00 pm on July
21.
UPDATED (#2)Ellis Coleman
is the Junior Greco national champion at 135 pounds! He defeated
Joseph Locksmith of Florida; Tech Fall 6-0, 7-0. Ellis also won
a Cadet Greco national championship in 2007. Last year, Ellis
finished 2nd. Good luck at Northern Michigan and the USOEC,
Ellis!
Junior Freestyle - Joey Schwartz (119), Chris Dardanes (130), Nick
Dardanes (130), Ben Brooks (189)
Andrew Matticks, Little Huskie,
featured in Wednesday Journal
Matticks places 3rd nationally in Greco and
Freestyle · 07/14/2009
Story
and picture from Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest:
"Andrew
Matticks,10, recently competed at the USA Wrestling Kids Greco-Roman
and Freestyle National Tournament held in Orem, Utah. Matticks
won third-place titles in both styles, Greco-Roman and Freestyle, for
the 87-pound Intermediate Division. Matticks was named to the
USA Wrestling Kids National Team. Also this season, Matticks won
the Freestyle Division at the Northern Plains Regional Tournament and
placed third at the Illinois State Championship. Matticks is a
student at Mann School and a member of the OPRF Little Huskies
wrestling team."
For the full article,
click here. Article author and photographer are not posted
on the website.
Illinois Juniors enjoy mixed success
in dual team tournaments
IL again reigns supreme in Greco but is
frustrated in Freestyle · 06/28/2009
Illinois is quickly becoming the state for Greco-Roman
wrestling. For the third consecutive year, Illinois defeated all
other entries en route to the Greco dual team title. OPRF
Huskies Nick Dardanes (130), Chris Dardanes (135), Ellis Coleman
(140), Dan Martin (160/171), and Ben Brooks (189) all contributed for
the title team.
In Freestyle, the Illinois dual team finished 7th
despite higher hopes. OPRF was represented by Greco holdovers
Nick Dardanes (130), Chris Dardanes (135), Ellis Coleman (145), and
Ben Brooks (215).
Give green, get clean: Thank you for
coming to the car wash
Put a dent into the trip costs of some of OPRF's
wrestling finest · 06/26/2009
From 9 am - 2 pm, come by the high school (Erie and
Scoville) for gleam and clean.
Help send 8 -- tops in state -- qualifying Huskies to
the Cadet and Junior Nationals in Fargo, ND.
P.S. We wash dogs and bikes as well!
Updated: Car wash took place on Saturday, June
27. Thank you to all who came and to all who had a hand -- some
literally -- in this event.
Illinois Cadets take national titles
in Greco and Freestyle
OPRF's Mike Powell and Sam Brooks have hand in
success · 06/21/2009
The championship Illinois Greco team
included Mike Powell (middle) and Sam Brooks (top, third from right). Photo by Mike Turner, Varsity Photos Inc.
You know that Mike Powell is the head coach of Oak
Park-River Forest. You may not know that he is the head coach of
the Illinois Greco National Dual Team. Under his tutelage, the
Cadet squad (generally 9th and 10th graders) won the Greco national
title by defeating Minnesota 36-29. Sam Brooks, the OPRF
fabulous freshman from last year, made it double the fun by helping
the Cadet squad take the Freestyle national championship as well, also
beating Minnesota 37-35.
The Junior Duals are up next (June 23-28 in Oklahoma
City, OK). You can be sure OPRF will be well represented in
those competitions, too.
Junior Duals details
Offseason results are updated! (June
19, 2009) Click here!
Just what the doctor ordered:
Myositis fundraiser a huge success
Huskie family, friends come out in full
force · 06/17/2009
A
warm thank you to all of you who came out to Doc Ryan's on Monday,
June 15th, in support of Mike Powell and scores of other people and
families who live with myositis conditions as an everyday reality.
Many past and present die hard Huskies were present at the event, in
addition to a number of individuals from other wrestling programs.
Remember, if you still would like to donate to the cause, please do
so:
You can also send a donation via check made out to:
In Relentless Pursuit
P.O. Box 4226
Oak Park, IL 60304
Youth wrestling camp at OPRFHS
July camp will teach basics, technique, and more
· 05/24/2009
BOYS’ WRESTLING
Contact: Mike Powell
708-434-3483 mpowell@oprfhs.org WR-01 Boys’ Youth Wrestling Open To: Grades: 1-8 Description: Learn the basics of wresting. Focus on agility, technique, strength, and fun! Location: 2 South Gym Dates: 7/6 – 7/23 (Monday-Thursday) Time: 1 p.m.–3 p.m. Fee: $100.00
You can sign up on line through the
www.oprfhs.org web page (click on the link), or come into the AD’s
office and sign-up.
