Strip down to strip it up: Huskies
end "preseason" in Vegas
Larry Early and Cam Harris place for the Orange and Blue · 11/01/2011
After a tough two day tournament, the travelling
Huskies had a chance to unwind on the Las Vegas strip -- in their
singlets! As a reminder, only a handful of wrestlers attended.
Here's a rundown of the results, per our fearless leader:
As always, wrestling
tells the truth. We got to see some very good things this weekend.
We also were witness to deficiencies. We have a ton of work ahead of
us. Pointed in the right direction, on the shoulders of a strong
senior class, we are well on our way. With full commitment and
everybody bought in, this is going to be a fruitful year.
We had a great time. The boys celebrated Halloween in their singlets
on the strip. Literally. Special thanks the Kevin O'Mara to treating
everyone to the buffet at Paris!
High school division
128
Ben Sissler wrestled sick but tougher out two good wins. Ben is a
second year wrestler winning matches at national tournaments. Not
bad.
138
Sam Koenigsberg did a nice job managing his weight. It paid off with
a third place finish. We think Sam could have won it, but he fought
every inch of the way to third. Nice job Sammy!
Elite Division
122
Johnny Gahagan is a very good competitor. At 2-2, he had a good
tournament. As Johnny gets further into our program, he is going to
thrive.
We were not sure what to expect from freshman Larry Early. Then he
came out and gave the eventual champ and 10th ranked guy in the
country all he could handle in round one. After rattling off several
wins to place, Larry got hurt and defaulted to 6th place. With hard
work and discipline, Larry will could earn a place in the history
books when all said and done.
128
Darius Henry ran into a couple of studs, but he did get a win in
between. Wrestling up a weight, Darius' best will come when he gets
lean and mean.
133
Captain Cam Harris battled to 7th place. Cam won several hard fought
matches on his way to All-American status. One coach refused to
believe Cam started wrestling as a freshman. He looks ready to have
a special senior year.
138
Jake O'Mara went 2-2 with a huge win over five time national champ
and Michigan State commit Freddy Rodriguez. After a bit more tuning,
Jake will be ready to make a name for himself in IL.
Maurice Wilson also went 2-2 and battled hard. Maurice's dedication
and hard work is beginning to pay off. He is a unique young man.
148
Colin Rogers went 3-2. Like Darius, Colin was small for his weight
but battled tough. Colin has put in a very good preseason as is
ready for his senior campaign.
155
Zach Pickering battled hard to go 1-2. Zach has mad big gains this
fall and will continue to do so. With hard work, Zach will continue
to build toward his significant potential.
163
Michael Woulfe went 2-2, pushing two of the top guys but falling a
bit short. Four and a half minute matches were not quite enough for
Woulfe to grind his guys down. He has had a great preseason but
knows there is work to do to reach his lofty goals!
192
Sammy Brooks won his first match but got plunked on his head. He is
fine but was removed from the tourney for precautionary reasons.
Goal for gold: Ellis Coleman named OW
at Sunkist
OPRF fab grad defeats Joe Betterman in finals · 10/29/2011
via themat.com
While Sam Brooks (see below) is the most decorated
all around OPRF wrestler in history, he doesn't have the most
Varsity victories in high school history. That current honor
goes to Ellis Coleman, 2009 graduate. Ellis has been lighting
up the Greco scene lately (did you see him on ESPN?), and this
weekend Ellis was named
Outstanding Wrestler at the Sunkist Kids International Open.
Ellis outscored his opponents 26-0 on the tournament. He
defeated all-universe wrestler Joe Betterman in the 60 kg / 132 lb
finals. The tournament is also a 2012 Olympic qualifier event.
The winner in Greco qualifies for the trials. Congratulations,
Ellis! |
Videos
Pete Kowalczuk, another OPRF Greco sensation, also
wrestled in the tournament. He placed 3rd in a tough 120 kg /
264.5 kg weight class. Pete's been battling injuries, but it's
great to see him back on the mat. Congratulations on the
place, Pete!
Wresting freaks beware: Huskie
Halloween planned for Las Vegas
OPRF to send several wrestlers to Nevada to compete in a preseason
tournament on Oct. 29 and 30 · 10/23/2011
The beginning of the wrestling season is always a
cause for celebration. The pre-beginning of the wrestling
season is always a cause for sweat, determination, and pride.
The Huskies will attend their third different preseason tournament
in three years: The NUWAY Southwest Kickoff Classic. The
tournament takes place over the Halloween weekend. Here are
the Huskies that will be competing (along with their division and
weight):
Larry Early (Elite 122) - Johnny
Gahagan (Elite 122) - Darius Henry (Elite 128) -
Cameron Harris (Elite 133) - Maurice Wilson
(Elite 138) - Jake
O'Mara (Elite 138) - Colin
Rogers (Elite 148) - Michael
Woulfe (Elite 163) - Sammy
Brooks (Elite 192) - Ben Sissler
(Varsity 128) - Sam Koenigsberg
(Varsity 138)
Note that several wrestlers are also football
players, and their season just ended.
'Eye on the future: Sam Brooks
commits to Iowa
Slammin' Sammy to take his talent to Iowa City next fall · 10/17/2011
Sun-Times Article | There
have been many wresters at Oak Park (and River Forest) High over the
school's long history. None have been more decorated than
senior Sam Brooks. He is the third of three successful Brooks
brothers, and he is the youngest state champion in OPRF history.
The list goes on and on. Well, you know the lore.
