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08-14-2006, 02:41 PM
BY KEVIN DRENDEL
Jonathan Drendel's Father
http://www.illinoismatmen.com/images/wrestlers/drendel_jonathan.gifIt is fitting to honor the national finalists, along with all the All-Americans and other Illinois wrestlers who dedicated themselves to wrestling this summer while others were “taking it easy”. Wrestling is a tough and demanding sport that is not for the faint-hearted or the lazy among us. As a father, I rarely comment on my own son, accept to family and close friends. No one knows his story better than I so indulge me to say a little something about him. I think some will find encouragement in the telling. This is not the story of a born champion.
Jonathan Drendel is an example of hard work, positive attitude and consistent commitment paying off. He catapulted into the national spotlight with a second place finish at 140 pounds in the Junior Greco national tournament. At 8 years old when Jonathan started wrestling, no one, certainly not I, would have imagined such an accomplishment was possible. Jonathan was quiet and not the most athletically gifted wrestler in the fledgling Batavia Pinners wrestling room back then. He did not win an IKWF tournament or have a winning record for three years, but he loved wrestling. I remember thinking of Joey Graves (IKWF State champ) and Clint Arlis in the “elite” category, never imagining Jonathan in that same league. Later at the Blackhawk Club, names like Matt Lee, Andy Bowker, Charlie Graves and others stood out well before anyone would think of Jonathan.
Especially during the early years, Jonathan did not wrestle in the “elite” tournaments. In 7th grade, the Tournament of Champions was the first elite tournament he ever went to. He was ecstatic to take second. Later that year, as a second year novice, he barely made it out of the West Chicago regional, placing 5th. Somehow he found a way to turn it up a notch at the sectional, winning two overtime matches against Serge Urachkin (now at Neuqua Valley) and Neil Lopez (Naperville North) to solidify a State berth, losing handily to Brian O’Connor (Glenbard North) in the sectional finals. Downstate he got on a roll and ended up placing 8th. From a father’s vantage point, it was really pretty unbelievable. He was not considered in that league.
Some people argue that 8 places are too many, and there should be only one division for all kids. I respectfully disagree. The motivation and encouragement boost that a kid gets, even from placing 8th in the novice division, cannot be understated. Success leads to more success in my opinion. I think that is even more important at younger ages. Kids need to achieve some success to keep going.
Jonathan took many lumps along the way. His 8th grade year, he lost 5 times to a Blackhawk team mate (who did not make it downstate or wrestle past his freshman year). The first time Jonathan wrestled Frank Battaglia (at a freestyle State qualifier), Frank pinned him in about 30 seconds. That same year, Vince Ramos headlocked him and pinned him in about 20 seconds at the Second Chance tournament (freestyle). At the IKWF duals, he was also pinned by Caitlyn Chase. But those losses did not stop him from working hard and setting goals for himself. After an 8th place finish his 7th grade year, he set a goal for himself to finish higher as a first year senior. I was not going to be the one to tell him that first year seniors tend not to fare as well as second year seniors, and I am glad I did not give him that “dose of reality”, as he parlayed his 8th place novice finish into a 7th place senior finish the next year.
Jonathan managed only 5 varsity matches his freshman year. He was knocked out of the AAU Frosh/Soph state tournament in the first round, but he went on the win the IL/USA Frosh/Soph tournament a few weeks later. While no where near as tough, he did beat the AAU Frosh/Soph Champ, Cowan Brown, in the IL/USA finals. Being able to get back up from a tough loss (first round at the AAU FR/SO State) and crank it up a notch to beat the AAU FR/SO champ a few weeks later is something at which Jonathan has excelled. And, he did it in convincing fashion 9-2. He was second at the AAU FR/SO State tournament the next year to Luke Roth (losing 3-0 in the finals).
Jonathan wrestled his first ever Greco match at the State tournament after his freshman year. He pinned Thomas Webster in the first period in that match and went on to win the tournament. He won the Cadet Greco State tournament again the next year and made it three in a row with a Junior Greco State championship this year, pinning Cartice Lloyd in the finals. Not only was the hard work really starting to pay off, but he also found his niche – Greco. He was an Illinois Cadet Greco National dual Team member two times, and Junior Greco dual team member this year. He has a combined Greco dual team record of 18-9, including a 6-4 win over the #1 ranked Junior in the country at 135, Zach Kemmerer from PA.
After his fifth place finish in the IHSA State tournament at 135, Jonathan focused exclusively on freestyle and Greco. He won the Junior Central Plains Greco tournament at 145, after placing third at Junior Northern Plains Greco tournament last year as a Cadet, winning the award for the most pins in the least time. For the month of June, he concentrated exclusively on Greco, working out at the newly formed Pinnacle Wrestling Club.
At Fargo this year, Jonathan earned his first significant victory with an injury default over Cadet Greco third place finisher, Dylan Joiner. Joiner had beaten Jonathan three times before. Jonathan was winning 4-1 when Joiner defaulted. Next was a pin over Tommy Abbott from Delaware. Abbott went on to beat Luke Ashmore in freestyle, giving the Fargo national champ his only loss. Jonathan lost focus in what he thought would be an easy match against a New York wrestler, and he lost. That meant that he had to beat Minnesota’s Jake Deistchler to stay alive. Deistchler was 2005 Cadet Greco National Champ and a 2006 FILA Cadet National Champ at 63 kg (138.75). Somehow he pulled it off. After losing the first period 3-9, he came back to win the next two 7-3 and 6-5.