Myositis fundraiser at Doc Ryan's
on Monday, June 15, from 4:00-8:00 pm
In relentless pursuit of knowledge ·
06/05/2009
Mike
Powell, OPRF teacher and head coach of the Oak Park-River Forest
wrestling program, has been diagnosed with a disease called
polymyositis. In the spirit of his relentless dedication to
bettering the lives of both his students and his athletes, we are
going to hold a fundraiser to raise money for research on
polymyositis.
For years, Coach Powell has been a dynamic and
influential force in local, statewide, and national wrestling.
Please come if you are able. The cost is $25 per person.
You can also contribute items or services to the silent auction.
PHOTO: Mike Powell -
Josh Hawkins / Wednesday Journal
HERE ARE THE DETAILS OF THE EVENT:
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm on Monday, June 15, at
Doc Ryan's in
Forest Park, IL
(7432 Madison St - two blocks west of Madison and Des Plaines)
Contact
inrelentlesspursuit@gmail.com if you have any questions about the
event or if you would like to make a contribution to the silent
auction.
If you can't make the event on June 15th but still want to
contribute, it's very easy. Just click on the link below and
your donation will go to The Myositis Association in Mike's name.
You can also send a donation via check made out to:
In Relentless Pursuit
P.O. Box 4226
Oak Park, IL 60304
Two of OPRF's own to compete against
Russia
Nick Dardanes, Ben Brooks to be showcased in
Elmhurst on June 10 · 06/02/2009
Project Achievement is hosting an international dual meet between
young Chicago area wrestlers and wrestlers from Russia. The dual
meet will be held at:
R.A. Faganel Hell, Elmhurst College, 221 Walter
Street, Elmhurst, IL
It will take place on Wednesday, June 10, at 7:30 pm
and will feature international freestyle rules. Tickets can be
bought beginning at 6:30 pm at the door. Prices are $5 for
adults and $3 for students. Children 5 and under will be
admitted free.
OPRF High School to host Illinois
Greco-Roman
Championships on May 16 & May 17
Come out and watch the state's, OPRF's best
· 05/04/2009
As you know, wrestling
offseason is in full swing. Two premier in-state tournaments
include the Freestyle State Tournament and the Greco-Roman State
Tournament. Just like last year, Oak Park-River Forest High
School will host the Greco-Roman state championships.
Here's the
schedule:
Saturday, May 16th - Kids Divisions (10 AM to conclusion),
Cadet Division (10 AM to 2:30 PM),
Junior Division (4 PM to 8:30 PM)
Sunday, May 17th - Cadet Division and Junior Division (9 AM
to conclusion)
For more information on the tournament, go to
ILUSAW.
To get you ready for the
action, view this highlight video from the 2008 Illinois Greco-Roman
State Tournament (hosted by OPRF). Thanks to kgdrendel:
If the video does not
appear in your browser,
click here to view the video on YouTube.
Be advised:
The above video was recorded with no audio.
Winning Huskie (Free)style: 1 Cadet,
3 Juniors place
at Freestyle State Championship
Brooks x2 and Dardanes x2 shine · 05/03/2009
Freshman Sam Brooks wins the Cadet 160 pound title.
Junior Chris Dardanes wins the Junior 140 pound
title.
Junior Nick Dardanes places 2nd in the Junior 140
pound weight class.
Junior Ben Brooks places 2nd in the Junior 189 pound
weight class.
Come one, come all: OPRF's wrestling
room to host
refereed matches the next 4 Wednesdays
$5 and USA Wrestling card required ·
04/19/2009
Count Dante's Black Dragon Fighting Society (held @
OPRF high) will be holding open rooms for the next four Wednesdays,
starting 4/22. Four mats will be available for matches.
All matches will be refereed. Cost = $5 per workout. We will hold both
Greco and Freestyle matches. All high school age wrestlers
holding a current USA Wrestling card are invited. Competition in the
room ranges from 1st year wrestlers to state and Fargo champs, all
sizes and shapes.
OPRF High School 201 N. Scoville Ave
Oak Park, IL 60302
6 - 8 PM in the wrestling room(s)
Questions: opwrestling@gmail.com
Wednesdays 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13
Huskie hardware: Coaches recognized
at the IWCOA banquet
Mike Powell wins top coach, Paul Collins honored
as nominee · 04/19/2009
The IWCOA (Illinois Wrestling Coaches & Officials
Association) held its awards banquet this Sunday, and OPRF head coach
Mike Powell took home his second trophy this year by being recognized
as the Class AAA Coach of the Year.
