4 Minutes with ilwrestling.com

Over the summer I had the pleasure to meet Brian Strenk(Oak Forest Warriors).  He was wrestling with Team Illinois at the National Freestyle/Greco Schoolboy Duals.  Nice young man and a very good wrestler too.

Name: Brian Strenk
City: Oak Forest
School: Jack Hille Middle School

Club: Oak Forest Warriors/Top Gun

1st. period

ilwrestling: How many years have you been wrestling and with what clubs?
Brian: This will be my fifth year with the Oak Forest Warriors and I wrestle with Top Gun during the Freestyle and Greco season.

ilwrestling: What do you like most about wrestling?
Brian: I like the fact that it is an individual sport and I am responsible for my success or failure.

ilwrestling: What coaches and/or wrestlers have had the most influence on you?
Brian: My Head Coach with the Warriors, Dan Walters, who always has confidence in me, and Coach John Barker who first convinced me to give wrestling a try.

ilwrestling: Do you participate in other sports? If yes, what are they?
Brian: Yes, I play football for the Oak Forest Raiders.

2nd. Period

ilwrestling: Who is the toughest opponent you have faced?
Brian: My first year I faced Justin Farmer at the Celtic Elite, he gave me a good beating. Other tough opponents have been Michael Avelar, Derek Olsen (WIS) and Shaq.

ilwrestling: Where are you going to high school?
Brian: Mount Carmel High School

ilwrestling: What is your favorite tournament?
Brian: My favorites are IKWF State and the IKWF Kids Open because you have the opportunity to face competition from throughout the state and in the case of the Kids Open from other states as well.

ilwrestling: What are your goals in wrestling this year?
Brian: My primary goal is to be successful at IKWF State, Midwest Classic and any National Tournaments I attend.

3rd. Period

ilwrestling: You won IKWF folk style state, IL-USAW freestyle and Greco-roman state, which is your favorite championship to win?
Brian: IKWF State because that is really the focus of the wrestling season and because I was wrestling for the Warriors.

ilwrestling: What do you think about summer time freestyle and Greco-roman?
Brian: I think it is great because the freestyle really helps me on my feet with takedowns and Greco helps with upper body moves. It is also great because you usually see top wrestlers at every meet and get a chance to wrestle national level kids.

ilwrestling: Can the Bears win the Super Bowl?
Brian: Don't you mean what am I going to do WHEN the Bears win the Super Bowl.

ilwrestling: Do you see yourself wrestling in college? If yes, where?
Brian: That's a long way off but if I had the opportunity, I'd like to wrestle in the Big Ten.

O.T.

ilwrestling: What's you favorite style, free,greco or folk?

Brian: I enjoy wrestling all three styles and wish there were more opportunities to wrestle the Olympic styles, especially Greco. If I had to pick a favorite though it would be folk style because that is the style I've wrestled the most.

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"Thanks" to Keith and his dad Barry.  It's been a pleasure meeting them and seeing them at the "North" tournaments they attend.  I wish Keith much luck the rest of the season.

Name: Keith Surber

City: O’Fallon, IL

School:  Fulton Jr. High.  Next year O’Fallon High School

Wrestling club: Sons of Thunder

1st. Period

ilwrestling: How many years have you been wrestling and with
what clubs? 

Keith: This is my 4th year.  Three years with O’Fallon Little Panthers and my first year with Sons of Thunder.

ilwrestling: What wrestlers and or coaches have had the biggest influences on you?
Keith: Nick Purler because has taught me that I don’t have to be the biggest or strongest to win.  He has also taught me the right way to drill and that good technique wins over strength.

Jeff Estrada because he has taught me to wrestle tough and never give up.  He gets me to expect more of myself.

My Dad because he helps me figure out what I’m doing wrong when I’m not wrestling well and helps me get pumped up.

ilwrestling: Do you participate in other sports, if so what are they?
Keith: I used to played select baseball and football, but decided to wrestle year round starting this year.

2nd. Period

ilwrestling: Who is the toughest opponent you have faced? Why?
Keith: In a match it was Tony Ramos when I only had about 1 year of experience.  He was much stronger and quicker than I was.
In practice there have been a lot of national champs and All-Americans that I have gotten to work out with.  Some of the toughest were Kyle Bradley, the Lester twins, Brandon Wilbourn, and Jake Gregerson.

ilwrestling: Besides state, what's your favorite wrestling tournament of the year? Why? 

Keith: Tulsa National because everyone you wrestle is usually tough.

ilwrestling: Cubs or Cadinals fan?

Keith: Definitely Cardinals(i knew this answer was coming)

ilwrestling: What do you think about Freestyle and or Greco Roman wrestling?

Keith: I like it a lot.  Last year was my first year with them really, and it was fun.  I hope I can do better this year.