That win still did not assure him of All-American status. His 8th match at Fargo pitted him against Ryan Cubberly from Ohio, a 4 time Ohio State placer and 2 time finalist. Again, Jonathan lost the first period (1-4), but he came back to win the next two (4-1 & 4-4). He won the third period with a three point throw. Next up was two time Iowa State Champ, Luke Satern. This time he did not leave any doubt. Down 3-1 in the first period, Jonathan picked Satern up on the reverse lift and tossed him. Although I thought the referee was a little generous with an award of 5 points for high amplitude, the award was confirmed (and I did not argue). Jonathan finished Satern up in the second period by pinning him. I could not believe he was a national finalist!
The finals match was anti-climactic. Esai Dominguez from Iowa is a seasoned Greco wrestler, coached by his brother, the Iowa State Greco coach (not the university). Both wrestlers were conservative in the first period and stayed away from any serious danger of a throw. Dominguez won on the coin toss giving him the first attempt at a reverse lift. He could not score, giving Jonathan a point, but he scored the last point (and thus won the match) when Jonathan also could not score. The second period was won essentially on a push out. Jonathan pressed Dominguez in the second period and got turned around with his back to the edge in his effort to score. Dominguez seized the opportunity. Jonathan hit a nice drag that would have gained him the push out point, but for the fact that he stepped on the edge of the mat himself in the attempt. Dominguez won the coin toss again and could not score. Jonathan almost had Dominguez in position to throw him on a high gut, but Dominguez defended well. It ended 2-1 in Dominguez’ favor.
To me, the real story here is not so much the national runner up finish as it is the never give up and never stop trying attitude that Jonathan has demonstrated his entire life. In four of the matches he won this year at Fargo, he lost the first period. Jonathan has always been a slow starter, but he finishes strong. The New York wrestler who beat Jonathan did not place. Jonathan could have easily gotten discouraged at that point, especially when his next opponent was a two time national Greco champ. Instead, he rose to the occasion. To me, the very greatest thing about wrestling is the way it brings you face to face with your self and requires you to deal with failure and put it behind you in a way that no other sport does. If you do not succeed in getting past failure, you will never know what success you may achieve. If you do learn to deal with failure and to “move on”, there is nothing that is out of reach to you and there is no end to what you can accomplish.
Jonathan Drendel's Father
http://www.illinoismatmen.com/images/wrestlers/drendel_jonathan.gifIt is fitting to honor the national finalists, along with all the All-Americans and other Illinois wrestlers who dedicated themselves to wrestling this summer while others were “taking it easy”. Wrestling is a tough and demanding sport that is not for the faint-hearted or the lazy among us. As a father, I rarely comment on my own son, accept to family and close friends. No one knows his story better than I so indulge me to say a little something about him. I think some will find encouragement in the telling. This is not the story of a born champion.
Jonathan Drendel is an example of hard work, positive attitude and consistent commitment paying off. He catapulted into the national spotlight with a second place finish at 140 pounds in the Junior Greco national tournament. At 8 years old when Jonathan started wrestling, no one, certainly not I, would have imagined such an accomplishment was possible. Jonathan was quiet and not the most athletically gifted wrestler in the fledgling Batavia Pinners wrestling room back then. He did not win an IKWF tournament or have a winning record for three years, but he loved wrestling. I remember thinking of Joey Graves (IKWF State champ) and Clint Arlis in the “elite” category, never imagining Jonathan in that same league. Later at the Blackhawk Club, names like Matt Lee, Andy Bowker, Charlie Graves and others stood out well before anyone would think of Jonathan.
Especially during the early years, Jonathan did not wrestle in the “elite” tournaments. In 7th grade, the Tournament of Champions was the first elite tournament he ever went to. He was ecstatic to take second. Later that year, as a second year novice, he barely made it out of the West Chicago regional, placing 5th. Somehow he found a way to turn it up a notch at the sectional, winning two overtime matches against Serge Urachkin (now at Neuqua Valley) and Neil Lopez (Naperville North) to solidify a State berth, losing handily to Brian O’Connor (Glenbard North) in the sectional finals. Downstate he got on a roll and ended up placing 8th. From a father’s vantage point, it was really pretty unbelievable. He was not considered in that league.
Some people argue that 8 places are too many, and there should be only one division for all kids. I respectfully disagree. The motivation and encouragement boost that a kid gets, even from placing 8th in the novice division, cannot be understated. Success leads to more success in my opinion. I think that is even more important at younger ages. Kids need to achieve some success to keep going.