On October 17, Sam verbally committed to a
university with an extremely rich tradition: the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Sam also visited Minnesota, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Missouri.
You can watch Sam this season (watch him, folks) as he battles
alongside his Orange and Blue Wrecking Crew teammates.
Congratulations, Sammy!
IHSA votes to amend the individual
state tournament
More medals to be awarded, wrestling starts earlier; Changes in
effect this season · 09/12/2011
After much debate and consideration, the IHSA
accepted a recommendation to expand the IHSA individual state
championships, currently in Champaign. The changes take effect
immediately. Here are the changes, from a September 12
article:
The Illinois High School
Association Board of Directors approved a recommendation for a
format change to the IHSA Individual Wrestling State Finals at its
regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, September 12, 2011.
The new format will feature 16 qualifiers per each of the 14 weight
classes in each of the three classes. The format will also feature
consolation wrestlebacks beginning after the quarterfinal rounds and
the top six individuals in each weight class will medal. In order to
complete the expanded tournament, the state tournament will now
begin on Thursday, which had previously been reserved for warm-up
mat time and meetings.
Cameron Harris and Ben Sissler recently represented
the Huskies to the community in a public exposition on the streets
of downtown. Cam and Ben displayed pummeling along the street.
Way to represent the Huskies, gentlemen!
FILA Cadet Worlds: Two more Huskies
compete, Matt Rundell 8th
New Huskie Matt Rundell places, Darius Henry competes · 08/28/2011
In the second half of the men's competition, two
Huskies competed in Hungary against the world's best of their peers.
Impact freshman Matt Rundell went 1-1 to finish 8th. Dynamic
junior Darius Henry lost in his only match, but he is a Greco-Roman
dynamo. Just earning a slot at FILA Cadet Worlds is a tall
achievement. Congratulations, gentlemen!
Overall Results – The Huskies
had three compete: Sam Brooks (FS 85 kg), Matt Rundell (GR 46 kg),
and Darius Henry (54 kg). Sam Brooks placed 3rd and Matt
Rundell placed 8th.
46 kg/101.25 lbs. - Matthew
Rundell, Oak Park, Ill., 8th
WIN Mario Stjepic (Croatia), 0-2, 6-0, 7-0
LOSS Kasutoshi Ichioka (Japan), 0-1, 9-3, 0-6
54 kg/119 lbs. - Darius Henry, Oak Park, Ill.
LOSS Murad Mammadov (Azerbaijan), 0-7, 0-3
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Sam Brooks,
Oak Park, Ill., 3rd
WIN Aleksander Wojtachnio (Poland), pin
WIN Vasile Caras (Romania), 5-3, 6-0
WIN Shavkatjon Odinayev (Uzbekistan), 0-4, 1-1, 2-0
LOSS Aslan Bibulatov (Russia), 0-6, 2-6
WIN Beka Rotchikashvili (Georgia), 0-1, 3-1, 2-1
Family support: Youth
football/wrestling family shows strong
Supporters arrive to Board meeting in droves; no decisions yet made
by Board · 08/25/2011
This past Thursday, August 25, the OPRF third floor
library was packed to the brim with over 100 concerned coaches,
fans, parents, wrestlers (past and present), and youth who appeared
at an OPRF board meeting to contest OPRF usage fees that could
cripple both the wrestling and football youth programs.
On this night, the Board made it clear that they are not trying to
"shut down" these programs but work to help make them thrive.
A conversation was had, but no policies were established or
enforced. The conversation will continue at the next Board
meeting in September, another opportunity for you to arrive and show
your support.
My individual take on tonight was that
it is a good step forward. The Board admitted that, through
their policies, they are handcuffed to charge what they have.
They will continue to look at operating costs and look for a fair
solution to allow these two wonderful youth programs to continue and
thrive as well as possible. Let me stress again, though, that
no concrete policies were amended or upheld. Stay tuned, and
keep yourself informed. Thanks again to the dozens and dozens
and DOZENS who came out on this night. I am so blessed to be a
part of this amazing organization and family.
Meeting 8/25: Please show support
at OPRF board meeting
08/25/2011
Thursday, Aug. 25th, is a pivotal meeting concerning
Huskie youth programs. Please come out and show support for
the youth programs. The OPRF board meeting begins at 7:15 pm
on the second floor overlooking Scoville.
Read the important message from the wrestling and football staffs.
FILA Cadet Worlds: OPRF Huskie Sam
Brooks places 3rd
Sam's only loss is to Aslan Bilubatov of Russia · 08/24/2011
Sam Brooks
Sam Brooks, a senior, traveled to Hungary to wrestle
against the world's best in his freestyle weight class and took home
a bronze medal. Congratulations, Sammy! In the Greco
competition, Huskies Sam, Darius Henry (junior), and Matt Rundell
(freshman) will compete.
Here's some of the text from an article that
featured Sam:
|
View Article
SZOMBATHELY, Hungary – Sam
Brooks of Oak Park, Ill. won a bronze medal at 85 kg/187.25 lbs. on
the opening day of the FILA Cadet World Championships on Tuesday.
Brooks defeated Beka Rotchikashvili of Georgia in his bronze-medal
bout, 0-1, 3-1, 2-1.
Brooks won his first three matches, beating Aleksander Wojtachnio of
Poland, Vasile Caras of Romania and Shavkatjon Odinayev of
Uzbekistan. In the semifinals, he was defeated by eventual runner-up
Aslan Bibulatov of Russia.
