admin
09-07-2006, 09:03 AM
http://www.illinoismatmen.com/images/wrestlers/combes_tom.gifBY MR TWISTER
Illinois Matmen Staff
This is the year it will be different for Tom Combes. Instead of sitting next to the head coach he will be the head coach of the De LaSalle Meteors. When you are the son of a legendary head coach, it is just a matter of time before you follow in your dad’s footsteps. For Tom Combes that time has come. Somewhere the late Marty Combes, coach of the Dolton Park Falcons is smiling. His son Tom will sit in the number one seat with the task of moving the Chicago Catholic League team back into contention. “We just graduated four state qualifiers, but we can still be competitive with the big three (St. Rita, Providence and Mount Carmel) in our conference,” said Combes. “I think we are right there. We have always battled with Fenwick too. It always comes down to how the kids view things that make the difference.”
Tom Combes first stepped on the mat for his dad at the age of six. In those days the now defunct Dolton Falcons were a major force in the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation (IKWF). Combes continued his career at De LaSalle (class of 1994) where he was a four time Chicago Catholic League finalist winning three titles at 112, 119 and 125 pounds. Combes shinned in the IHSA state tournament as well, qualifying four times and All State his last two years. Combes along with former teammate Tim Stringer are the only multiple year All State wrestlers in Meteors history. The 1994 125 pound bracket has been mentioned as one of the toughest ever with Combes losing to Elijah Robinson of Rockford in the semi-finals after reaching the championship match the previous year at 119.
On the collegiate level Combes wrestled two years at Lassen Junior College in California. After redshirting as a freshman Combes was rolling through the 126 pound national junior college tournament beating the returning champ but broke his collarbone and could not continue in the tournament. Combes transferred prior to his sophomore season to division one Eastern Illinois, taking a second in the NCAA regional. In both 1998 and ’99 Combes came within a match of making All American.
With graduation came the time to start following those steps left by his father. The old alma mater, De LaSalle called in 2000 and Combes returned as an assistant coach to Ron Rivera. Combes stayed on when Brian Hastings took over in 2002. “I was asked about taking over in ’02,” said Combes. “I was not yet a certified teacher and the school wanted me to have my masters degree which I was working on.”
The Meteors reside at 35th and Michigan in the shadow of White Sox Park, across the street from the main Chicago Police Station and a stone throw away from Lake Michigan. In order for Combes to build De LaSalle into a power he will have to overcome several obstacles. “I need to get more guys into the school,” said Combes. “It is hard for the average wrestler. From our location you have to pass St. Rita, Mount Carmel and St. Ignatius.” In addition to getting the necessary bodies Combes plans to change some things, yet leave other areas the same. “For the most part I taught most of the technique,” said Combes. “It will be nothing new from last year. I worked with the freshmen a lot last year. I will however be a little more intense then what they are use too.”
Combes hopes to change the perception of a De LaSalle wrestler. “When I wrestled I didn’t let people touch me,” said Combes. “I just didn’t like people touching me and I plan on our kids being the same way. Conditioning is the key. The better shape we are in the better we will do. My kids are behind schools like Mount Carmel, St. Rita and Providence in technique. But we are hard workers. The kids expect to work. We will catch up. Kid’s that have funk are fun. I can even teach kids that. We will get physical. I tell the kids don’t be afraid, go out there and if the other (kid) gives you a shot, give them one back.”
When it comes to inspiring his wrestlers, Combes draws on his own experience as a Dolton Falcon. “I remember when Jason Pero (Harvey Twisters) use to beat me all of the time,” said Combes. “In the seventh grade he pinned me in a tournament. I finally said to myself screw this and I beat him the next time. My back was to the wall and I never lost to him again, all the way through high school.”
The school that has graduated the current Mayor Daley and his father has lots of tradition and pride. Last year as the host of the Chicago Catholic League championships and the IHSA individual sectionals the Meteor’s staff received high praise for the handling of both tournaments. “The administration has made a commitment to the wrestling program,” said Combes. “Our principal, Jim Krygier was the former Head Coach at Bloom. Ron Rivera, a former NCAA All American and the coach that brought me in is still around. I was given extra coaches this year. The varsity staff is experienced. We have Mike Manganiello, the first state champ from Mount Carmel and one our former state placers who coached at Kelly high school, Ben Sanchez.” Gary Parciak and Dale Burk will handle the sophomores for the Meteors.
Survival in the always tough Chicago Catholic League requires lots of lower level kids to build on for the future and this has not been lost on Combes. “At the freshman level we had 22 kids that were pretty decent. Usually on the freshman team we have kids that never wrestled before but that was not the case last year. This year for us to be competitive on the varsity level last year’s freshmen that are now sophomores will have to be exceptional. If we get another good group coming in we will be real good in two years. We are a smart team and that will help. Four of the last five years the class valedictorian has been a wrestler. We feel it is not just the coaches job to recruit but the teachers job as well.”
“At De LaSalle we have a wall of guys that never wrestled a day in their life until high school and eventually qualified or placed at state,” said Combes. This year it will be different. This year the new coach plans to change the image, tradition and intensity. And his father is watching-from the assistant’s chair.
