Top teams of all time

[Chips]

A couple more months before another Illinois wrestling season begins. Nice to see both the cubs and the sox making a run in the same season. Thought I would take a look back at some of the best teams in the history of our wrestling state.

A couple teams that come to mind over the past 20 years would be the 99/00 team for providence and the 05/06 team from Sandburg. I believe both teams went undefeated and finished ranked top 2 in the country. I know the East Leyden teams were very good a long time ago, along with the williams brothers on the Mt. Carmel teams. Anybody remember those lineups? What are some other teams that you guys would add to the list? Aany other teams that went undefeated in an entire season?
Here is a list of the lineups form the Providence and Sandburg teams.

Providence 99/00

103--Zach Berman
112--Kevin Kennedy
119--Matt Kucala
125--Don Reynolds
130--Paul Augle
135--Mike Klimek
140--Nick Roberts
145-- Noah Lee
152--Wayde Beechy
160--Nick Passolano
171--Brian Glynn
189--Tim Brendich
215-- Joe Noreiko
275 ?

Sandburg

103-Jon Morrison
112-Mike McAuliffe
119-Matt Schmeski
]125 ?
130-Brandon Precin
135-Conrad Polz
140-Matt Cusick
145- John Doyle
152-Eric Pretto
160-Ben Friedl
171-Clinton Polz
189-Glenn Hurt
215-Cameron Miller
275-Eric Retke

Interesting note Providence had 1 individual state champ in 2000 Sandburg had 3 in 2006

[oldpioneer]

Marist 1987

[mckbln]

East Leyden 1978. Best ever.

[Radical]

East Leyden 1989. Best ever.


I think you are mistaken. I suspect you mean 1978.

[MR TWISTER]

This is done every so often (at least twice a years) in one form or another. Here is a reprint of a MC All Time team from a simular thread earlier in the year. Somewhere on here is the 90's team. I don't know the exact lineup but here is a start...
=====================================================
Okay my team can BANG with the best of them. Mt. Carmel will march out 13 state champs in the first 14 weight classes. 26 total individual championships. Three of those are members (135,140,145) of the Chicago Tribune's Illinois High School Wrestling Team of the Century and our Coach is the state's All Time Dual Meet leader (687) in wins. Our second team will beat most schools first team. Set the dual up, we're ready.

103 BJ Futrell STATE CHAMP [current]
112 Casio Pero STATE CHAMP [past]
119 Kenny Jordan 2x STATE CHAMP 170 career wins [past]
125 Tony Davis 2x STATE CHAMP [past]
130 Charles Lloyd 2x STATE CHAMP 158 career wins [past]
135 Steve Williams 2x STATE CHAMP [deceased]
140 T. J. Williams 4x STATE CHAMP 159 career wins [past]
145 Joe Williams 4x STATE CHAMP 155 career wins [past]
152 Brian Harney 2x STATE CHAMP 117 career wins [past]
160 Bill Guide STATE CHAMP [past]
171 Tom Treadway STATE CHAMP [past]
189 Mike Manganiello STATE CHAMP [past]
215 Christian Brantley State Champ [past]
275 Mark Antonetti State Runner Up [past]

our bench:
103 Frank McNaughton State Placer [past]or Bill Walsh STATE CHAMP [past]
112 Jason Pero State Placer [past]
119 Milton Blakley 2x State Placer 135 career wins[past]
125 Mario Morgan State Placer 161 career wins [past]
130 Zeke Rowan State Champ[past] or Anthony Opieola 2x State Placer 127 career wins[past]
135 Malik Elliott 2x State Placer [past]
140 Joe Opieola State Runner Up [past]
145 Jason Erwinski STATE CHAMP [past]
152 Khris Argue State Runner Up [past]
160 Andrew Curran State Runner Up 132 career wins[past]
171 Ryan Stonitsch 2x State Placer [past]
189 Justin Curran 2x State Placer [past]
215 Jason Nape State Placer [past]
275 Jim McDonough State Runner Up [past]

Head Coach: Bill Weick 2x STATE CHAMP [past coach]
Assistant Coachs: Jason Erwinski State Champ[current coach] & Ben Gerdes State Runner Up171 career wins[past coach]