“He wrestled great. He showed a lot of guts. He was tough all day
and very tenacious. In the quarters, he had a tough match with
Uzbekistan and won it at the end. He got stronger as the day went
along. Sam showed a lot of heart,” said National Freestyle
Developmental Coach Bill Zadick.
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Sam Brooks,
Oak Park, Ill., 3rd
WIN Aleksander Wojtachnio (Poland), pin
WIN Vasile Caras (Romania), 5-3, 6-0
WIN Shavkatjon Odinayev (Uzbekistan), 0-4, 1-1, 2-0
LOSS Aslan Bibulatov (Russia), 0-6, 2-6
WIN Beka Rotchikashvili (Georgia), 0-1, 3-1, 2-1
Worlds Collide: Cadet, Judo, and OPRF
"World" all upcoming
Three Huskies to visit Hungary; graduate Brad Bolen challenges; OPRF
school year to begin · 08/18/2011
Cadet
Call| Three OPRF Huskies who will compete this
winter during the wrestling season will represent a country in
Szombathely, Hungary, between August 23-28. Sam Brooks
(Freestyle and Greco), Darius Henry (Greco), and new freshman Matt
Rundell (Greco) will all represent the U.S. For more
information on the tournament and this great opportunity for the
trio,
visit the USA Wrestling article here. Good luck,
gentlemen!
Brad Bolen (Courtesy of Forest
Leaves/Sun-Times)
"Bolen" over the Rest| Brad Bolen, former OPRF wrestler and class of
2007, will compete in the Judo World Championships in Paris, France,
on August 21-26. Brad, an Olympic hopeful, will compete in the
145 pound weight class.
Read a recent article in the Forest Leaves.
Back to School|
The summer will soon be over, and with it comes the beginning of the
school year at Oak Park & River Forest High School. Sadly, old
faces will be gone, but new faces will also arrive. The fall
marks the football season, too, and many OPRF wrestlers will be
competing. Visit
Athletics2000.com to view the football schedule. Come out
and support the squad!
Joint venture: Mike Powell and Chris
McGrath launch RPW
Relentless Pursuit Wrestling instructs and trains; boasts incredible
results · 08/14/2011
Relentless
Pursuit
Wrestling
Mike Powell (instructing, left) and
Chris McGrath (instructing, right) pursue relentlessly.
Mike Powell, our own OPRF Head Coach, and Chris
McGrath, Downers Grove North Head Coach, have teamed up to provide
top level wrestling technique and instruction to high school
students near and far. Although conference foes, these two
leaders have a mutual respect and both bring amazing talents and
credentials to this endeavor.
Just recently,
Relentless Pursuit Wrestling has launched a website.
Click here to visit the website. Follow the program as,
undoubtedly, it continues to contribute to the high-reaching
successes of its participants.
Team Illinois Cadet World's
fundraiser this Saturday (8/13)
Come on by, you'll be "hanging out" with Cali and so many more! · 08/11/2011
If you're coming, give a heads up phone call or
email to Mike Rundell. Contact info below. Hope you can
come out and show your support! It will be a great time!
Full details:
Illinois’ World Championship Party!
- a benefit to raise money for Illinois wrestlers
competing in the 2011 FILA World Championships in Hungary August
23-29
Send-off party for the athletes August 13, 6-10pm
Guide’s Sports Club 5544 S. Archer Ave Chicago, IL 60638
(located near Midway Airport) Tickets are $50 per person
(includes pizza, pasta, salad, and open bar)
Split-the-Pot, raffles and auction, too!
Please make all checks payable to Little
Huskies Wrestling Club
Contact: Please call Mike
Rundell @ 312-343-3988 or email at
mikerundellmd@yahoo.com
with questions.
Ellis Coleman (OPRF class of 2009), internet and TV
sensation
Alumnus soars to 3rd place at Junior World's · 08/01/2011
If you have followed OPRF Wrestling for some time, you are familiar
with the name Ellis Coleman. There are many alumni who have
continued a career in wrestling. Many alumni still work hard
and excel professionally, in the community, or in many other areas.
Well, I can say what most can't about wrestling and its athletes:
Ellis Coleman has become an internet sensation.
Click here to watch the video. It has 1,327 comments as of
10:30 pm tonight. Ellis recently finished with a bronze medal
at the 2011 Junior World Championships.
ON ESPN2, Tuesday, August 2, and 10:20 am Central time - Ellis
interviews on "First Take"
Huskie News: "Little" success,
"camping" in, "Hungary" to help
Drew Matticks continues to shine, OPRF wrestling camp a success,
FILA fundraiser upcoming · 07/29/2011
Matticks
Matters| Andrew Matticks, a wrestler in the Little
Huskies feeder program, recently competed in the USA Wrestling Kids
Greco-Roman and Freestyle National Championships in Farmington,
Utah. The competition took place on June 28-29. Andrew
medaled to a 2nd place in Greco and a 3rd place in Freestyle.
Both were at 105 pounds. Andrew is a 12 year old student at
Julian.
Visit the Wednesday Journal article. Congratulations,
Andrew!
The Thrill of Drill| Last week, the OPRF wrestling camp took place
at the high school. It was open to both students inside and
outside of the OPRF walls. Vista wrestlers from California made the
trip as the second leg of a wrestling-type pen pal agreement.
Clinicians included our own Mike Powell as well as Brad Bolen, a
former OPRF wrestler and current judo standout.
View pics.
