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12-01-2006, 11:57 PM
http://www.illinoismatmen.com/images/qconline.gifBY SHANNON HEATON
sheaton@qconline.com
Last year, parity ruled the Illinois Quad-Cities metro wrestling mats.
Three teams -- United Township, Moline and Rock Island -- tied for the Western Big 6 title. Just 37 points separated Class AA Rock Island Regional champion UT from fifth-place Geneseo.
Expect more of the same in 2006-07, though early results suggest that the Maple Leafs (5-1) and Panthers (4-1) might have a slight advantage as the calendar turned over to December.
"The key this year is having some guys that can come through in the wrestlebacks. That's how UT won it last year; they won it with depth," said Geneseo coach Jon Murray. "We're going to be better off in that area, hopefully."
Both Murray and UT boss Bam Pustelnik aren't worrying overly much about their teams' regional chances. Both know there's enough to work on right now.
"We still have a lot of question marks. There are four or five spots in our lineup where we're still unsure. To compete in the Big 6, we need improvement in a few of those areas," said Pustelnik. "We're definitely not where we want to be by the end of the year."
Rock Island returns a lot of firepower from last year's tri-WB6 championship squad, but coach Larry Kanke sees holes in his lineup, too.
"Everything's going to have to fall into place," the Hall of Fame coach said. "What we have is very respectable, but whether we have enough, I can't say. I know we can't give away 18 points to Moline and East Moline and expect to return as conference champs."
Achieving that goal might be a long shot this year at Moline, where first-year coach James Ealy returns to a room that saw him win a team dual state title in 1996 as part of Todd Rosenthal's Maroons. This year's Moline team is very young, with 10 first-time starters in the lineup.
"Wherever I've gone (since leaving Moline as a graduate), I've done things the way he (Rosenthal) does them. If it's not broke, don't fix it," said Ealy. "The kids are working extremely hard, they're extremely well-conditioned, and they're just not willing to get beat in the room."
Alleman can fill out a much larger part of its lineup card, compared to last year, as the Pioneers will only to have to forfeit one weight. But, like last year, Alleman will be a stronger tournament team than dual-meet squad.
"We have a good combination of seniors and freshmen; we have some good senior leadership, which will help our younger kids," said Pioneer coach John Wetherell. "We've made our schedule tougher, with the move to Double A, and we want our kids to have the ability to compete in every match."
Alleman Pioneers
-- Coach: John Wetherell, 7th year.
-- Assistants: Sean Hoover, Mark Bollaert.
-- Returning starters: Jarrid Depoorter, jr. (285); Mac Flack, jr. (135); Ryan Hinzman, sr. (145-152); Kevin Hodge, sr. (160); Michael Lawrence, sr. (171); Josh Lopez, jr. (112, missed 2005-06 with injury); Austin Murray, jr. (189); Zach Neuerburg, sr. (215); Matthew Sonneville, sr. (119).
-- Key newcomers: Dan Adams, jr. (135); Adam Dell, so. (145); Sam Depoorter, fr. (152-160); Jamie Maloney, fr. (152-160); Sean McGuire, fr. (125); Joe McNeany, jr. (145). 29 on the roster.
Geneseo Maple Leafs
-- Coach: Jon Murray, 5th year.
-- Assistants: Rich Sheley, Mel Snook.
-- Returning starters: Devin Blackert, jr. (171-189); Chris Brooks, sr. (285); Lucas Cropp, sr. (145); Adam Sheley, so. (112); Devin Turner, jr. (160); Ryan Warner, sr. (140); Tanner Warner, jr. (119).
-- Key newcomers: Collin Akers, fr. (135); Jacob Janssen, fr. (103); Ian Mattan, fr. (125); Micah Morrill, fr. (130); Scott Wallace, jr. (215). 35 on the roster.
Moline Maroons
-- Coach: James Ealy, 1st year (4th year as HC).
-- Assistants: Bill Carlough, Todd Thompson, Les Armes, Tim Shelton, Gerry Verstraete.
-- Returning starters: Adam Dobereiner, sr. (125); Dan Gardner, jr. (119); Steve Stephenson, so. (285); Harrison Strafford, jr. (140); Felipe Villagomez, sr. (135).