All Time TransferTeam:
103 Matt McNaughton State Placer - Oak Lawn
119 Cartice Lloyd State Finalist - Bremen
140 Wesley English STATE CHAMP - Merrilleville, Indiana

Now since this is 2008 a few adjustments must be made to this old post...Those are in blue / the original post is in black...BJ Futrell moves to the starting line up at 103 and Jason Erwinski becomes an assistant to the Hall of Famer Bill Weick. Mario Morgan finished with 161 wins for second on the all time list. Futrell will end up at about 150 wins right behind Joe Williams. Bill Walsh goes down to second team and he has a wrestle off with Coach Frank McNaughton for second team or they can share it. The same thing at 130 with new state champ Zeke Rowan and Anthony Opieola. Either way the Caravan is SOLID.

[Purdueride]

East Leyden 1989. Best ever.

1978 team was much better, 4 champs.

[techfall_57]

i know were throwing in like dynastys but i think this years glenbard north team should be in it they were very good as well and montini also should be listed but does anyone know the east leyden teams line up from back in the day

[oldgrappler112]

This is done every so often (at least twice a years) in one form or another. Here is a reprint of a MC All Time team from a simular thread earlier in the year. Somewhere on here is the 90's team. I don't know the exact lineup but here is a start...
=====================================================
Okay my team can BANG with the best of them. Mt. Carmel will march out 13 state champs in the first 14 weight classes. 26 total individual championships. Three of those are members (135,140,145) of the Chicago Tribune's Illinois High School Wrestling Team of the Century and our Coach is the state's All Time Dual Meet leader (687) in wins. Our second team will beat most schools first team. Set the dual up, we're ready.

103 BJ Futrell STATE CHAMP [current]
112 Casio Pero STATE CHAMP [past]
119 Kenny Jordan 2x STATE CHAMP 170 career wins [past]
125 Tony Davis 2x STATE CHAMP [past]
130 Charles Lloyd 2x STATE CHAMP 158 career wins [past]
135 Steve Williams 2x STATE CHAMP [deceased]
140 T. J. Williams 4x STATE CHAMP 159 career wins [past]
145 Joe Williams 4x STATE CHAMP 155 career wins [past]
152 Brian Harney 2x STATE CHAMP 117 career wins [past]
160 Bill Guide STATE CHAMP [past]
171 Tom Treadway STATE CHAMP [past]
189 Mike Manganiello STATE CHAMP [past]
215 Christian Brantley State Champ [past]
275 Mark Antonetti State Runner Up [past]

our bench:
103 Frank McNaughton State Placer [past]or Bill Walsh STATE CHAMP [past]
112 Jason Pero State Placer [past]
119 Milton Blakley 2x State Placer 135 career wins[past]
125 Mario Morgan State Placer 161 career wins [past]
130 Zeke Rowan State Champ[past] or Anthony Opieola 2x State Placer 127 career wins[past]
135 Malik Elliott 2x State Placer [past]
140 Joe Opieola State Runner Up [past]
145 Jason Erwinski STATE CHAMP [past]
152 Khris Argue State Runner Up [past]
160 Andrew Curran State Runner Up 132 career wins[past]
171 Ryan Stonitsch 2x State Placer [past]
189 Justin Curran 2x State Placer [past]
215 Jason Nape State Placer [past]
275 Jim McDonough State Runner Up [past]

Head Coach: Bill Weick 2x STATE CHAMP [past coach]
Assistant Coachs: Jason Erwinski State Champ[current coach] & Ben Gerdes State Runner Up171 career wins[past coach]

All Time TransferTeam:
103 Matt McNaughton State Placer - Oak Lawn
119 Cartice Lloyd State Finalist - Bremen
140 Wesley English STATE CHAMP - Merrilleville, Indiana

Now since this is 2008 a few adjustments must be made to this old post...Those are in blue / the original post is in black...BJ Futrell moves to the starting line up at 103 and Jason Erwinski becomes an assistant to the Hall of Famer Bill Weick. Mario Morgan finished with 161 wins for second on the all time list. Futrell will end up at about 150 wins right behind Joe Williams. Bill Walsh goes down to second team and he has a wrestle off with Coach Frank McNaughton for second team or they can share it. The same thing at 130 with new state champ Zeke Rowan and Anthony Opieola. Either way the Caravan is SOLID.

I think he means single season team, not all-school team. like '92 Mt. carmel, ect.