FILA-ing Good |
The FILA Cadet World Championships are upcoming, and they will have
Huskie international flavor. Darius Henry (Greco) and Sam
Brooks (Greco and Freestyle) each have earned the right to fly to
Hungary to compete against the best in the world. The
competition takes place on August 23-29. There is an upcoming
send-off party for the Illinois wrestlers at Guide's Sports Club
(Chicago) on August 13 from 6-10 pm. Come out and support them
if you can. Details are below.
Full details:
Illinois’ World Championship Party!
- a benefit to raise money for Illinois wrestlers
competing in the 2011 FILA World Championships in Hungary August
23-29
Send-off party for the athletes August 13, 6-10pm
Guide’s Sports Club 5544 S. Archer Ave Chicago, IL 60638
(located near Midway Airport) Tickets are $50 per person
(includes pizza, pasta, salad, and open bar)
Split-the-Pot, raffles and auction, too!
Please make all checks payable to Little
Huskies Wrestling Club
Contact: Please call Mike
Rundell @ 312-343-3988 or email at
mikerundellmd@yahoo.com
with questions.
Farwent: Results overview from
the nation's stage
OPRF notches 4 All-Americans; all Huskies wrestle at or above a .500
record · 07/24/2011
Each July, many of the nation's best Freestyle and Greco-Roman
wrestlers congregate in Fargo, North Dakota, to display the best
that they have under the under-populated Fargodome. Not all of
the country's top gunmen make the trip to North Dakota (it is
important to know that a spot at Fargo must be earned through feeder
tournaments), but as the saying goes, "You can't win it unless
you're in it." In other words, nobody can crown you national
champion unless you go out there and prove it.
As you may be aware, USA Wrestling separates its divisions by age.
Most of the Cadets (not to be confused with FILA Cadets) are
graduating freshmen and sophomores. Although, depending on
your age, a Cadet may be a graduating 8th grader. Wrestlers
may also wrestle up, but not down. Juniors (not to be confused
with FILA Juniors) are typically graduating juniors and seniors.
This year, the Huskies sent to Fargo four current members of the
OPRF student body. In the Cadet Greco tournament,
Darius Henry (119), Jake O'Mara (130), and Davonte Mahomes (145) all
had All-American abilities and desires. Darius, a rising high
school junior, came to Fargo for the second time after not placing a
year ago. He struggled during the IHSA season as a freshman
but found his Greco-Roman groove in the 2010 offseason. Darius
wrestled well in the tournament and took home a 3rd place medal.
Jake O'Mara has exploded on the Cadet scene this year in both
styles: Greco and Freestyle. He only lost one match at the two
Cadet dual tournaments this summer. Jake won four bouts this
year in the Cadet Greco tournament, but he also lost two. He
did not place. Jake, a rising high school junior, has
similarities to Darius. A year ago, Darius had a record of
5-19 in the IHSA season before beginning to find his place with the
international styles. In this IHSA season, Darius finished
with a 32-8 record and a state tournament appearance. Jake
completed this IHSA season with a 3-7 record and is now pushing the
competition with the international styles. Look for big things
from Jake this November through February.
Davonte Mahomes came into the Greco tournament as a favorite, and
his results didn't disappoint. After an early loss, Davonte
refused to lose. Davonte, a rising sophomore, demonstrated his
amazing young talent en route to a 3rd place finish. If you
remember, Davonte was an eyelash away from qualifying for the IHSA
state tournament this year. He was the takedowns leader for
the Huskies in 2010-2011 as well. I'd say that's not a bad
feat for a freshman.
Note that Joe Ariola, a rising high school junior, also qualified
for Fargo in the Cadet Greco tournament. He elected not to
attend and compete in Fargo.
In the Cadet Freestyle tournament, Jake and Davonte both
competed while Darius sat out. Jake had a tough go and
finished with a 2-2 record. Davonte wrestled up a weight class
(152) and managed a 3-2 record until his finish.
Looking at the Junior tournaments, all you need to utter is
two words: "Sam Brooks." Slammin' Sammy was the lone junior
entrant for the Huskies, wrestling in both the Greco-Roman and
Freestyle tournaments. A rising high school senior, Sam took
home All-American status in both styles at 189 pounds: 3rd in Greco
and 4th in Freestyle. That makes six All-Americans in six
attempts for Sam. The only other OPRF wrestler to have medaled
in both styles at Fargo is Peter Kowalczuk (OPRF 2007). With
one year to go, Sam is perhaps the most decorated wrestler in OPRF
history. You can be sure Sam will be eyeing a pair of second
state titles this year. He was a member of the 2008-2009 team
champions, and he won the 2010 individual state title at 160 pounds.
Ready, set, Fargo: Great action
upcoming
Follow Nationals when you're not "camping" at OPRF · 07/14/2011
OPRF runs the premier wrestling summer camp, as we all know.
See the below article for an update on Vista and the summer camp at
OPRF High School. However, for the casual fan (like me), the
Fargo National Championships are something to follow as well.
Several Huskies are participating.
Current Huskies to Watch|
Greco (Cadet) - Sun & Mon | Darius Henry (119), Jake O'Mara (130),
Davonte Mahomes (145) After Day 1: Darius Henry is undefeated thus far and
has locked up a top 8 finish. Tomorrow's round robin will
determine his place match. Jake O'Mara fared well but
finished the tournament with a 4-2 record. He has been
eliminated. Davonte Mahomes has lost one bout so far
but is still alive. He must win his first match (or two) on
Monday in order to guarantee a place. Day 2: Darius Henry and Davonte Mahomes
each will place with a top 4 finish, either in 3rd or 4th. The
medal round begins at 2:00 pm. Good luck, Darius and Davonte! Results: Darius Henry wins 3rd place over Cole
Weaver, Michigan, by Dec 2-0, 0-2, 1-0. Davonte Mahomes
wins 3rd place over Jared Scharenbrock, Wisconsin, by Dec 4-0, 3-0.
