IllinoisWrestling.Com

Ed’s Word:  Number:  13            March 27, 2009  

1.  The NCAA Division Nationals was again an exciting event.  Seeds got beaten early and late.  I really think that happens each year, except we do not realize it at the time.  Iowa won the event, but had a lot of difficulty doing so and had a lot of help in various ways to guarantee the win.  The had 3 all americans who did not place, but one of them got a very important default win in the wrestlebacks good for 3 points;  two of the placewinners this year got default wins and advancement points which would be good for another 5 points;  had they had to wrestle they might not have even won the match, who knows, but that is the way it seems to go each year.   

2  Ohio State did a great job, coming from a poor 6th place finish in the big 10’s to 2nd in the Nationals.  Tom Ryan deservedly so, received the COY award. 

3.  This was the first Title won by a team without a champion since 2001 when Minnesota did it - They had 10 all mericans that year, but no champion.  Iowa won without a champion in 1978 also.  The total points was the lowest since 1994. 

4.  University of Illinois had 3 all americans and finished 8th.  Northwestern had 2 and finished 13th.  Northwestern had a Champion in Jake Herbert who also became a 4 time all american - 3-2-1-1.  One other wrestler was a 4 timer - Gregor Gillespie of Edinboro State went 7-1-5-4.  The State of Illinois had 5 native Illini place.  Precin from Carl Sandburg;  Poeta from Highland Park;; Kennedy and Dennis from Grant and Wise from Pittsfield.  Pennsylvania had 12 natives place. 

5.  One last note about the Division I event.  Metcalf of Iowa who seemed to be invincible was beaten by Caldwell of North Carolina State 11-6.  Caldwell won OW for his efforts.  Metcalf lost l team point for unsportsmanlike conduct (some wanted to dismiss him from the whole shebang, but level heads prevailed).  In this case, it all hinges, I think, on who you are for.  Some really wanted blood.  If that would have happened, Iowa would have dropped backed to 5th place in the standings.  Others thought that the 1 point deduction did not fit the crime.  Metcalf himself apologized, but also said if he was doing the pushing intentionally, he would have pushed him off the platform.  Brands said that Metcalf does not have a shut off valve when he wrestles.  There were 5 seconds on the clock when Caldwell turned his back on Metcalf and proceded towards doing his back flip or whatever.  Metcalf claims that with 5 seconds left he was charging for the takedown, but like Caldwell said - 5 seconds is hardly enough time in that situation to score 6 points to win the match.  I think poor judgement all around, including the official who obviously did not control the final moments.  You be the judge.   

6.  Division III had a 4 time all american:  Jacob Naig of Wartburg was 6213.  Division NAIA had Trevor Lofstedt of Southern Oregon who was 8452.   Mike Poeta of Illinois was 3411 in the Big 10 and 322 in the Nationals. 

7.  Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert will be speaking at Wheaton College - Thursday, April 2nd  in room 339 of Blanchard Hall at 7:00 P.M.  The lecture is free.  He will be discussing “Legislating in a Globalized Environment: Preserving and promoting competiveness”.   

8.  Allthough Jim Scherr is out as CEO of the US Olympic committee, his brother Bill, who is chairman of the board for World Sport Chicago and a board member of Chicago 2016 is conducting speaking engagements pertaining to the Olympics.  He recently spoke in Glen Ellyn before 600 business personnel. 

9.  Long time Wrestling school - Portland State has dropped their program because of financial problems.  They were Division 2 National champions in 1967; 1989 and 1990.

10.  Sad to report another death in the Wrestling community.  Sgt. Robert M. Weinger of Round Lake was killed in action in Afghanistan.  He Wrestled for Round Lake, graduating in 2003.

11.  The National Hall of Fame in Stillwater had a program at the NCAA’s honoring service personnel that had Wrestled - among those attendi ng were a few Generals and Admirals, plus a lot of others.  Illini that were there to be honored included:   Bud Belz of Oak Lawn;  Brad Glass of New Trier;  Jack Heiner of Chicago (an early AAU official and organizer;  Werner Holzer of Schurz;  Don Rumsfeld of New Trier and Bill Weick of Tilden Tech.

