Rochester high school wrestling previews

12/3/2009 10:50:04 AM

CENTURY

Coach: Steve Larsen, eighth season.

Last year's record: 7-21.

Playoffs: Lost to Rochester Mayo in Section 1AAA quarterfinals.

Who's gone: Mike Babcock, Drew Loechler, Gabe Miller and Brian Russell.

Top returners: Chad Zastrow (118-38 career record, 2008 state entrant, 4-time all-conference pick, 36-4 last season), Joe Ginther (22-15 last season, all-conference pick), Sam Gaul (20-16), Mitch Miller (16-10).

Other returning letter-winners: Clint Allen, Derrick Allen, Eric Allen, Jake Allen, Jake Mandelko, Drew Miller and Erich Moyer.

Strengths/weaknesses: "The strength of our team is a group of juniors who we are expecting big things from this year," Larsen said. "However, it appears that we are short-handed at some weight classes. That will make competing as a team very difficult, which is unfortunate from a team standpoint."

Coach Larsen's thoughts: "In past years, we've had some good finishes at the end of the season. However, last year we didn't finish the season off very well. This year is a new year and I know that we have a core of committed wrestlers. Chad Zastrow leads the way in terms of past success and is primed for the coming season. I think that Gaul, Ginther and Mitch Miller will reach new levels this year as well. The Allen brothers (freshman Clint and Jake; senior Eric Allen) are some individuals who I am excited about also. These kids have worked very hard over the last two seasons to learn the sport, and they battle hard every day. Senior Jake Mandelko is another wrestler who has a great chance to turn the corner this year. At the end of each day and at the end of the season, I just want to be proud of every kid in our program for putting forth their best effort."

ROSTER

Seniors -- Derrick Allen, Eric Allen, Jake Mandelko, Josh Moeckly, Erich Moyer, Landon Olson. Juniors -- Sam Gaul, Joe Ginther, Drew Miller, Mitch Miller, James Sun, Chad Zastrow. Sophomores -- Jeremy An, Daniel Lopez, Justin Morbeck, Collin Phillips. Freshmen -- Clint Allen, Jake Allen, Zach Larson. Eighth-grader -- Nick Pastika. Seventh-grader -- Jonny Brushaber.

SCHEDULE

Dec. 5 -- at Rochester Invite

Dec. 10 -- Albert Lea

Dec. 11 -- at Northfield quad

Dec. 17 -- at Austin

Dec. 22 -- at Winona

Jan. 7 -- All-city triangular

Jan. 9 -- at Cannon Falls Invite

Jan. 14 -- at Mankato West

Jan. 21 -- Owatonna

Jan. 23 -- at Zumbrota-Mazeppa

Jan. 28 -- at Faribault

Jan. 30 -- Century Invite

Feb. 4 -- John Marshall

Feb. 6 -- at Pine Island Invite

Feb. 11 -- at Mankato East

JOHN MARSHALL

Coach: Brian Parlin, third season.

Last year's record: 15-16.

Playoffs: Lost to Albert Lea in Section 1AAA semifinals.

Who's gone: Lost 11 seniors who saw varsity time last year. Seven of those seniors were on the section team, including Ryan Galvan, Taylor Giordano, Paul Johnson, Tyler Lande, Pen Maclin, Luke Robison and Garrett Steiger.

Top returners: Carter Williamson (23-19, fourth in section at 103), Jacob Bosshart (fourth in secon at 130), Ryan Williamson (sixth in section at 140), Alex Evan (fifth in section at 160) and Cole Swanson (fifth in section at 215).

Other returning letter-winners: Marshal Richards, Seth Scott, Charlie Stellpflug, Brett Vanderwiel, Nathan Evan, Hayden Herzog, Tony Latwesen and Tim Moore.

Strengths/weaknesses: "Our team is definitely the strongest in the middle of the lineup. We have a lot of depth and experience in the middle weights. I also like our younger wrestlers in the lower weights. There is talent in our younger group that just needs to be developed," Parlin said. "The biggest weakness of our team will be numbers and the lack of upper weight wrestlers. We don't have a lot of depth to absorb injuries, and for the first time in many years at JM, we don't have a lot of upper-weight wrestlers."

Coach Parlin's thoughts: " Obviously, with us losing so many seniors last year, it's going to be a bit of a rebuilding year at JM. I think we're going to see continued improvement from the team throughout the year as some of our younger wrestlers learn the sport. We're going to have some holes in our lineup right away as we give some newer wrestlers some JV matches before we move them up to varsity. I'm excited to work with this group of kids. I see a lot of potential in them. Our veteran wrestlers have shown good leadership and for us to have any success we're going to have to wrestle as a team. Our two senior captains, Alex Evan and Cole Swanson, are both looking to have solid years. They've provided good leadership both on and off the mat."