Congratulations, gentlemen!
Greco (Junior) - Mon & Tue | Sam Brooks (189) After Day 1: Sam Brooks
is undefeated thus far and is one of 8 remaining on his side of the
bracket. The top four on each side will medal. He will
face nemesis Jake Waste, Minnesota, in his first bout on Tuesday. Results: Sam Brooks wins 3rd place over
Nathan Burak, Colorado, by Dec 0-2, 1-0, 1-0. Congratulations,
Sam!
Freestyle (Cadet) - Wed, Thu, Fri | Jake O'Mara (130),
Davonte Mahomes
(152) After Day 1: Davonte Mahomes
has lost one bout so far but is still alive. He is one of 12
alive on his side of the bracket. The top 4 advance to the
medal round. Jake O'Mara lost a pair of close three
period matches and ended the tournament with a 2-2 record. He
has been eliminated. After Day 2: Davonte Mahomes
lost his second bout and has been eliminated. He finished the
tournament with a 3-2 record, wrestling up a weight class from his
time in the Greco-Roman tournament a few days ago.
Freestyle (Junior) - Thu, Fri, Sat | Sam Brooks (189) After Day 1: Sam Brooks is undefeated thus far and is one of 9 remaining
on his side of the bracket. The top four on each side will
medal. After Day 2: Sam Brooks lost his final bout today but will wrestle for
third place tomorrow morning. His bout will be against Nathan
Burak, Colorado. Sam defeated Burak in the 3rd place bout in
Greco. Results: Sam Brooks places 4th in the nation
after a loss
Nathan Burak, Colorado, by Dec 6-1, 2-0. Despite the loss, Sam
has now earned an unprecedented 6-for-6 mark in All-American
possibilities at Fargo (GR/FS: Sam was 2nd/2nd in 2009; 7th/2nd in
2010; and now 3rd/4th in 2011). Congratulations on all of your
success, Sam!
OPRF camp upcoming, rides needed;
also follow Fargo
Friend of the program, Vista, to visit; more pick-ups and drop-offs
needed · 07/11/2011
OPRF Camp (July 18-23)| From Coach Powell:
Wrestling Parents,
Our senior trip, the National Dual teams, the Vista
camp, and all other wrestling related activities have been hugely
successful this summer. More on that in a later email.
We are now getting focused on our camp,
which takes place next week, July 18-23. We are
bringing in 5 NCAA Division 1 wrestlers/coaches as clinicians. We
anticipate having a great camp. Football players will have football
in the morning and wrestling in the afternoon, making for a long day
and even greater opportunity for growth (toughness)!
If your wrestler is not yet signed up for camp, he
can sign up on the first day.
We have had several families agree to host Vista
kids. We need one or two more. If you are willing,
please contact me.
Lastly, we are looking for rides to and from
the airport for Vista guys. Coach Pitts is getting me flight
info today and I will relay to anyone willing to drive. They arrive
this coming Sunday (17th) and depart the following Saturday
(23rd). Please let me know if you are willing to drive.
Thank you for everything, it really has been a great
summer thus far for Huskie Wrestling!
Relentlessly,
Coach P
Fargo Nationals (July 15-23)| USA Wrestling
Also upcoming is the annual national event known as the
ASICS/Vaughan Junior & Cadet National Championships in Fargo, North
Dakota. Divisions are Cadet Greco, Cadet Freestyle, Junior
Greco, Junior Freestyle, Women's Cadet Freestyle, and Women's Junior
Freestyle. Watch for several current (and perhaps future)
Huskies. As always, follow on TrackWrestling. Added this
year is extended live feeds -- up to 8 live mats via TheMat.tv.
Ellis Coleman earns spot on 2011 U.S.
Junior World Greco Team
Former OPRF wrestler scores with three seconds left to win special
wrestle-off in Colorado Springs · 07/02/2011
image via USA Wrestling
This past week, Ellis Coleman continued to blaze his
way across the Greco-Roman "world" sky as he earned a special
best-of-three matches wrestle-off for a spot on the U.S. Junior
World Greco Team at 66 kg / 145.5 lbs. Ellis, OPRF's career
wins leader, was injured at the time of the national tournament.
He had this opportunity because he medaled at last year's Junior
World Championships. Ellis won the wrestle-off in last second
dramatic fashion by a count of two bouts to one.
Congratulations, Ellis!
Make room for the broom: Team IL
sweeps duals in Cadet, Junior
For perhaps first time ever, a state -- this state -- owns Greco and
Freestyle for Cadet and Junior· 06/27/2011
VICTORY! VICTORY! VICTORY! VICTORY!
Freestyle:
The #1 seed Illinois squad ravaged through
competition en route to the Illinois Junior Freestyle Duals
championship trophy this Monday in Oklahoma City. Our own Sam
Brooks wrestled to a perfect 6-0 record in the Freestyle Division.
Add the 6-0 to his 7-0 from Greco, Sam finished with a cool baker's
dozen victories to nary a loss.
Congrats Sam, and congrats to all of the
Illinois wrestlers and coaches!!!