12.  I tabulate the all americans by states in each division and add them all together.  Pennsylvania had 12 and no champions in division I- total of 31-5 in all divisions - Iowa and Illinois were tied for second with 24-4 totals.  Iowa had the most in Division 3 with 15-3;  Nebraska in Division 2 with 12-2 and Missouri in NAIA with 12-1.  Missouri was 7th overall and Nebraska 9th.   40 States had at least l all american;  10 did not.  There were 4 foreign countries with 1 each and Canada had an NAIA champion.

13,  Christian Brantley won the West Regional for Norfhern Iowa and went 1 and 2 in the Nationals.

14.  The National Junior College Championships will move to Des Moines, Iowa in 2010 and to North Idaho in 2012 and then back to Rochester.

15.  The Smile train golf benefit will be held on July 28th.  This is a fund raising event for free cleft surgery and for the Illinois chapter of the National Hall of Fame.  Particulars will be forthcoming.

16.  Jim Scherr was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

History must repeat itself because we pay such little attention to it the first time.Never fear shadows.  They simply mean there’s a light shining somewhere nearby Slaying the dragon of delay is no sport for the short-winded.We cherish our friends not for their ability to amuse us, but for ours to amuse them.What you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing, it also depends on what sort of person you are.    

Ed

1.  On March 21st, Reba McIntire will perform at a benefit for Retired Wrestling Coach Richard Carlini.  Carlini is recovering from a congenital condition called arterio venous malformation which caused him to suffer a stroke within his spine.  He is now wheelchaired.  The benefit is to help defray the costs, as medicare benefits have run out and he is on his own.  Costs are about 40 to 50 thousand a year.  The benefit was organized by many of his wrestlers at Maine West High School.  For more information about the foundation go to teacherscoachesandstudentsfoundation.com. 

2.  A few asides from the recent State Tournament - Individual:  Undefeated Wrestlers were:  145 - Elias Larson - Chicago Hts., Marion Catholic at 42-0;   171 - Lee Munster - Grant at 45-0;   285 - Curtis Blaydes - Chicago DeLaSalle at 37-0 all in Division AAA.  103 - Topler Carton - Rock Island Alleman at 36-0;  119 - Joe Roth - Dixon at 36-0;  130 - Adam Sheley - Geneseo at 44-0  -  all in Division AA.   103 - Josh Bennett - Woodriver-East Alton - 43-0;  171 - Shea Baker - Murphysboro - 36-0;  189 - Mitchell Alberstett - Durand - 31-0;  285 - David Devine - Petersburg-Porta - 43-0  all at Class A. 

3.  In Class A 69 schools entered;  52 scored at least 1 point;  In 2A 76 entered and 49 scored;  3A 93 entered and 67 scored.- That is a total of 238 entered with 168 scoring.  These figures would be about the same as in previous years with 2 classes.  I think in time that the number of qualifiers will increase in 2A to 16 and in 3A to 24, but this is in the hands of the principals, but who knows, with a little patience and nice talking to your principal, what might occur. 

4.  If we were to score the tournament:  Class A would have b een won by Wilmington, followed by Petersburg-Porta;  Gibson City;  Kewanee;  (tied);  Harvard;  Macomb;  Bishop McNamarra;  Murphysboro and Stillman Valley tied;  Canton.  2A would have been won by Montini, followed by:  Crystal Lake Central;  Bethalto Civic Memorial;  Lemont;  Mahomet-Seymour;  Geneseo-Darnall;  Troy-Triad;  Yorkville;  Rockford East and Wauconda.  3A would have been won by Oak Park, followed by Lockport;  Chicago Hts, Marion Catholic;  Providence Catholic;  Neuqua Valley;  Glenbard North;  Chicago DeLaSalle;  Marist;  Wheeling and O’Fallon.   

