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12-21-2006, 10:31 AM
http://www.illinoismatmen.com/images/wrestlers/taylor_zach2.gifBY JAY TAFT
Rockford Register Star
MACHESNEY PARK — Harlem wrestling coaches have been trying to get a big high school tourney in Machesney Park for a few years.
They’ve got the biggest coming to town this weekend.
“We were interested in getting a big one like this a few years ago, but it just didn’t work out. Now we’ve got it,” said Harlem coach Draheim, who along with former Huskies coach Chuck Fletcher, was instrumental in drawing The Al Dvorak Memorial Wrestling Tournament to Harlem. “This is the biggest and toughest tourney in Illinois. If you can place in this one, you can probably place in the big one at the end.”
Draheim isn’t the only one who compares The Dvorak to the IHSA state tourney.
“The competition there is as good as you are going to find, including at the state tournament,” said Zach Taylor, one of three Harlem wrestlers who is 13-0 heading into the Friday and Saturday event.
Draheim, Fletcher and others agreed to begin hosting The Dvorak this year after it was at Carpentersville Dundee-Crown the past two years. This tourney, which has been in different sites for more than 20 years, was at Rockford Boylan more than a decade ago.
There are 30 teams in the field, including last year’s Class AA state dual meet champion (Orland Park Sandburg) and the runner-up (Chicago St. Rita). The tournament includes 12 of the top 25-rated teams in the state by Illinois Best Weekly, defending Iowa state champion Iowa City West as well as a strong team from California (Vista).
The team showdown will probably be overshadowed by all the great individual battles going on throughout the two-day event. There are 38 state qualifiers from last year participating, with 21 state-placers and seven defending state champs.
“I like my state chances right now. I’m real excited because I’ll have the No. 2 kid in the country from Iowa in my bracket, as well as the kid right behind me,” said Taylor, a two-time state place-winner who lost in last year’s 119-pound finals of The Dvorak to two-time state champ John Starzyk. “This will be a real good test for me.”
Harlem is the lone local team in the mix at The Dvorak, and Draheim isn’t expecting his squad (8-1 in dual meets) to make much of a push for this title. But his three undefeated wrestlers are all taking aim at a spot in Saturday’s finals.
“It will be a great test for me. It will show exactly where I stand in the state,” said freshman 160-pounder Sterling Hecox, who has 10 pins in his 13 straight victories. “I’ve been looking forward to this all year.”
Matches will begin 9:30 a.m. Friday at Harlem, and the day’s final session will start at 5:30 p.m. Session III starts at 9 a.m. Saturday with the place-matches and the finals beginning at 2 p.m.
Harlem’s Adnon Kasapovic, who lost his first match in The Dvorak last year before winning four of his next five, was one win away from placing last year. He hopes to still be wrestling late in the day on Saturday this time around.
“I’ve started 13-0 but not all 13 are quality wins. I’m excited to wrestle good guys,” said Kasapovic. “It’s just as tough as state. That’s the only thing you can compare it to.”
Staff reporter Jay Taft can be reached at 815-987-1384 or jtaft@rrstar.com.
Matt Trowbridge contributed to this story.
Rockford Register Star
MACHESNEY PARK — Harlem wrestling coaches have been trying to get a big high school tourney in Machesney Park for a few years.
They’ve got the biggest coming to town this weekend.
“We were interested in getting a big one like this a few years ago, but it just didn’t work out. Now we’ve got it,” said Harlem coach Draheim, who along with former Huskies coach Chuck Fletcher, was instrumental in drawing The Al Dvorak Memorial Wrestling Tournament to Harlem. “This is the biggest and toughest tourney in Illinois. If you can place in this one, you can probably place in the big one at the end.”
Draheim isn’t the only one who compares The Dvorak to the IHSA state tourney.
“The competition there is as good as you are going to find, including at the state tournament,” said Zach Taylor, one of three Harlem wrestlers who is 13-0 heading into the Friday and Saturday event.
Draheim, Fletcher and others agreed to begin hosting The Dvorak this year after it was at Carpentersville Dundee-Crown the past two years. This tourney, which has been in different sites for more than 20 years, was at Rockford Boylan more than a decade ago.
There are 30 teams in the field, including last year’s Class AA state dual meet champion (Orland Park Sandburg) and the runner-up (Chicago St. Rita). The tournament includes 12 of the top 25-rated teams in the state by Illinois Best Weekly, defending Iowa state champion Iowa City West as well as a strong team from California (Vista).
The team showdown will probably be overshadowed by all the great individual battles going on throughout the two-day event. There are 38 state qualifiers from last year participating, with 21 state-placers and seven defending state champs.
“I like my state chances right now. I’m real excited because I’ll have the No. 2 kid in the country from Iowa in my bracket, as well as the kid right behind me,” said Taylor, a two-time state place-winner who lost in last year’s 119-pound finals of The Dvorak to two-time state champ John Starzyk. “This will be a real good test for me.”
Harlem is the lone local team in the mix at The Dvorak, and Draheim isn’t expecting his squad (8-1 in dual meets) to make much of a push for this title. But his three undefeated wrestlers are all taking aim at a spot in Saturday’s finals.
“It will be a great test for me. It will show exactly where I stand in the state,” said freshman 160-pounder Sterling Hecox, who has 10 pins in his 13 straight victories. “I’ve been looking forward to this all year.”
Matches will begin 9:30 a.m. Friday at Harlem, and the day’s final session will start at 5:30 p.m. Session III starts at 9 a.m. Saturday with the place-matches and the finals beginning at 2 p.m.
Harlem’s Adnon Kasapovic, who lost his first match in The Dvorak last year before winning four of his next five, was one win away from placing last year. He hopes to still be wrestling late in the day on Saturday this time around.
“I’ve started 13-0 but not all 13 are quality wins. I’m excited to wrestle good guys,” said Kasapovic. “It’s just as tough as state. That’s the only thing you can compare it to.”
Staff reporter Jay Taft can be reached at 815-987-1384 or jtaft@rrstar.com.
Matt Trowbridge contributed to this story.