Paul Collins was honored as a nominee for Class AAA
Assistant Coach of the Year but did not win the award. Coach
Collins has worked tirelessly for the OPRF Wrestling program, and we
thank him for all his hard work.
Huskies come home: (Harlem) Huskies
to host OPRF for first time
The premiere in-state tournament elevates its
status with new additions · 04/16/2009
The 32-team Al Dvorak tournament hosts some of the best in-state
talent. Well, the best just got better with the addition of at least
four new teams. The four new teams include Crystal Lake Central,
Glenbard North, Lyons Township, and Oak Park-River Forest.
The 2009 Dvorak won't take place for 8 more months,
but already the anticipation is building. Harlem High School in
Machesney Park, IL, will be the host for this late December war.
The Dvorak tournament will replace the Kansas City Midwest
Classic on OPRF's 2009-2010 schedule. Instead of flying (or driving) out to Kansas City next
year, you can hike up to Machesney Park where the action surely will
keep the spectators warm regardless of the outside conditions.
Mark your calendars now!
When: Mon
and Tues, December 21 and 22 Where: Harlem High School (Machesney Park, IL) Times: To be announced
Teams (as of
04/16/09): Barrington, Bishop Lynch, Bloom Township, Bolingbrook,
Carl Sandburg, Crystal Lake Central, Dixon, Dundee-Crown,
Edwardsville, Fenwick, Glenbard North, Hersey, Hoffman Estates,
Hononegah, Iowa City West, Libertyville, Lockport Township, Lyons
Township, Mahomet-Seymour, Marist, Montini, Morton, Mt. Carmel, Neuqua
Valley, Oak Park & River Forest, Plainfield Central, Providence, Springboro, St. Rita, Waubonsie Valley, Wheaton North,
Yorkville
Moving on up: IWCOA recognizes two of
our best
Coaches Mike Powell and Paul Collins nominated
for awards · 04/07/2009
The IWCOA (Illinois Wrestling Coaches & Officials
Association) has released its 2009 award finalists.
OPRF is honored to have two in its ranks nominated for
awards.
Mike Powell - nominated for Class AAA Coach of the
Year
Also nominated are Bernie Ruettiger, Minooka; Jon
Wagner, Edwardsville; and Neal Weiner, Wheeling.
Paul Collins - nominated for Class AAA Assistant
Coach of the Year
Also nominated are Jeff Charlebois, Minooka, and
Chris Edwards, Glenbard North.
Winners will be announced at the IWCOA All-State
Banquet on Sunday, April 19th in Countryside, Illinois.
Den meets pen: Ruminations by Matt
Monson
Senior wrestler reflects on the OPRF Wrestling
Room · 04/05/2009
The Huskies’ Den Matt Monson, Author
It is hard to describe, to people who have never experienced it, what
the Oak Park wrestling room is like.
I say ‘experienced’, because to pass through that single door high
above the fieldhouse floor is to step into an isolated world, thick
with history and sensation of all kinds.
Many young men have spent countless hours in this place, and over the
decades their names and stories have accumulated into nothing short of
a lineage, which is inseparable from the space itself.
The room has lasted through many eras, changing with the times and the
people who spend – it sometimes seems – their entire lives in it. The dark blue mats used to be orange; a huge cargo door
painted with an overmuscular, anthropomorphic Huskie once comprised
the bulk of one brick wall; the stationary bike no longer occupies the
corner of the room. What
has remained constant through the years is the atmosphere of work and
dedication which permeates and suffuses every inch of the small room
as wholly and completely as gravity. There is no natural human sense which can detect this
quality – or if there ever was, it was lost to most of mankind long
ago, through disuse. To
most people, the room simply smells of sweat, and feels hot and humid.
But to those who have, for years, dutifully climbed the narrow stairs
to that mural-covered door day after day, the room is where pain,
pride, fatigue, integrity, frustration, triumph, and a hundred other
sensations coalesce and give undeniable meaning to the space enclosed
between its four walls.
I have, at times, thought of this place as a kind of monastery.
Cloistered off from the world by solid brick and mortar, our group of
brothers is devoted solely to our age-old discipline, carrying with us
the values of our order, as have many before us, and as will many who
will come after. Our
brotherhood assembles in the room daily, with a common purpose, and we
concentrate our energy collectively for a cause we believe in.