5.  The Duals were equally successful.  Bloomington with Mike Manahan’s direction.  The Arena was big enough - you could see from all angles and their attention to details was pretty good.  Maybe we have found a new home.  Some very good duals went on during this tournament.  1A was won by Wilmington over LeRoy - third was Stillman Valley over Petersburg-Porta.  Others competing were:  Benton;  Harvard;  Murphysboro and Sterling Newman.  Class 2A was won by Montini over Yorkville and Third by Crystal Lake Central over Troy-Triad - Others were Champaign Central;  Lemont;  Mahomet-Seymour and Oak Forest.  Class 3A was won by Oak Park over Minooka - Third was Glenbard North over Edwardsville.  Others were Grant;  Naperville Central;  Mt. Carmel and Wheeling. 

6.  Hall of Fame Coach - long time coach at Dundee Crown Al Zinke has retired.  We wish him well. 

7.  I observed Division 3 Nationals in Cedar Rapids, Iowa - Elmhurst College had its First ever National Champion in Jake Oster of Lockport at 125.  I will list all of Illinois connected all americans later on. 

8.  George Dyche of West Aurora carried a banner and presented Awards to the 285 pound class.  He is a graduate of Coe.  Also another Coe graduate - Chris Donaldson of Wheaton Central carried a banner and presented an award, as did a Cornell graduate and retired coach from the Palatine area Merv Miller who now lives in Wisconsin. 

9.  Mike Tamillow has won the Bronze in Iran.  He is starting to move up the ladder in USA Wrestling - he is a former wrestler from Fenwick and Northwestern.

10.  Although a few schools have started Wrestling programs, we are still in danger of losing some.  Wagner college on Long Island, the smallest school in Division I with 1900 students has dropped its program along with women’s volleyball, citing a number of reasons.

11.  Lincoln College Won the Junior College Regionals, which all Illinois schools are in plus a Missouri and a Michigan school.  Dave Klemm was named Coach of the Year.

12.  Larry Gassen received the Alumni Achievement Award from Downers Grove North High School.  Congratulations to Larry - I guess he had to give a speech.

13.  Coaches and Officials and IWCOA voting members - You should be casting your votes for the categories that are awarded at the State Banquet.  They need to be in by the 21st.  You can do this on line.