[MR TWISTER]

I think he means single season team, not all-school team. like '92 Mt. carmel, ect.
I know that. Pick out the specific year from this list, or at least use it as a starting point. I don't know a specific year lineup for MC. Maybe someone else can give him weight by weight...:cool:

[Bucksman]

Which year did PC travel to St Edward? I know that St Eds took the match in a semi-competitive dual. Was that in 2000 - part of an Eds, Walsh, Apple Valley MN quad?

[MR TWISTER]

Which year did PC travel to St Edward? I know that St Eds took the match in a semi-competitive dual. Was that in 2000 - part of an Eds, Walsh, Apple Valley MN quad?
Are you thinking of when MC came to St Ed's in 2005? That one was MC, Blair, St Ed's and someone I can't remember at this time.

[Park57]

1997-1999 Marist and Providence traveled to wrestle in the Super Duals at St. Eds. Provi had a couple of good teams down there.

[Bucksman]

MR TWISTER,
Different scenario. PC coming to St Eds was more of when I was in high school. Mt Carmel came to St Eds in 2005 on the same day as Eds v Blair - the other team that day was Cincinnati Moeller.

[tencan]

I would say Leyden 78. 4 champs and another placer. All of them local kids ( except Farina's kid. Jim..he transferred from York) ...not like the catholic school recruiting that goes on now. A long string of undefeated seasons. If they had the dual series then they would have won many titles.

East Leyden 1989. Best ever.

[MR TWISTER]

MR TWISTER,
Different scenario. PC coming to St Eds was more of when I was in high school. Mt Carmel came to St Eds in 2005 on the same day as Eds v Blair - the other team that day was Cincinnati Moeller.Yeah Moeller...thanks

[oldpioneer]

How about a line up from leyden 78 and marist 87???

[Cubs84]

I would say Leyden 78. 4 champs and another placer. All of them local kids ( except Farina's kid. Jim..he transferred from York) ...not like the catholic school recruiting that goes on now. A long string of undefeated seasons. If they had the dual series then they would have won many titles.

they had a transfer. Imagine that a PUBLIC school has a "move in" oh and they recruit too but you already knew that

[tencan]

The sarcasm works better if you actually knew what you were talking about. Chuck Farina was the head coach at Leyden back then long before Jim transferred to Leyden. His oldest son went to York HS and Jim went there for 2 years. Jim transferred so he could go to the same school that his Dad coached at. So how is that recruiting ? Farina did not recruit any of his kids on that team...they all lived in the area for many years and most have relatives that went there before them. So again they did it without recruiting. Do public schools recruit....sure they do..but it is nothing compared to the scale the private schools do it with.
they had a transfer. Imagine that a PUBLIC school has a "move in" oh and they recruit too but you already knew that

[Cubs84]

The sarcasm works better if you actually knew what you were talking about. Chuck Farina was the head coach at Leyden back then long before Jim transferred to Leyden. His oldest son went to York HS and Jim went there for 2 years. Jim transferred so he could go to the same school that his Dad coached at. So how is that recruiting ? Farina did not recruit any of his kids on that team...they all lived in the area for many years and most have relatives that went there before them. So again they did it without recruiting. Do public schools recruit....sure they do..but it is nothing compared to the scale the private schools do it with.

rules are rules. But I really wasnt serious I knew the situation, Im older than you think! I was there

[MR TWISTER]

So we have the beginnings of ANOTHER public vs private debate in a thread that it does not belong in...sigh...okay let me help you guys out so that we can move on with the thread...Public schools recruit...Private schools recruit....now back to the topic of top teams...

[mckbln]

1978 team was much better, 4 champs.

I meant the 1978 team. I just hit the wrong key. They had 4 state champs and a placer..and that was under the OLD weight classes...12 not 14. That team was awesome. Current Leyden AD Conrad was on that team I believe with Krist, Farina, and Bankson. I have said this many times before and I will say it again: if they had a dual team state championship back in the 60s and 70s Farina and East Leyden would have won about 11 state chamionships.

[WGC]

I meant the 1978 team. I just hit the wrong key. They had 4 state champs and a placer..and that was under the OLD weight classes...12 not 14. That team was awesome. Current Leyden AD Conrad was on that team I believe with Krist, Farina, and Behnke. I have said this many times before and I will say it again: if they had a dual team state championship back in the 60s and 70s Farina and East Leyden would have won about 11 state chamionships.