The USA Wrestling Junior National Duals tournament
is happening as we speak in Oklahoma. Darius Henry and Sam
Brooks are both undefeated thus far. Darius Henry, you may
remember, wrestled for the Cadets as well. The sophomore is
wrestling at 112 pounds for the Junior team. Sam Brooks is at
189 pounds and will wrestle on the Junior Freestyle group.
Darius will not.
Team Illinois is undefeated thus far, and is
seemingly on a collision course with a rock-solid Wisconsin group
for the title.
Updated:
Team Illinois devoured Wisconsin 40-17 in the title bout of the
Greco Junior dual team tournament! Our own Darius Henry (112)
and Sam Brooks (189) each finished the tournament with unblemished
7-0 records. Darius went a combined 14-0 in both the Cadet and
Junior Greco dual team competitions (eligible as a sophomore).
Absolutely amazing. And don't forget that both these wrestlers
have qualified to travel to Hungary to compete in the FILA Cadet
world tournament in August.
Senior-itis: Huskies complete senior
trip
Studly get studlier among Mother Nature's bests· 06/19/2011
OPRF seniors and coaches pose for
snapshots on their Senior Trip. (click to enlarge)
Recently, the OPRF Huskie Seniors had a chance to
get away with OPRF coaches on a trip for the ages. With a
whole lot to look forward to (and I'm not just talking about the
2011-2012 season), these fine young men had the opportunity to
connect with themselves, with each other, and with nature. We
hope your trip was spectacular. I'm sure it was.
Double dose: Cadet completes sweep of
national duals (GR, FS)
Cadets rise again to top of podium; bevy of Huskies integral parts
of the Illini machine· 06/19/2011
Freestyle:
After the Cadets took the Greco-Roman national duals
title (see below), they continued to dominate all in their path en
route to double titles in Daytona Beach, FL. Current
Huskies on the Freestyle team included Darius Henry, Jake O'Mara,
and Davonte Mahomes. Jake O'Mara was named to the
All-Tournament team with his 7-0 record. Davonte Mahomes also
finished unbeaten, with a 4-0 record.
Congrats Huskies, and congrats to all of the
Illinois wrestlers and coaches!!!
A splattering of OPRF Huskies helped the Cadet Greco
Illinois dual team to a title in Daytona Beach. Current
Huskies included Darius Henry, Jake O'Mara, Davonte Mahomes, Terry
Martin, and Joey Ariola. Darius Henry was named to the
All-Tournament team with his 7-0 record.
Congrats Huskies, and congrats to all of the
Illinois wrestlers and coaches!!!
Illi-noise: National Duals on tap,
with Huskie flavor
Schoolboy duals complete, attention turns to Cadet and Junior
tourneys· 06/13/2011
Dual duals
| Each June, through
ILUSAW, many of
Illinois' best Greco and Freestyle wrestlers compete against other
states in dual competitions. The "dual" duals comes from both
style of wrestling: Greco-Roman and Freestyle. Remember that
OPRF wrestles Folkstyle wrestling during the winter season.
Schoolboy: June 8-12 in Indianapolis, IN
|
TrackWrestling
The Illinois Schoolboy Greco team placed 3rd, and
the Freestyle team placed 3rd. Schoolboy is generally
graduating 7th and 8th graders.
The Illinois Cadet Greco team placed TBD, and
the Freestyle team placed TBD. Cadet is generally graduating
9th and 10th graders. Huskies competing: Greco / Darius
Henry, Jake O'Mara, Davonte Mahomes, Terry Martin, Joey Ariola; Freestyle / Darius Henry, Jake
O'Mara, Davonte Mahomes.
Junior: June 23-27 in Oklahoma City, OK
|
TrackWrestling
The Illinois Junior Greco team placed TBD, and
the Freestyle team placed TBD. Junior is generally graduating
11th and 12th graders.
Upcoming of note
05/22/2011
The USA Wrestling Second Chance opportunity is
upcoming this Saturday, May 28, at Sycamore High School. The
winner of the open tournament in each Cadet/Junior and
Freestyle/Greco combination will wrestle the 3rd place winner from
the Illinois State Tournament (FS or GR) in the respective
combination for the right to the 3rd and final Nationals spot from
Illinois. For more information about Second Chance, go to
ILUSAW.
Car Wash
| Don't forget about the
upcoming annual car wash at Oak Park & River Forest High School to
support the wrestling team. Ask your wrestler for more
details. Then, spread the word!
Upcoming in June will be National Duals (Cadet
Greco/Freestyle, Junior Greco/Freestyle), and then Fargo Nationals
takes place in July.
Still climbing: Alumni update
05/19/2011
Brad Bolen qualifies for his second
consecutive
World Team in judo.
(photo courtesy of Mack Bolen)
Recently, Brad Bolen has defended himself in the
honor or representing his country in the World Team Championships,
to be held this year in Paris. This competition will be held
in August. Brad qualified in the 66 kg division. He will
be back home as a guest instructor for an upcoming wrestling clinic
at OPRFHS. Congratulations, Brad!
Two other wrestlers you may have also heard of are
Chris and Nick Dardanes. They will be competing this weekend
in the FILA Junior World Team Trials. You can follow
the action on
TrackWrestling. The event takes place in Franklin, IN.
The twins compete under "Minnesota Storm" as it is the name of their
university. Look out for these two Golden Gophers in the NCAA
after sitting out this past year.
Results
| Nick placed 2nd in 60 kg
Freestyle while Chris placed 3rd in the same weight class.