-- Key newcomers: Nick Bruder, fr. (189); James Coats, so. (103); Jesse Colon, so. (125); Joel Griffin, jr. (160); Austin Guyton, fr. (145); Jeremy Howell, fr. (285); David Jefferson, so. (152); Ben Larson, sr. (171); Justin McCash, fr. (152); Felipe Tristan, jr. (215); Alex Vermulen, fr. (112). 26 on the varsity roster.
Rock Island Rocks
-- Coach: Larry Kanke, 3rd year (33rd year as HC).
-- Assistants: Joel Stockwell, Wayne Weems.
-- Returning starters: Francisco Castaneda, jr. (112); Tim Edwards, jr. (189); Kenny Havemann, so. (215-285); Sepehr Kalhor, so. (119); Aaron Kerres, sr. (145-152); Curtis Lewis, sr. (140-145); Reese Taylor, jr. (135).
-- Key newcomers: Eric Barth, sr. (140-145); Jacquiah Beavers, so. (140-145); Derrick Beckhart, so. (125-30); Marcos Cantu, fr. (125-130); Donotello Crisp, jr. (140-145); Tyler DeRoo, sr. (125-30); Teighlor Echols, so. (135-40); Ben Larson, jr. (125-30); Seth McCubbin, fr. (152-160); Marcus Morrissey, jr. (125-30); Troy Nimmers, jr. (160); Andrew Palm, so. (215); Marcus Quick, sr. (103); Kevin Richardson, sr. (285); Nate Rodriguez, jr. (215). 35 kids on the roster.
United Township Panthers
-- Coach: Bam Pustelnik, 12th year.
-- Assistants: Chad Davis, Sean Mizlo, Jesse Montez.
-- Returning starters: Jimmy Comins, sr. (160); Robert Cooney, so. (189); Austin Griffith, sr. (135); Lupe Jimenez, sr. (119); Raul Jimenez, sr. (112); CJ Mason, sr. (285); Nick Meyers, jr. (152); Christopher Owens, jr. (215), Gary Roberson, so (125).
-- Key newcomers: Anthony Angel, so. (140); Kiel Brown, so. (125); Michael Caldwell, so. (130); Billy Christiansen, so. (103); Steven Daniels, sr. (171); Henri Sims, jr. (145). 45 kids on the roster.
sheaton@qconline.com
Last year, parity ruled the Illinois Quad-Cities metro wrestling mats.
Three teams -- United Township, Moline and Rock Island -- tied for the Western Big 6 title. Just 37 points separated Class AA Rock Island Regional champion UT from fifth-place Geneseo.
Expect more of the same in 2006-07, though early results suggest that the Maple Leafs (5-1) and Panthers (4-1) might have a slight advantage as the calendar turned over to December.
"The key this year is having some guys that can come through in the wrestlebacks. That's how UT won it last year; they won it with depth," said Geneseo coach Jon Murray. "We're going to be better off in that area, hopefully."
Both Murray and UT boss Bam Pustelnik aren't worrying overly much about their teams' regional chances. Both know there's enough to work on right now.
"We still have a lot of question marks. There are four or five spots in our lineup where we're still unsure. To compete in the Big 6, we need improvement in a few of those areas," said Pustelnik. "We're definitely not where we want to be by the end of the year."
Rock Island returns a lot of firepower from last year's tri-WB6 championship squad, but coach Larry Kanke sees holes in his lineup, too.
"Everything's going to have to fall into place," the Hall of Fame coach said. "What we have is very respectable, but whether we have enough, I can't say. I know we can't give away 18 points to Moline and East Moline and expect to return as conference champs."
Achieving that goal might be a long shot this year at Moline, where first-year coach James Ealy returns to a room that saw him win a team dual state title in 1996 as part of Todd Rosenthal's Maroons. This year's Moline team is very young, with 10 first-time starters in the lineup.
"Wherever I've gone (since leaving Moline as a graduate), I've done things the way he (Rosenthal) does them. If it's not broke, don't fix it," said Ealy. "The kids are working extremely hard, they're extremely well-conditioned, and they're just not willing to get beat in the room."
Alleman can fill out a much larger part of its lineup card, compared to last year, as the Pioneers will only to have to forfeit one weight. But, like last year, Alleman will be a stronger tournament team than dual-meet squad.