Illinois Matmen Staff
This is the year it will be different for Tom Combes. Instead of sitting next to the head coach he will be the head coach of the De LaSalle Meteors. When you are the son of a legendary head coach, it is just a matter of time before you follow in your dad’s footsteps. For Tom Combes that time has come. Somewhere the late Marty Combes, coach of the Dolton Park Falcons is smiling. His son Tom will sit in the number one seat with the task of moving the Chicago Catholic League team back into contention. “We just graduated four state qualifiers, but we can still be competitive with the big three (St. Rita, Providence and Mount Carmel) in our conference,” said Combes. “I think we are right there. We have always battled with Fenwick too. It always comes down to how the kids view things that make the difference.”
Tom Combes first stepped on the mat for his dad at the age of six. In those days the now defunct Dolton Falcons were a major force in the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation (IKWF). Combes continued his career at De LaSalle (class of 1994) where he was a four time Chicago Catholic League finalist winning three titles at 112, 119 and 125 pounds. Combes shinned in the IHSA state tournament as well, qualifying four times and All State his last two years. Combes along with former teammate Tim Stringer are the only multiple year All State wrestlers in Meteors history. The 1994 125 pound bracket has been mentioned as one of the toughest ever with Combes losing to Elijah Robinson of Rockford in the semi-finals after reaching the championship match the previous year at 119.
On the collegiate level Combes wrestled two years at Lassen Junior College in California. After redshirting as a freshman Combes was rolling through the 126 pound national junior college tournament beating the returning champ but broke his collarbone and could not continue in the tournament. Combes transferred prior to his sophomore season to division one Eastern Illinois, taking a second in the NCAA regional. In both 1998 and ’99 Combes came within a match of making All American.
With graduation came the time to start following those steps left by his father. The old alma mater, De LaSalle called in 2000 and Combes returned as an assistant coach to Ron Rivera. Combes stayed on when Brian Hastings took over in 2002. “I was asked about taking over in ’02,” said Combes. “I was not yet a certified teacher and the school wanted me to have my masters degree which I was working on.”
The Meteors reside at 35th and Michigan in the shadow of White Sox Park, across the street from the main Chicago Police Station and a stone throw away from Lake Michigan. In order for Combes to build De LaSalle into a power he will have to overcome several obstacles. “I need to get more guys into the school,” said Combes. “It is hard for the average wrestler. From our location you have to pass St. Rita, Mount Carmel and St. Ignatius.” In addition to getting the necessary bodies Combes plans to change some things, yet leave other areas the same. “For the most part I taught most of the technique,” said Combes. “It will be nothing new from last year. I worked with the freshmen a lot last year. I will however be a little more intense then what they are use too.”
Combes hopes to change the perception of a De LaSalle wrestler. “When I wrestled I didn’t let people touch me,” said Combes. “I just didn’t like people touching me and I plan on our kids being the same way. Conditioning is the key. The better shape we are in the better we will do. My kids are behind schools like Mount Carmel, St. Rita and Providence in technique. But we are hard workers. The kids expect to work. We will catch up. Kid’s that have funk are fun. I can even teach kids that. We will get physical. I tell the kids don’t be afraid, go out there and if the other (kid) gives you a shot, give them one back.”
When it comes to inspiring his wrestlers, Combes draws on his own experience as a Dolton Falcon. “I remember when Jason Pero (Harvey Twisters) use to beat me all of the time,” said Combes. “In the seventh grade he pinned me in a tournament. I finally said to myself screw this and I beat him the next time. My back was to the wall and I never lost to him again, all the way through high school.”
The school that has graduated the current Mayor Daley and his father has lots of tradition and pride. Last year as the host of the Chicago Catholic League championships and the IHSA individual sectionals the Meteor’s staff received high praise for the handling of both tournaments. “The administration has made a commitment to the wrestling program,” said Combes. “Our principal, Jim Krygier was the former Head Coach at Bloom. Ron Rivera, a former NCAA All American and the coach that brought me in is still around. I was given extra coaches this year. The varsity staff is experienced. We have Mike Manganiello, the first state champ from Mount Carmel and one our former state placers who coached at Kelly high school, Ben Sanchez.” Gary Parciak and Dale Burk will handle the sophomores for the Meteors.
Survival in the always tough Chicago Catholic League requires lots of lower level kids to build on for the future and this has not been lost on Combes. “At the freshman level we had 22 kids that were pretty decent. Usually on the freshman team we have kids that never wrestled before but that was not the case last year. This year for us to be competitive on the varsity level last year’s freshmen that are now sophomores will have to be exceptional. If we get another good group coming in we will be real good in two years. We are a smart team and that will help. Four of the last five years the class valedictorian has been a wrestler. We feel it is not just the coaches job to recruit but the teachers job as well.”
“At De LaSalle we have a wall of guys that never wrestled a day in their life until high school and eventually qualified or placed at state,” said Combes. This year it will be different. This year the new coach plans to change the image, tradition and intensity. And his father is watching-from the assistant’s chair.