On May 12-14, both Nick and Chris competed in the
Northern Plains Senior Freestyle tournament in Waterloo, Iowa.
Chris finished 3rd in 60 kg Freestyle and Nick competed, but did not
place, in 66 kg Freestyle.
Welcome to the resistance: Wrestlers
shine at Greco state
Kenny Powers just that at OPRF for Illinois
Greco-Roman tournament· 05/15/2011
Kenny Powers and family boasted 11
state champions (left to right, top then bottom: Joey Ariola, Sammy
Brooks,
Davonte Mahomes, Rodrick Smith, Michael Johnson, Darius Henry,
Michael Sepke, Jacob Rundell,
Matthew Rundell, and Gabriel Townsell. Andrew Matticks is not
pictured).
(photo by B.T.)
Fargo, North Dakota, is the destination of so many.
The Fargodome is the mecca of wrestlers across this expansive
country, as it hosts Cadet and Junior Nationals each and every July.
Five current Huskies have earned the right to make that trip and
compete in Greco: Darius Henry (Cadet-119), Jake O'Mara
(Cadet-130), Davonte Mahomes (Cadet-152), Joey Ariola
(Cadet-171), and Sammy Brooks (Junior-189). Of this
quintet, only Jake placed second. It is important to note that
more Huskies could qualify in future events.
For full results, go to
Greco State on Trackwrestling. Click on "Team Results" and
then "Kenny Powers WC" for individual resuts. Of note, not all
KPWC wrestlers are OPRF students. Jaleel Hollingsworth (Little
Huskie WC) and Cameron Harris (Team Overtime) are also competitors.
Many thanks to the entire OPRF Wrestling Family as
another USA Wrestling Illinois Greco-Roman State Championship is in
the books. We certainly appreciate all of the time and efforts
from parents, coaches, friends, and the wrestlers themselves.
As I've been saying for years, the future of OPRF Wrestling is
brilliantly bright. A number of the wrestlers that wrestled
this weekend attribute to this fact. If you haven't taken a
seat on the bandwagon, I implore you to join the Orange & Blue
Express. You won't be disappointed.
Greco State - Day one recap
Sunday is final day for Cadets, Juniors· 05/14/2011
The Field House upon exit Saturday
(photo by B.T.)
The Huskies (both of the high school and prior
varieties) wrestled in full force on Saturday, and many OPRF Cadets
(generally freshman and sophomores) and Juniors (generally juniors
and seniors) remain. The kids tournament concluded on
Saturday.
For full results, go to
Greco State on Trackwrestling. Click on "Team Results" and
then "Kenny Powers WC" for individual resuts. Of note, not all
KPWC wrestlers are OPRF students. Jaleel Hollingsworth (Little
Huskie WC) and Cameron Harris (Team Overtime) are also competitors.
Wrestling begins again at 9:00 am on Sunday.
The top two wrestlers in each bracket automatically advance to Greco
Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota.
Help needed for Greco State at OPRF
this Sat & Sun (14th & 15th)
OPRF High School to once again host Greco-Roman
State Championships; contact Mike Powell to help· 05/08/2011
Next weekend, May 14 & 15, is Greco state. We host and this is our
big money maker for the spring. We are looking for help. Nancy and
Amy have graciously taken on concessions and they are need of help.
Further, we are looking for table workers. If you are will to donate
a day next weekend, please let me know. While our program is heavy
on quality, we lack quantity (small numbers), so we need all the
help we can get!
It is with great pride that I report the following:
We have an amazing group of kids. Our wrestlers have out trained and
outworked any other program in the state thus far. They have grown
together as a team and genuinely care for each other. I have over
heard guys getting on each other about grades, maturity and
behavior, and – of course – hard work. Many of our young guys have
already set goals for next year and the leaders of the 2011-12 team
are emerging. We are proud of your sons.
Coach P
And lest we forget:
Happy Mother's Day to all of you wonderful mothers!
Powers that be: Kenny Powers WC to
compete at DGS on Sat. 5/7
KPWC to battle seven other teams; come out if
you're feeling an itch· 05/04/2011
The OPRF High School off-season club (Freestyle and
Greco) will compete in an 8-team Freestyle-only tournament this
Saturday, May 7, at Downers Grove South High School. Many of
the Huskie faithful are members of the KPWC. Wrestling begins
at 10 am. Each team will wrestle in three duals in pool play
and then cross bracket in the medal round. Wrestling might
last until 2 or 3 pm.
Jake O'Mara, a current sophomore, was the lone
champion by the Kenny Powers Wrestling Club at the Illinois
Freestyle State tournament. The tournament took place in
Champaign, IL, this past Saturday and Sunday, April 30 and May 1.
Here are the results of the members of the Kenny Powers Wrestling
Club, the offseason wrestling club hosted at OPRF.
Breaking news: Weight classes to
change for '11-'12 IHSA season
NFHS votes to alter most weight classes; change
in order for the winter season
· 04/26/2011
The National Federation of State High School
Associations (NFHS) has voted to change the fourteen Varsity weight
classes for the upcoming season. This decision is permanent
and will remain in effect unless it is altered in any way.
FILA-ing good: Plenty of Huskies in
action at FILA Cadet Nationals
Two wrestlers, three titles highlight results;
Nick Dardanes keeps on keepin' on in Junior
· 04/25/2011
April 20-23 in Akron, Ohio, was the setting for the
FILA Cadet (and Junior) Greco and Freestyle tournaments.