3rd. Period

ilwrestling: Where are you going to go to High School?

Keith: O’Fallon Township High School.

ilwrestling: Do you see yourself wrestling in college? Where?

Keith: Yes.  I’m not sure where.

ilwrestling: Does your wrestling experience ever help out in the class room? How?
Keith: Yes.  It helps when I have to do anything in front of other people like give speeches.  I always think to myself if I can wrestle in front of all the people I do, this shouldn’t make me nervous.

ilwrestling: What is the one goal you would like to meet this year?

Keith: Win State.

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"Thank you" to Cody Klaver for taking the time for this interview.  I loved his Bears/Cubs answer but the Iowa thing soured me.  Just kidding.  Good luck the rest of the year.  You're a fine young man.  Keep working hard.

Name: Cody Klaver

City: Frankfort, Illinois

School: Summit Hill Junior High

Wrestling club: Tinley Park Bull Dogs

1st Period

ilwrestling: Why do you wrestle?

Cody: When I was younger I wanted to try a new sport  besides baseball and football plus my older brother started wrestling the year before.

ilwrestling: Do you participate in other sports, if so what are they?

Cody: Yes, I played football for the Frankfort Square Wildcats

ilwrestling: Do you want to wrestle in High School? Where?

Cody: Yes, Providence or Lincoln Way East

2nd Period

ilwrestling: What wrestlers have influenced you?

Cody: Joey Gilbert, Cael Sanderson, and Kyle Maynard the handicapped wrestler.

ilwrestling: What coaches have had the biggest influence on you?

Cody: Joe Fessler, Joey Gillbert, and Mike DeHart

ilwrestling: Bears or Packers, Cubs or White Sox?

Cody: Bears and Cubs

ilwrestling: What is your biggest challenge for the 05-06 wrestling season?

Cody: Shooting takedowns with my head up and not getting stuck with my head on the mat.

ilwrestling: Who is the toughest opponent you have faced? Why?

Cody:  BJ Futrell – Because he was very fast and knew a lot of moves.

3rd Period

ilwrestling: Besides state, what's your favorite wrestling tournament of the year? Why?

Cody: Peoria Kids Open because there was a lot of competition and National Duals because I wrestled kids from other states.  

ilwrestling: What do you think about freestyle and greco-roman style wrestling?

Cody: I like both because it keeps you in shape for folk style and teaches you some new moves.

ilwrestling: What do you want to do after HS?

Cody: Go to college and wrestle in the Olympics.

ilwrestling: Do you see yourself wrestling in college? Where?

Cody:  Yes, I would like to go to Iowa.

editors note: Iowa???

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A special “thank you” to Mr. Colton Rasche for going 4 minutes with ilwrestling.com. I remember the first time I saw Colton wrestle, he and my son were in the same Junior division 55lbs weight class at the IWF State tournament in Tinley Park-2001. In fact, that bracket was full of young talent, BJ Futrell(HT), Farmer(LW), Tate(HT), Juarez(JBC), Gregerson(GRC), Montemayor(Bad Boys) to name a few of them. He was as tough then as he is now. He’s always been a very polite and respectful young man to my family and I, and I would like to wish him luck in his future endeavors.

Name: Colton Rasche
City: Aurora
School: Jefferson Middle School
Wrestling club: Martinez Fox Valley Elite

1st Period

ilwrestling:  How many years have you been wrestling and with
what clubs?
Colton:  6years total - 2years with West Aurora Blackhawks and 4 years with Martinez Fox Valley Elite.

ilwrestling:  Is wrestling your favorite sport, if not what is?
Colton:  Yes, wrestling is my favorite sport.

ilwrestling:  How does wrestling help you in the other sport(s)
you compete in?
Colton:  Helps me focus better and keeps me in great condition.

ilwrestling:  What's your favorite wrestling tournament in
Illinois.
Colton:  The Midwest Classic and the State Finals.

 2nd Period

ilwrestling:  What's your favorite tournament outside of
Illinois, and why?
Colton:  Tulsa Nationals / Because it’s great competition and it makes you work hard and you get to meet and wrestle some of the best wrestlers in the nation.

ilwrestling:  You are a 2 time IKWF State Champion, team member of a State Dual Championship club and, Senior division State Champs in Rockford...what are your goals for this year?
Colton:  To become a 3 time IKWF State Champ and to win or place in any of the National Tournaments that I enter.

ilwrestling:  Is freestyle/greco something you may be interested in trying?
Colton:  Yes

