Johnny Sebastian is a running back on a Bergen Catholic football team in the state semifinals (Photo/Rob Preston)While the high school wrestling season doesn't start in earnest until about ten days from now, the regular season did start in a couple of states this past weekend. However, of greater interest to the early part of the season for some ranked teams is how football programs are performing. Generally speaking, it takes two weeks at minimum -- and more likely even three weeks -- to get wrestlers back on the mat after the end of the football season. This is due to recovery/transition time after the football season, working down to wrestling weight, and getting acclimated into wrestling condition.
In the Illinois state tournament, No. 33 Glenbard North and No. 10 Montini Catholic saw their football teams advance to the state finals in Class 8A (big-school) and Class 5A respectively. Those two football title games will be held on Saturday in Champaign, Ill.
For Glenbard North, Brian Murphy -- ranked No. 2 nationally at 152 pounds, and No. 11 overall in the senior class -- is the starting quarterback and also contributes on defense. The Panthers are scheduled to begin their wrestling season this weekend at the Conant Invitational. However, in the bigger picture, early season targets for them are a Dec. 20 dual against No. 28 Carl Sandburg, Ill., before the Dvorak Invitational that weekend.
Montini Catholic's football team has returning state placer Michael Maduko (170) as a starting linebacker, state qualifier Anthony Ferraro (195) starting at offensive guard, and state placer Edgar Ruano (220) is a starting defensive tackle. The trio of Broncos' multi-sport athletes is juniors. The overall wrestling schedule is rigorous with key early competition including a quad that also features No. 12 Marist, Ill. next weekend, the Walsh Ironman on Dec. 7 and 8, and the Dvorak Invitational two weekends after that.
No. 21 Allen, Texas has their football team in the second round of a six-round state football tournament in Class 5A Division I. The 10-1 Eagles will be playing undefeated Mesquite this weekend. Key wrestlers contributing to the football team are quarterback/athlete Oliver Pierce -- ranked No. 3 nationally at 152 pounds, and No. 14 overall in the senior class; linebacker Nick Cobb, a three-time state champion and No. 18 nationally at 195 pounds; as well as defensive lineman Stone Drulman (220), third at state last year. Allen's initial wrestling competitions are in two weeks time -- Dec. 6 in a triangular meet at Broken Arrow, Okla., and the following two days in the Mid-Am Nationals at Tulsa Union.
No. 26 Cincinnati Moeller, Ohio had its football team advance to the Division I (big-school) state football semifinals this coming weekend after a 24-21 victory over nationally ranked Cincinnati Colerain. It was the second win for the Crusaders in football over nationally ranked opposition in four weeks, having beaten Louisville (Ky.) Trinity in the last regular season game. From a wrestling perspective, the Crusaders schedule starts next weekend with the Moeller Duals, while the Walsh Ironman and SWOWCA Coaches Classic are the following two weekends.
Five juniors with state wrestling experience are on the football roster. Most notable among them are starting defensive lineman Chalmer Frueauf (220/285), who has placed fourth at state each of the last two years, and returning state third placer Dakota Sizemore (170) who also contributes on the defensive line. 2011 state placers Jerry Thornberry (195/220) and Dean Meyer (152/160) are rostered on the defensive line and at running back, while state qualifier Quentin Rooser (182) is rostered as a linebacker.
No. 31 Blue Springs, Mo., had its football team advance to the Class 6 (big-school) title game this coming weekend at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. In terms of the wrestling squad, state placer Austin Reyes is a starting offensive lineman. The Wildcats' wrestling schedule commences next weekend with a pair of dual meets in Kansas, the Staley Duals on December 8th, and the Kansas City Wrestling Classic the next weekend.
No. 34 Colonial Forge, Va., plays in the Division 6 (big-school) regional football championship this weekend. A trio of upper-weight starters are a part of the Eagles football squad: junior Chris Carter (195), sophomore Patrick Grayson (220), and senior Matt Beaulieu (285). The four weekends after this one feature key wrestling tournaments: the Skyline Elite Opener, Walsh Ironman, King of the Mountain, and Beast of the East.
Both No. 37 Bergen Catholic and No. 43 Don Bosco Prep have their football teams making playoff runs in New Jersey's non-public Group 4. The perennial football powers play in regular season games this week before battling with each other on the field in the state semifinal on Nov. 30. A win there would put them in the state title game the next week. Each school starts wrestling in a Dec. 15 tournament, and they compete in the Beast of the East the next weekend, which is two weeks after the football championship.
Bergen Catholic's football team features state qualifier Carmine Goldsack (285) on the offensive line, while state champion Johnny Sebastian -- who is ranked No. 5 nationally at 182 pounds, and No. 18 overall in the junior class -- is part of the running back rotation. Six-time defending state champion Don Bosco has its two best wrestlers as part of the defensive line on the football -- state champion Razohnn Gross (195) and state placer Zach Chakonis (220), who is ranked No. 25 overall in the sophomore class.
As for some actual wrestling that happened this past weekend:
No. 7 Brandon, Fla., competed in the Chamberlain High School 10-way this past weekend. The Eagles had nine dual meets and shut out each and every opponent. It was a stellar debut, and they'll return to the mats for competition next weekend with the Troy Smith Duals at Gateway. Brandon is off this coming weekend.
No. 22 Perry Meridian, Ind., hosted the season opening Capital City Classic this past Saturday, and validated their standing as top team in the Hoosier State with a dominant tournament title. The Falcons scored 309 points in winning eight of fourteen weight classes, and four others finishing second. Champions included Jacob Cottey (113), Brandon James (126), No. 18 Cody LeCount (132), Nick Bova (138), Keanu Cooper (152), Riley McClurg (160), Jake Masengale (182), and No. 5 Donte Winfield (285).
Second place in the eight-team tournament was Warren Central, ranked No. 13 in the Hoosier State, with 251 points. They had five of the other six weight class champions, along with two others who finished in second place.
This coming weekend is "opening weekend" for the state of Illinois. Probably the feature of the schedule is a match between No. 12 Marist and No. 13 Oak Park River Forest as part of Saturday's Marist Thanksgiving Wrestling Quad. From an individual standpoint, a match between returning state runners-up Mark Duda (Marist) and Matt Rundell is possible at 120 pounds. Unfortunately, Marist will be without returning state placer Peter Andreotti (160), as he recovers from an injury sustained during football.
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