At Heavyweight it was Kurt Bankson...

[ca-ca-crazy18]

Montini 2008:D

[redskinpride]

How about a line up from leyden 78 and marist 87???

25-0, State champs, 3rd in nation by AWN.

98 -Tom Derro
105 - Dave Neybert
112 - Bill O'Brien
119 - John Griffin
126 - Dan O'Brien
132 - Mark Rizzo
138 - Paul Andreotti
145 - Paul Wrona
155 - Mike LaMonica
167 - Tom Salvino
185 - Jerry Joyce
HWT - John Barker

The only weak weight for this team was 145, other than that this team cruised.

[MR TWISTER]

Someone sent me this link...I had forgot about this topic but it does seem like a good time (3 years later) to see if any teams need to be adjusted....

[oldude]

Actually, and despite the fact that Leyden (just plain "Leyden", no East or West) produced the team state champ in 1960 the 60's belonged to Waukegan (another team with four state champs in '63). They had numerous state champs and the Bay brothers, coached by their father, and were the scourge of the old Suburban League which had other powerful squads (New Trier, Proviso East, Evanston, Oak Park, Niles, Highland park and Morton). Yes, there were others, like Reavis for instance, which ranked way up there but the Waukegan Bulldogs were definitely "top dogs".

[mckbln]

Actually, and despite the fact that Leyden (just plain "Leyden", no East or West) produced the team state champ in 1960 the 60's belonged to Waukegan (another team with four state champs in '63). They had numerous state champs and the Bay brothers, coached by their father, and were the scourge of the old Suburban League which had other powerful squads (New Trier, Proviso East, Evanston, Oak Park, Niles, Highland park and Morton). Yes, there were others, like Reavis for instance, which ranked way up there but the Waukegan Bulldogs were definitely "top dogs".

Waukegan was great in the '60s, but nowhere near as tough as the 1978 EAST Leyden (it was East and West back then) team that set a scoring reord of 129 points for the state championship...and that was before the current system of a dual team state. I say again...had there been a dual team state East Leyden would have won about 11 titles...

[oldude]

Having wrestled in that era, having followed the sport closely since 1960 and seeing many state tourneys in Illinois and elsewhere I stand behind what I said about Waukegan. Leyden (East) had some great kids, Farina was a solid coach (his kids were always good on their feet) and was recognized as tough but in the sixties the record book will show Waukegan was clearly number "ONE".

[Don@275]

2008 GBN! 7 State Qualifiers, 3 1rst place, 1 2nd, 1 4rth, and a 6th

[justaguy]

A repost of the best team I ever saw from IL:


2006 Sandburg:
103-Jon Morrison: 1x State Champ, 1x Runner Up
112-Mike McAuliffe 1x Champ, 1x Runner up
119- Matt Schmeski
125-Kevin White
130-Brandon Precin 2x Champ 2x 3rd Place
135- Conrad Polz 3x Champ
140-Matt Cusick 2x Champ 1x 5th
145-John Doyle 3rd
152-Eric Pretto 4th
160-Ben Friedl 2nd
171-Clinton Polz
189-Glenn Hurt
215-Cameron Miller
275-Eric Retke 3rd, 6th

[mckbln]

Having wrestled in that era, having followed the sport closely since 1960 and seeing many state tourneys in Illinois and elsewhere I stand behind what I said about Waukegan. Leyden (East) had some great kids, Farina was a solid coach (his kids were always good on their feet) and was recognized as tough but in the sixties the record book will show Waukegan was clearly number "ONE".

I am talking a span of late '60s thru the 70's, and nothing against those Waukegan teams (and yes I wrestled in the early '70s), there is no way they were better than those East Leyden teams. Yes, Waukegan won a bunch of state titles in the 1960's under the old individual state tournament format. My point being, Waukegan never came close to having the kind of dual meet records that East Leyden put up in the '70s, and the 129 points that East Leyden posted in the 1978 title STILL stands as a record for that format. Sorry.

