Bowling Brook Thoroughbreds
1997-98 record: 3-12
Coach: Jim Tavenner
Top wrestlers: Tavenner declined to single out individuals
Outlook: Tavenner hopes to fill 10-to-12 classes.
Francis Scott Key Eagles
1997-98 record: 8-6
Coach: Bill Hyson
Top wrestlers: Clint Day, Sr., 135/140; Ronnie Howard, Sr., 135/140; Joe Putnam, Sr., 130; Greg Frech, Jr., hwt.; Brian Owings, Jr., 112/119.
Outlook: The Eagles are fairly solid in the lower weights, but there are plenty of new faces in the upper classes. Only five boys have varsity experience, but several move up from a highly successful JV team. Day, a state semifinalist who placed fifth with a 29-8 record, is the best returnee. Frech, 16-11 last season, his first in the sport, honed his skills at a summer camp. Howard (11-7) returns after an injury-filled season. Day, Howard, Owings (19-14), and Frech were state qualifiers.
Liberty Lions
1997-98 record: 10-9
Coach: Mike Flemming
Top wrestlers: Ryan Bellin, Sr., 160; Scott Carter, Sr., 145/152; Mark Richard, Sr., 140; Mike Haran, Jr., 103; Jesse Stank, Jr., 140/145.
Outlook: Two of four wrestlers who qualified at the state level last season are back -- Richard (28-9), fifth at 125, and Stank (30-6), who won a match but went unplaced. Flemming is still building. "We have a lot returning and some tough new ones we hope will contribute," said Flemming, in his second season.
North Carroll Panthers
1997-98 record: 11-4
Coach: Bryan Wetzel
Top wrestlers: Mike Bezanson, Sr., 130; Wyatt Deiaco, Sr., 135/140; Anton Enrique, Sr., 189; Matt Bezanson, Jr., 135/140; Ross Bell, Soph., 119; Fran Jackson, Soph., 125.
Outlook: State champion Jackson (132-2 at 103) headlines the holdovers, two of whom joined him in the state tournament in March. Jackson has grown into a different weight class, but Mike Bezanson and Deiaco (20-15) remain in the 130-140 range. Enrique wrestled as a sophomore, missed last season, and returns at 189. Several talented newcomers in the lower weights make this a young team overall, but one Wetzel believes can be good. "We will be tough, because some of the freshmen and sophomores are coming in with excellent recreation experience," said.
South Carroll Cavaliers
1997-98 record: 15-3
Coach: Pete Olson
Top wrestlers: Sean Douglas, Sr., 135; Brad Mann, Sr., 160; Mike Muller, Sr., 145; Scott Warner, Sr., 189; Kevin Clark, Jr., 130; Bryan Hamper, Soph., 125; Dan Patterson, Soph., 112.
Outlook: Some of the team's best competition may come in its own room. Olson has 16 seniors, virtually all of whom have been in the program for three or four years, and one of Olson's problems, albeit a nice one, will be trying to keep them happy. "We're going to be a strong dual-meet team, and it will take a potent lineup to beat us," says Olson. One unknown is how the former junior league and JV candidates step up to the varsity level, although the coach added: "We have no major weakness, but there are some soft spots." Patterson (30-6) set a school record for wins by a freshman (Muller had the previous standard, 22); Hamper (28-10) was fourth in the state and, the coach said, got "really good" down the stretch.
Westminster Owls
1997-98 record: 16-2
Coach: Henry Mohlhenrich
Top wrestlers: Kyle Burger, Sr., 135; John Muse, Sr., 145; Chris Reiter, Sr., 125; Eric Westervelt, Sr., 171; Sam Hughes, Jr., 130; Kurt Rauschenburg, Jr., hwt.; John Burger, Soph., 160.
Outlook: Kyle Burger (two-time county champion, 35-6 with 18 pins); Muse (county champion, 32-12); and Reiter (two-time county champion, 23-13, 12 pins) are the key returnees. Burger and Muse were fourth-place state finishers. Even so, this is a relatively young team, but except for 103 and heavyweight, one that should be well-balanced. Most regulars wrestled over the summer and began practice ready to work, but as the coach said, "What you see in the room and what you get in a meet sometimes are two different things."
Pub Date: 12/06/98