"We have a good combination of seniors and freshmen; we have some good senior leadership, which will help our younger kids," said Pioneer coach John Wetherell. "We've made our schedule tougher, with the move to Double A, and we want our kids to have the ability to compete in every match."
Alleman Pioneers
-- Coach: John Wetherell, 7th year.
-- Assistants: Sean Hoover, Mark Bollaert.
-- Returning starters: Jarrid Depoorter, jr. (285); Mac Flack, jr. (135); Ryan Hinzman, sr. (145-152); Kevin Hodge, sr. (160); Michael Lawrence, sr. (171); Josh Lopez, jr. (112, missed 2005-06 with injury); Austin Murray, jr. (189); Zach Neuerburg, sr. (215); Matthew Sonneville, sr. (119).
-- Key newcomers: Dan Adams, jr. (135); Adam Dell, so. (145); Sam Depoorter, fr. (152-160); Jamie Maloney, fr. (152-160); Sean McGuire, fr. (125); Joe McNeany, jr. (145). 29 on the roster.
Geneseo Maple Leafs
-- Coach: Jon Murray, 5th year.
-- Assistants: Rich Sheley, Mel Snook.
-- Returning starters: Devin Blackert, jr. (171-189); Chris Brooks, sr. (285); Lucas Cropp, sr. (145); Adam Sheley, so. (112); Devin Turner, jr. (160); Ryan Warner, sr. (140); Tanner Warner, jr. (119).
-- Key newcomers: Collin Akers, fr. (135); Jacob Janssen, fr. (103); Ian Mattan, fr. (125); Micah Morrill, fr. (130); Scott Wallace, jr. (215). 35 on the roster.
Moline Maroons
-- Coach: James Ealy, 1st year (4th year as HC).
-- Assistants: Bill Carlough, Todd Thompson, Les Armes, Tim Shelton, Gerry Verstraete.
-- Returning starters: Adam Dobereiner, sr. (125); Dan Gardner, jr. (119); Steve Stephenson, so. (285); Harrison Strafford, jr. (140); Felipe Villagomez, sr. (135).
-- Key newcomers: Nick Bruder, fr. (189); James Coats, so. (103); Jesse Colon, so. (125); Joel Griffin, jr. (160); Austin Guyton, fr. (145); Jeremy Howell, fr. (285); David Jefferson, so. (152); Ben Larson, sr. (171); Justin McCash, fr. (152); Felipe Tristan, jr. (215); Alex Vermulen, fr. (112). 26 on the varsity roster.
Rock Island Rocks
-- Coach: Larry Kanke, 3rd year (33rd year as HC).
-- Assistants: Joel Stockwell, Wayne Weems.
-- Returning starters: Francisco Castaneda, jr. (112); Tim Edwards, jr. (189); Kenny Havemann, so. (215-285); Sepehr Kalhor, so. (119); Aaron Kerres, sr. (145-152); Curtis Lewis, sr. (140-145); Reese Taylor, jr. (135).
-- Key newcomers: Eric Barth, sr. (140-145); Jacquiah Beavers, so. (140-145); Derrick Beckhart, so. (125-30); Marcos Cantu, fr. (125-130); Donotello Crisp, jr. (140-145); Tyler DeRoo, sr. (125-30); Teighlor Echols, so. (135-40); Ben Larson, jr. (125-30); Seth McCubbin, fr. (152-160); Marcus Morrissey, jr. (125-30); Troy Nimmers, jr. (160); Andrew Palm, so. (215); Marcus Quick, sr. (103); Kevin Richardson, sr. (285); Nate Rodriguez, jr. (215). 35 kids on the roster.
United Township Panthers
-- Coach: Bam Pustelnik, 12th year.
-- Assistants: Chad Davis, Sean Mizlo, Jesse Montez.
-- Returning starters: Jimmy Comins, sr. (160); Robert Cooney, so. (189); Austin Griffith, sr. (135); Lupe Jimenez, sr. (119); Raul Jimenez, sr. (112); CJ Mason, sr. (285); Nick Meyers, jr. (152); Christopher Owens, jr. (215), Gary Roberson, so (125).
-- Key newcomers: Anthony Angel, so. (140); Kiel Brown, so. (125); Michael Caldwell, so. (130); Billy Christiansen, so. (103); Steven Daniels, sr. (171); Henri Sims, jr. (145). 45 kids on the roster.