3rd Period

ilwrestling:  Does your wrestling experience ever help out in the class room?
Colton: Yes

ilwrestling:  Where are you going to go to High School?
Colton:  Montini Catholic High School

ilwrestling:  Ever imagine yourself wrestling after high school?
Colton:  Yes

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--Thanks to Coach Billy--

Name: Francis W. Nowak
Home town: New Lenox, IL
Occupation: Teacher
Wrestling club: Little Celtic Wrestling Club

1st Period

ilwrestling: How long have you been coaching the Little Celtics Wrestling Club?
Coach Nowak: Since the inception of the club in 1991-1992

ilwrestling: What’s one of your finest Little Celtic experiences?
Coach Nowak: There have been so many...Winning our first (Senior Division and Dual Team) State titles in 1995. Winning the Triple Crown in 2000. All TEN titles have been special. I couldn't very well pick out one experience I have had with a kid either. Our program has been blessed in such large measure due to having such outstanding families become part of it.

ilwrestling: Tell us one of your lowest Little Celtic experiences?
Coach Nowak: That hasn't happened yet. Even in our early years when we would take it on the chin at elite tournaments we still stayed focused on our long term goals. I don't dwell on failure or negativity too long. Life is too short. I tend to stay focused on where my team is going. I try not to get involved with stuff outside of my control.

ilwrestling: What kind of life lessons can be learned in the sport of wrestling?
Coach Nowak: Wrestling teaches resilliencey. Wrestling teaches kids to have short memories for failure. Wrestling is phenomenal for teaching about the rewards for hardwork.

2nd Period

ilwrestling: What’s your best attribute as a coach?
Coach Nowak: My singular focus on development is probably my best attribute as a coach. There is always time to develop. Even as adults we never stop learning, evolving and striving to make things better. Of course some people might think other wise...I don't have too many outstanding attributes; I just work hard, pray and hope for the best.

ilwrestling: How do you feel about summer wrestling, freestyle and greco namely?
Coach Nowak: Wrestling Freestyle and Greco is imperative if a wrestler wants to develop and step up into the next level.

ilwrestling: Do you have any freestyle or greco coaching experiences? Explain.
Coach Nowak: A few years back Mart, Don Reynolds, Scott Richardson and Sean Bormet and I coached the Freeestyle Junior National Dual team. We had some great times coaching those kids for a few years. Kids like Isreal Martinez, Eric Tannenbaum, Zak Berman, Russ Vanderhyden, Pete Friedl, Buzz Dyer, Ruben Villareal, David Murphy, Danny Kunzer all wrestled for us. Let me tell you those wrestlers not only performed admirably on the mat but their behavior was OUTSTANDING as well. They truly represented Illinois wrestling in a class fashion.

ilwrestling: Who is/was a big influence on you with regards to wrestling in general?
Coach Nowak: Well, to be honest when it comes to influences it all starts with my mom and dad. My mom was my first teacher. Her support and temperment really steered us into our career choices. My dad thrusted skills upon us that we later learned were essential for running an organization. My dad talked about being leaders alot when we were little.
We had such fine influences when it came to wrestling in our teen years; it was obvious that it was my coaches who influenced me in regards to wrestling. Tim Ruettiger, Mike Polz, Bill Scully, Tom Rossiano, Bert and Brett Kooi are all great men, teachers and mentors. Tim Ruettiger, coached Marty and I in high school then he later coached in our program as his kids were growing up and wrestling. What an honor that was! The first few years when we placed in the Dual Team Tournament and then won the Dual titles in '95 and '96 I can recall going to Coach Polz's home and celebrating! Coach Polz really gave us such solid foundation when it came to teaching tech. Later, I am not at all ashamed to say that Don Reynolds, Mark Berman and Mike Stuchly have really influenced me and my coaching style. I have been tremendously fortunate to have had unbelievable people to work with and learn from.

3rd Period

ilwrestling: How many kids in the club this year?
Coach Nowak: This year we have just about 100 kids registered so far. Usually we get a rush of kids the first few weeks of practice. I would ideally like to see us have around 130 wrestlers.

ilwrestling:  What are you and the rest of the club’s goals this year?
Coach Nowak: No comment. I am sure when you see our kids wrestle their goals will become apparent to EVERYONE.

ilwrestling: Could you ever see yourself NOT coaching wrestling with your brother ‘coach Marty’?
Coach Nowak: I have coached wrestling without my brother before at Providence Catholic. Of course I was really lucky to coach many, many of my Little Celtics there and coach with one of my best friends in Scott Richardson. Would I ever coach a Kids team without my brother? ...Yeah I guess so if i were to move to another state.

ilwrestling: What makes wrestling different than other sports kids participate in?
Coach Nowak: What I think makes wrestling so different from other kids sports is the exposure to the lessons of personal responsibility. You can't blame anyone else for missing a tackle or not catching a pass or making that game winning shot. In wrestling... you alone stand on the mat.