ROSTER

Seniors -- Alex Evan, Mark Jorgensen, Marshal Richards, Cole Swanson. Juniors -- Jacob Bosshart, Seth Scott, Charlie Stellpflug, Brett Vanderwiel. Sophomores -- Dami Adebayo, Zach Petersen, Ryan Williamson. Freshman -- Makayle Brennan, Alex Brown, Dontorrie Chatman, Nathan Evan, Hayden Herzog, Tony Latwesen, Isaac Leverson, Jorge Lopez, Tim Moore, Connor Smith, Tim Vanderwiel. Eighth-graders -- Nick Borth, Jeffrey Laivell, Andrew Moore, Brendan Mulvey, Keatton Steiger, Carter Williamson. Seventh-graders -- Adam Herzog, Kenny Maclin.

SCHEDULE

Dec. 5 -- Rochester Duals

Dec. 17 -- Mankato West

Dec. 19 -- at St. Charles Duals

Dec. 22 -- at Owatonna quad

Jan. 7 -- at All-City triangular

Jan. 8 -- Faribault

Jan. 9 -- at Crestwood, Iowa, Invite

Jan. 14 -- Austin

Jan. 16 -- at Stewartville Invite

Jan. 21 -- at Mankato East

Jan. 23 -- at Henry Sibley Invite

Jan. 28 -- Albert Lea

Feb. 4 -- at Byron

Feb. 6 -- at Cannon Falls quad

MAYO

Coach: Art Trimble, first season.

Last year's record: 18-11.

Playoffs: Lost in section semifinals to Owatonna.

Who's gone: Warren Brink, Aaron Burt, Zach Hanson, Jake Minske, Cory Black and Kevin Kimlinger. That group accounted for more than half of Mayo's varsity wins last season.

Top returners: Mike Minske (three-time state place-winner, 30-10 last year, fifth in state), Marcus Wolf (two-time state entrant, 30-10 lasty ear).

Other returning letter-winners: Aaron Martinson (22-18), Blake Patton (22-19) and Jake Hanson (17-21).

Strengths/weaknesses: "We are fairly strong and experienced in the middle weights," Trimble said. "But we are young and inexperienced in the lower and upper weights."

Coach Trimble's thoughts: "I see us finishing somewhere in the middle of the conference. It really depends on how a lot of our wrestlers make the transition to the varsity level and how everyone shakes down into their weights. This will be a year of growth for the team. It can be a big step to move from JV to varsity, and it will help that many of our wrestlers will be making that transition together. One guy to watch is Drew Burt. He's a second-year wrestler with a hard-nose attitude and an aggressive, physical style. Brady Nelson comes to us with lots of youth wrestling experience, and I expected Aaron Martinson, Blake Patton and Jake Hanson to make a push to the state tournament this yera. We have some very good, experienced wrestlers but also a lot of wrestlers with two or less years of experience, however they all have the right attitude and are working for improvement every practice. I expect us to be much stronger by the end of the season, because the main thing we are lacking as a team is experience and mat time. Overall I am pleased to be working with such a great group of kids, and though this may not be our year, the future is looking brighter and brighter."

ROSTER

Seventh-graders -- Connor Willis, Miles Patton, Brady Nelson. Eighth-graders -- Denley Minske, Loren Lorang. Freshmen -- Dhaha Ahmed, Marcus Blount-McKinley, Drew Burt, Jason Callanan, Lukky Chang, Jacob Hanson, Samuel Hinsch, Zachary Lorang, Kyle Orwoll, Devon Patton, Henry Pham. Sophomores -- Justin Carr, Jose Contreras Paredes, Joseph Kobilarcsik, Nate Petsch, Nicolas Tremain. Junior -- Marcus Wolf. Seniors -- Stefan Clark, Adam Freimund, Aaron Martinson, Michael Minske, Blake Patton, Lee Schimek.

SCHEDULE

Dec. 5 -- at Rochester Duals

Dec. 12 -- at Shakopee Invite

Dec. 17 -- at Mankato East

Dec. 18-19 -- at MN Christmas Tournament

Dec. 22 -- at Mankato West

Dec. 30 -- Albert Lea

Jan. 7 -- at All-City triangular

Jan. 16 -- at Stewartville Invite

Jan. 21 -- at Austin

Jan. 30 -- at Northfield Invite

Feb. 4 -- Owatonna

Feb. 6 -- at Pine Island Invite

Feb. 11 -- at Faribault