Jonathan took many lumps along the way. His 8th grade year, he lost 5 times to a Blackhawk team mate (who did not make it downstate or wrestle past his freshman year). The first time Jonathan wrestled Frank Battaglia (at a freestyle State qualifier), Frank pinned him in about 30 seconds. That same year, Vince Ramos headlocked him and pinned him in about 20 seconds at the Second Chance tournament (freestyle). At the IKWF duals, he was also pinned by Caitlyn Chase. But those losses did not stop him from working hard and setting goals for himself. After an 8th place finish his 7th grade year, he set a goal for himself to finish higher as a first year senior. I was not going to be the one to tell him that first year seniors tend not to fare as well as second year seniors, and I am glad I did not give him that “dose of reality”, as he parlayed his 8th place novice finish into a 7th place senior finish the next year.
Jonathan managed only 5 varsity matches his freshman year. He was knocked out of the AAU Frosh/Soph state tournament in the first round, but he went on the win the IL/USA Frosh/Soph tournament a few weeks later. While no where near as tough, he did beat the AAU Frosh/Soph Champ, Cowan Brown, in the IL/USA finals. Being able to get back up from a tough loss (first round at the AAU FR/SO State) and crank it up a notch to beat the AAU FR/SO champ a few weeks later is something at which Jonathan has excelled. And, he did it in convincing fashion 9-2. He was second at the AAU FR/SO State tournament the next year to Luke Roth (losing 3-0 in the finals).
Jonathan wrestled his first ever Greco match at the State tournament after his freshman year. He pinned Thomas Webster in the first period in that match and went on to win the tournament. He won the Cadet Greco State tournament again the next year and made it three in a row with a Junior Greco State championship this year, pinning Cartice Lloyd in the finals. Not only was the hard work really starting to pay off, but he also found his niche – Greco. He was an Illinois Cadet Greco National dual Team member two times, and Junior Greco dual team member this year. He has a combined Greco dual team record of 18-9, including a 6-4 win over the #1 ranked Junior in the country at 135, Zach Kemmerer from PA.
After his fifth place finish in the IHSA State tournament at 135, Jonathan focused exclusively on freestyle and Greco. He won the Junior Central Plains Greco tournament at 145, after placing third at Junior Northern Plains Greco tournament last year as a Cadet, winning the award for the most pins in the least time. For the month of June, he concentrated exclusively on Greco, working out at the newly formed Pinnacle Wrestling Club.
At Fargo this year, Jonathan earned his first significant victory with an injury default over Cadet Greco third place finisher, Dylan Joiner. Joiner had beaten Jonathan three times before. Jonathan was winning 4-1 when Joiner defaulted. Next was a pin over Tommy Abbott from Delaware. Abbott went on to beat Luke Ashmore in freestyle, giving the Fargo national champ his only loss. Jonathan lost focus in what he thought would be an easy match against a New York wrestler, and he lost. That meant that he had to beat Minnesota’s Jake Deistchler to stay alive. Deistchler was 2005 Cadet Greco National Champ and a 2006 FILA Cadet National Champ at 63 kg (138.75). Somehow he pulled it off. After losing the first period 3-9, he came back to win the next two 7-3 and 6-5.
That win still did not assure him of All-American status. His 8th match at Fargo pitted him against Ryan Cubberly from Ohio, a 4 time Ohio State placer and 2 time finalist. Again, Jonathan lost the first period (1-4), but he came back to win the next two (4-1 & 4-4). He won the third period with a three point throw. Next up was two time Iowa State Champ, Luke Satern. This time he did not leave any doubt. Down 3-1 in the first period, Jonathan picked Satern up on the reverse lift and tossed him. Although I thought the referee was a little generous with an award of 5 points for high amplitude, the award was confirmed (and I did not argue). Jonathan finished Satern up in the second period by pinning him. I could not believe he was a national finalist!
The finals match was anti-climactic. Esai Dominguez from Iowa is a seasoned Greco wrestler, coached by his brother, the Iowa State Greco coach (not the university). Both wrestlers were conservative in the first period and stayed away from any serious danger of a throw. Dominguez won on the coin toss giving him the first attempt at a reverse lift. He could not score, giving Jonathan a point, but he scored the last point (and thus won the match) when Jonathan also could not score. The second period was won essentially on a push out. Jonathan pressed Dominguez in the second period and got turned around with his back to the edge in his effort to score. Dominguez seized the opportunity. Jonathan hit a nice drag that would have gained him the push out point, but for the fact that he stepped on the edge of the mat himself in the attempt. Dominguez won the coin toss again and could not score. Jonathan almost had Dominguez in position to throw him on a high gut, but Dominguez defended well. It ended 2-1 in Dominguez’ favor.
To me, the real story here is not so much the national runner up finish as it is the never give up and never stop trying attitude that Jonathan has demonstrated his entire life. In four of the matches he won this year at Fargo, he lost the first period. Jonathan has always been a slow starter, but he finishes strong. The New York wrestler who beat Jonathan did not place. Jonathan could have easily gotten discouraged at that point, especially when his next opponent was a two time national Greco champ. Instead, he rose to the occasion. To me, the very greatest thing about wrestling is the way it brings you face to face with your self and requires you to deal with failure and put it behind you in a way that no other sport does. If you do not succeed in getting past failure, you will never know what success you may achieve. If you do learn to deal with failure and to “move on”, there is nothing that is out of reach to you and there is no end to what you can accomplish.