When I leave for college and life after graduation, I will leave a
part of me in the wrestling room, where it has grown and developed,
and where it will always remain.
It is my contribution to that continuing legacy which will outlive us
all. In return, I have
taken from the wrestling room the lessons that it gives to all those
whose lives are given shape in its heat.
Like the forge of a master blacksmith, the wrestling room transforms
raw material into a hardened, galvanized product, imbued with the
qualities necessary to succeed by the very process which the entity
endures. The wrestling
room is a powerful force over the span of four years – it hardens the
spirit, sharpens the mind, and will pound flat nearly any flaw in the
original article. The
conditions in which this transformation takes place are harsh, but in
the end what emerges is powerful.
For, having survived the fire of the forge, what can break the
tempered steel?
The wrestling room is far more than just a physical location. It is forever linked in my mind with both my experiences
in it and the people with whom I struggled for four long years.
It is not my home – home is a place where one can retreat to for
comfort – but I will never forget the wrestling room as long as I live.
And for as long as the room continues to exist, I can guarantee it
won’t forget me either.
Count Dante's Black Dragon Fighting
Society
OPRF Freestyle & Greco Training 2009 · 04/01/2009
OPRF's Freestyle and Greco training has already begun.
Spring wrestling is in full swing. In case you weren't aware,
springtime is a hotbed for wrestling activity. You're bound to
find your share of Folkstyle wrestling, but Freestyle and Greco take
center stage in the offseason.
Championships are often won in the offseason. A
quick survey to the Varsity squad will determine that spring and
summer wrestling make a big difference.
Whether you're a fan looking for action or a student
looking for growth, you won't be disappointed.
To learn more about these events and opportunities,
here are great starting points:
One event you surely can't miss is the Illinois
Greco-Roman State Championships on May 16-17 at Oak Park-River Forest
High School.
This year's name: Count Dante's Black Dragon Fighting
Society. If you're thinking of joining, there's still time to
join the dojo.
On Saturday, March 28, a memorial was held in the honor of my
mother, Dawn Tideman. The memorial was held at Unity Temple in
Oak Park. I was humbled that so many of the wrestling faithful
came out in this difficult and meaningful time for my family.
Some of you came for me; some came for my mother; some yet came for
yourself. I can never justly put into words the outpouring of
support and love I received.
Throughout this year, I have tread with buoyancy and persistence,
with duty and expression. I have bared and shared my soul.
Even though my mother wasn't as visible a staunch supporter of the
Huskie Wrestling Family, she welcomed it into her heart. She
welcomed you into her heart.
Each one of you that came to the memorial has given me an ounce
more of strength, courage, and determination. Certainly this is
a time of need for me. And I shall strive to do what is right.
Always. But you must know; I live for others. If I can be
of any service to you, please be not shy. You have touched me in
a way I will never forget. Forgive me if I mistakenly refer to
the Huskie Wrestling Family as the Huskie Wrestling Community because
I am calmed by the warmth of your -- of our -- community.
Relentless in pursuit and in love,
Brian Tideman
Death in the Huskie Family: OPRF
mourns loss of one of its own
Dawn Tideman, OPRF bookstore employee and friend
of the Huskie Wrestling Family, passes away · 03/21/2009
Dawn Tideman, mother of OPRF Wrestling webmaster Brian
Tideman and friend of OPRF Wrestling, died on March 10, 2009, after a
short illness. Dawn worked as an employee in the OPRF High
School bookstore and as a librarian at the Dole Branch library in Oak
Park. She previously served as co-president of the OPRF PTO for
several years. Dawn established many positive relationships with
Oak Park and River Forest residents throughout the years, and she was
friends with many members of the Huskie Wrestling Family.
A memorial service will be held at 11 AM on
Saturday, March 28, at Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Church, 875
Lake Street, in Oak Park.
Unity Temple is located at the southeast corner of Lake and
Kenilworth (right across the street from the Oak Park Main Post
Office).
Story
and picture from Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest:
A
warm thank you to all of you who came out to Doc Ryan's on Monday,
June 15th, in support of Mike Powell and scores of other people and
families who live with myositis conditions as an everyday reality.
Many past and present die hard Huskies were present at the event, in
addition to a number of individuals from other wrestling programs.
Mike
Powell, OPRF teacher and head coach of the Oak Park-River Forest
wrestling program, has been diagnosed with a disease called
polymyositis. In the spirit of his relentless dedication to
bettering the lives of both his students and his athletes, we are
going to hold a fundraiser to raise money for research on
polymyositis.