14.  Northern Illinois placed 3rd in the Mac Conference with a champion who is from Indiana.

15.  Illinois connected placewinners:  Big 10 - 125 - 2 - Brandon Precin - Northwestern - Carl Sandburg;  125 - 6 - B.J> Futrell - Illinois - Mt. Carmel;  133 - 3 - Jimmy Kennedy - Illinois - Grant;  133 - 5 - Dan Dennis - Iowa - Grant;  141 - 6 - Keith Sulzer - Northwestern - Ohio;  141 - 7 - Ryan Prater - Illinois - Plainfield Central;  149 - 6 - Andrew Nadhir - Northwestern - Michigan;  149 - 8 - Eric Terrazas - Illinois - Wheaton North;  157 - Champion - Mike Poeta - Illinois - Highland Park;  157 - 2 - Jason Welch - Northwestern - California;  165 - 6 - Roger Smith-Bergsrud - Illinois - Lake Forest;  174 - 4th - John Dergo - Illinois - Morris;  184 - Chanpion - Jake Herbert - Northwestern - Pennsylvania;  184 - 4 - Jordan Blanton - Illinois - Richmond-Burton;  197 - 3 - Patrick Bond - Illinois - Virginia;  197 - 8 - John Schoen - Northwestern - Marist;  285 - 3 - John Wise - Illinois - Pittsfield;  285 - 5 - Nathan Everhart - Indiana - Tinley Park Andrew.  Illinois 2nd;  Northwestern 8th.   Big 12:  125 - 2nd - Tyler Clark - Iowa State - Orion and Iowa;  133 - Champion - Nick Fanthorpe - Iowa State - Naperville North;  165 - 2 - Stephen Dwyer - Nebraska - Rockton-Hononegah;  174 - Ryan Burk - Iowa State - Peoria;  184 - 2 - Jerome Ward - Iowa State - St. Rita.  National Junior College:  133 - 3 - Eric Ellington - Rend Lake - East St. Louis;   133 - 5 - Omi Acosta - Waubonsee - Florida;  157 - 6 - Phillip Starnes - Harper - Schaumberg;  157 - 7 - Bryce Lumzy - Lincoln - Dixon;  165 - 4 - David Dwyer - Lincoln - Rockton-Hononegah;  165 - 6 - Tim Springs - North Iowa Area - Bremen;  174 - Champion - James Nakashima - Lincoln - Dwight;  174 - 8 - Michael Palerno - Triton - Ridgewood;  184 - 8 - Don Johnson - Waubonsee - Sycamore;  285 - 6 - Matt McGlaughlin - Rend Lake - Murphysboro.   Lincoln was 10th; Rend Lake 17th; Harper and Waubonsee 24th and Triton 31st.   NAIA:  133 - Champion - Ray Stephens - Lindenwood - Waubonsee JC and Florida;  133 - 4 - Wade Lowe - McKendree - Alton;  133 - 6 - Kyle Williams - McKendree - Mascoutah;  141 - 4 - Jonathan Henslee - Grand View - Libertyville;  157 - Champion - Jeremy Powell - Lindenwood - Proviso East and Triton;  157 - 3 - Matt Collum - Missouri Baptist - Neuqua Valley;  165 - Champion - Aaron Winning - McKendree - Belleville Althoff;  174 - 3 - Josh Bryant - McKendree - Oklahoma;  197 - Champion - Andrew Sanchez - McKendree - O’Fallon;  285 - 4 - Dan Moore - McKendree - Missouri;  285 - 7 - Cedric Powell - McKendree - Oklahoma.  McKendree was Third;..  Division Three:  125 - Champion - Jake Oster - Elmhurst - Lockport;  125 - 5 - Clayton Rush - Coe College - Aledo;;  141 - 3 - Austin Bautista - UW-Whitewater - Maine South;  157 - 5 - Jesse Milks - UW-Platteville - Dakota;  165 - 2 - Ben Youel - North Central - Crystal Lake Central;  165 - 6 - Josh Terrell - Dubuque - Round Lake;  184 - 4 - Gabe Youel - North Central - Crystal Lake Central;  184 - 8 - Toby Boltz - Wheaton College - Sycamore;  285 - 2 - Mark Corsello - Elmhurst - Maine South.  Elmhurst College 7th;  North Central 14th.  Results of Division 2 and 1 will be in the next word.

16.  Courtesy of Jason Salley the following FS/GR tournament dates and sites as follows:  Sunday March 15 - Rules clinic at Conant 12 noon;  21st a Saturday - GR tourney at Wright JC 10 AM;  22nd a Sunday - FS at Wright 10AM;  27th a Friday GR at Naperville Central 6 PM;  28th a Saturday FS at Naperville Central - 10 AM.  April:  17th - GR at Maine South - 6 PM;  18th - FS at Maine South 10AM.  May:  2-3 - Illinois FS championships at U. of Illinois Armory.  16-l7 - State GR tourney at Oak Park.  30th - 2nd Chance at Sycamore 10 AM.   June:  11-13 - Kids/cadets Northern Plains in Loves Park, Illinois.  17-21 - Schoolboy/girl National Duals in Indianapolis, Indiana at Warren High School.  17-21 - Cadet National duals - Rochester, Minnesota.  23-28 - Junior National Duals - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  30-lst - Kids FS and GR Nationals in Orem, Utah.   JULY - 18-25 - Cadets/Juniors FS-GR - womens FS - Fargo, North Dakota.  Good Luck to all.

17.  Don’t forget the Redbird Open Tournament on April 4th at the Shirk Center, Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington - 3rd grade through college.  Call 309-750-1334 for information.

18.  Midwest Nationals will be on July 11th at the Shirk Center - Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington - Grades 1 through college. Contact Mike Manahan - 309-665-0033 or 800-433-8226 for information.  A great tournament for those who do not go to the various nationals.  This event is sponsored by the IWCOA’  Illinois Coaches Assn;  US Army and Bloomington Sports. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire public-relations writers.There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have alteredStatesmen rise and fall on the smallest of actions.Hardwork spotlights the character of people; some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.When you can’t have what you want, it’s time to start wanting what you have.Ultimately, the only power to which man should aspire is that which he exercises over himself.

-Ed

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