Darius Henry (54 KG / 119 lbs) and Sam Brooks (85 KG / 187.25 lbs)
took home titles in the FILA Cadet Greco division! Way to
represent OPRF! Sam also doubled in the FILA Cadet Freestyle
division! The titles allow these two young men the opportunity
to represent their country at the newly re-established FILA Cadet
World tournament in Hungary on August 23-28.
Other Huskies competing
in FILA Cadet Greco were:
Jake O'Mara (63 KG / 138.75 lbs), Davonte Mahomes
(69 KG / 152 lbs), Colin Rogers (69 KG / 152 lbs), Michael Woulfe
(76 KG / 167.5 lbs), Joe Ariola (76 KG / 167.5 lbs)
In FILA Cadet Freestyle:
Darius Henry (58 KG / 127.75 lbs), Jake O'Mara (63
KG / 138.75 lbs), Colin Rogers (69 KG / 152 lbs), Joe Ariola (76 KG
/ 167.5 lbs), Michael Woulfe (76 KG / 167.5 lbs)
Nick Dardanes second in
ASICS University Freestyle
Two-time OPRF state champion Nick Dardanes continued
his torrid path on the national level with a runner-up finish at the
ASICS University Freestyle tournament, in the 63 KG / 138.75 lbs
weight class. Nick lost in the title bout 2-1, 5-2 over a
wrestler, Andrew Long, who finished 3rd at the NCAA Division I
tournament this year.
Former OPRF Huskie Pete Kowalczuk placed 5th in the
ASICS U.S. Open Greco-Roman Division. He is ranked 6th in
country in the 120 kg / 264.5 lbs weight class. Another former
Huskie Ellis Coleman did not compete this weekend, but he is
nationally ranked 5th in the 66 kg / 145.5 lbs weight class.
2010-2011 OPRF assistant coach Max Nowry placed 7th in the U.S. Open
Greco-Roman tournament.
In the FILA Junior Greco-Roman Nationals, our own
Sam Brooks, also of the Kenny Powers Wrestling Club, competed.
He finished in 3rd. Rodrick Smith, of rival Proviso West but a
Kenny Powers teammate, placed 7th.
In the FILA Junior Freestyle Nationals, Rodrick
Smith did not place, but Sam Brooks placed 6th. Former Huskie Nick Dardanes
was also in the mix, and he wrestled for
the championship. Nick defeated Keith Surber and Cody Brewer
along the way, but fell to Tony Ramos, formerly of Glenbard
North, by a score of 1-1, 1-0 in the title bout.
Current Huskie Sam Brooks (left)
along with alumni Pete Kowalczuk (middle) and Nick Dardanes (right).
Trio in Freshman-Sophomore State
Championships this weekend
Springfield to host three Huskies in 125, 130,
and 160 pound weight classes
· 03/09/2011
Team
Illinois Frosh-Soph
State Championships
Three Huskies will participate in the Frosh-Soph
State Championships in Springfield Illinois this Saturday and
Sunday, March 12 and 13. The tournament is open to all
freshman and sophomore wrestlers who did not qualify for the
individual state tournament.
Participating are: Ben
Sissler (125), Jake O'Mara
(130), and Joey Ariola (160).
Follow the results at Team Illinois. Good
luck, wrestlers! We know you'll wrestle Huskie Style!
Results
| Joey
Ariola battled Huskie tough on his way to a 2nd place finish!
Congratulations, Joey! Joey will be a junior next year.
Jake O'Mara and Ben Sissler did not place, but it is an honor to
have made it to Frosh-Soph State.
Off-season sure is on: News from the
program
Head coach Mike Powell shares the latest
· 03/03/2011
Wrestling parents,
There are many wonderful things to say in regard to the last couple
of weeks and I assure you they will be said at the banquet. In the
meantime, this email is about business. Here goes:
• If your wrestler has his warm ups, he needs to return them asap.
Same goes for singlets. The athletic department charges parents for
gear that isn't handed back. They can bring it into the AD's office.
Singlets go to me (Mike Powell). Thanks.
• The off-season begins March 1st (attached
is the off-season wrestling club flyer). While we can't force
guys to wrestle in the spring, we strongly encourage it (provided
they aren't in a spring sport).
Attached is the USA card form that your child needs to have
filled out and sent in ASAP. We do not charge for our club (very,
very rare), but each kid needs a USA card.
• The banquet is Monday, March 14th at 6:30. We do a potluck.
The potluck flier is attached, each class is assigned a dish.
It's great fun.
• The off-season calendar is near completion and will be a
comprehensive look at the spring and summer opportunities for our
wrestlers. Once IL/USA
wrestling solidifies their schedule, I will get all the
wrestlers a calendar.
• The
big ten’s are this weekend at Northwestern. If you are
interested in seeing some great wrestling, this is the time.
Looking toward next year’s team, we are really excited. If we do the
right things this spring and summer, next year will be quite
memorable!
Relentlessly,
Mike Powell
My Voki just spoke-y: OPRF
Wrestling.com gets audio welcome
New, fun avatar website creates all sorts of
video and audio fun · 02/25/2011
Earlier today, I was introduced to
a really neat website:
www.voki.com.
This website allows you to create your own avatar that can play
audio. You can type speech text, use a microphone, upload
audio, or even record over your phone!
There are all sorts of
customizations you can make with your Voki, and I uploaded a
picture of the OPRF Field House to serve as a background.
This Voki will sit along the left menu on all pages, ready to
welcome all visitors. This is a "head-turning" website,
after all!