Some stats:

Most Dual Meets Won, Career


[1.] 687, Bill Weick, Maquoketa, IA, Chicago (Tilden), Chicago (Mt. Carmel), 1957-2003 (687-93-4)

[2.] 644, Charles Farina, Franklin Park (Leyden), 1954-90 (592-85-7), Chicago (Gordon Tech) 1991-93 (52-14)

[3.] 602, Bill Schmitt, Alton (Western M.A.), (21-12-0), Granite City (H.S.-South), (581-59-5), 38 years

[4.] 572, Tim Haak, Harvard, 1988-2009 (572-127-3)

[5.] 494, Mark Gervais, Chicago (Marist), 1983-2007 (494-71-2)


Unbeaten Season

Most Unbeaten Seasons


[1.] 9, Charles Farina, Franklin Park (Leyden), 1959-60-67-72-74-76-77-78-88

[2.] 6, John Fitzgerald, Burbank (Reavis), 1957 (21-0), 1961 (16-0), 1963 (18-0), 1964 (18-0), 1965 (18-0), 1968 (16-0)

[2.] 6, Mike Cookas, Joliet (West), 1976-77 (16-0), 1977-78 (18-0), 1978-79 (13-0), 1979-80 (16-0), 1981-82 (19-0), 1982-1983 (17-0)

I would also add that Farina/East Leyden is #2 on the list of consecutive dual meet wins (88) from 1975-1979. (Mahomet Seymour is #1 with 89)

[IowaCoachSchultz]

I am talking a span of late '60s thru the 70's, and nothing against those Waukegan teams (and yes I wrestled in the early '70s), there is no way they were better than those East Leyden teams. Yes, Waukegan won a bunch of state titles in the 1960's under the old individual state tournament format. My point being, Waukegan never came close to having the kind of dual meet records that East Leyden put up in the '70s, and the 129 points that East Leyden posted in the 1978 title STILL stands as a record for that format. Sorry.

Some stats:

Most Dual Meets Won, Career


[1.] 687, Bill Weick, Maquoketa, IA, Chicago (Tilden), Chicago (Mt. Carmel), 1957-2003 (687-93-4)

[2.] 644, Charles Farina, Franklin Park (Leyden), 1954-90 (592-85-7), Chicago (Gordon Tech) 1991-93 (52-14)

[3.] 602, Bill Schmitt, Alton (Western M.A.), (21-12-0), Granite City (H.S.-South), (581-59-5), 38 years

[4.] 572, Tim Haak, Harvard, 1988-2009 (572-127-3)

[5.] 494, Mark Gervais, Chicago (Marist), 1983-2007 (494-71-2)


Unbeaten Season

Most Unbeaten Seasons


[1.] 9, Charles Farina, Franklin Park (Leyden), 1959-60-67-72-74-76-77-78-88

[2.] 6, John Fitzgerald, Burbank (Reavis), 1957 (21-0), 1961 (16-0), 1963 (18-0), 1964 (18-0), 1965 (18-0), 1968 (16-0)

[2.] 6, Mike Cookas, Joliet (West), 1976-77 (16-0), 1977-78 (18-0), 1978-79 (13-0), 1979-80 (16-0), 1981-82 (19-0), 1982-1983 (17-0)

I would also add that Farina/East Leyden is #2 on the list of consecutive dual meet wins (88) from 1975-1979. (Mahomet Seymour is #1 with 89)


I wonder how many people are missing from these records, i know Hahn has over 500 wins, but i dont think it gets added unless someone sends the record in.

[mckbln]

I wonder how many people are missing from these records, i know Hahn has over 500 wins, but i dont think it gets added unless someone sends the record in.

Hahn is on the list for career victories. I just don't think it has been updated yet. The two stats that impress me the most about the Farina/East Leyden teams is the 9 undefeated seasons and the 88 dual meet wins in a row. That is incredible.

[will-I-am]

Mount Carmel 93-95!

[will-I-am]

Our performance in the 94 finals was so dominant it didn't even matter that our heavyweight stalled out of his match.

[MR TWISTER]

Our performance in the 94 finals was so dominant it didn't even matter that our heavyweight stalled out of his match.What a shame film was not invented in the prehistoric days....lol....:D

[mckbln]

Glad I got to see the 2005-06 Carl Sandburg team...have yet to see any team that good in the 14 weight-class era. It was nice to see them win both the Dvorak and Clash that year and finish ranked #3 in the country...behind Blair and St Eds.