Tony B's Blog
1/26/10
Can’t believe it’s been almost two weeks since the last blog. Where does the time go...?
Crown Jewel of The IKWF
Are you kidding me??? The Senior State Duals are less than a week away and nobody is saying anything? What freaking gives? This is the Senior Duals. This IS the tournament that decides who has the best club in the state. Maybe because the Little Celtics and Crystal Lake Wizards are not in??? I don’t get it. Any-who I think it’s a two-team race and those teams are on opposite sides of the bracket. Force and Gomez WA have to be the 1-2 in the state. My prediction: Gomez Wrestling Academy. Hector has it going on up there. But both these clubs will be tested right out of the gate though. Gomez runs into Vittum and Force brawls with Martinez FV Elite in round two. The bad thing about that is, Vittum and MFVE maybe the number 3-4 teams in the state but will only have the chance to wrestle-back for fifth place. Ouch... Good luck should be fun
The mini Crown Jewel Duals
The Didi Duals are also this weekend in Danville. After further review, Danville is still a dump. But it’s the dump hosting the Jim Didi Memorial Duals. That may not be the name of the tournament but it should be, I guess. From everything I’m hearing (the club that does not enter the Senior Duals Harvey Twisters) are the odds on favorites too win the Didi Duals. Not only win it, but run away with it. I love the format too. Twelve teams in three pools with round robins to determine the championship round robin. Great moves by the tournament director (whoever he is). In the battle for second, you gotta love the Little Green men from New Lenox. The Lil Celts are in a bit of rebuilding mode and this will be the first real indicator to see if they have the ship headed in the right direction. Then of course you have your typical heavy hitters with Force, Tinley park, Orland Park and Crosstown. This should be a fun and very competitive weekend. Each club is going to wrestle five duals. Depth could be the key for each club.
Like a Breath of Fresh Air
Just when you think the idiots with no class totally out number the good folks in this organization you run into a few good people. I had a chat with a couple young men at the Oak Park tournament this past Sunday. These young men are wrestlers I’ve watched for many, many years now and they were nothing but respectful and cheerful to talk with. They are good kids and good for the sport. I wished them luck (one at Minnesota and the other at the OTC) and went on my way. I also had a very nice talk with an old “wrestling friend” from way back. It was great just to sit and talk wrestling. We discussed the IKWF of today and from years ago. We talked some IHSA wrestling and a little college stuff too. When you have this sport in common with someone else, you can talk forever. I want to thank my friend and wish him luck. I really enjoyed it...
That Age Old Question
Is the future of the Senior division fifteen year olds? I’m hearing more and more stories of kids being fifteen in the IKWF. Not just a few here and there I mean a lot. I have not verified this number BUT I heard there will be more than 150 kids at the age of 15 come state tournament time. 150!!! I would like to see the IKWF put together a panel or committee of some kind and really evaluate the age divisions in the IKWF. Is it finally time to use the national USAW standard age divisions? I think it’s something to think about and should be reviewed every year. And for those people that hold their kids back for the sole purpose of wrestling, you are trash in my book. Shame on you...
The Website
ilwrestling is starting to rock again. I knew I could count on you wrestling nuts. Remember, the more info I have the more I can put out there. Send in pics and stories.
Man, I have tons more but don’t have time.
Goo GREEN!!!!!! It’s the right thing to do...:):):)
1/13/10
Feeling bad...
Holy smoke did I have a bout with a killer stomach virus. It kicked my butt for 7 days but I have made a full recovery and ready to talk some grappling.
Ilwrestling stuff...
For those who do not know, Loyal Raider Coach (aka LRC) is a computer genius. With his help we are now back in bid’ness with the website. Now we need your stories and pictures. I placed the ilwrestling top 25 on the home page too. We just do not have the results to do the rankings like years past. Here at ilwrestling we always base our rankings on full mats and regulation timed periods. So, our pound-for-pound top 25 will have to do this year.
Jon Davis Kids Open...
Still love the name. JD was a great ambassador of the sport. (At this time) The entries are listed at almost 1400. Register now before it is too late. Trackwrestling for registration. 135 in the Novice Elite and 175 in the Senior Elite. What’s up with that? Hope those number increase. The Kids Open is a very good indicator of the state tournament in Rockford. I have not been in years... maybe next year we will start going again. This time of year has always seemed like a good time for a break, but since I have a lot more time on my hands I think we will try and hit it next year. Some pics for the web site would be great too.
Didi Duals...
I can’t believe it, but I’m going to talk a little Junior, er. Midget, er. Intermediate wrestling. Wow, have you seen the entries? 1. Orland Park Pioneers
2. Lincoln Way Knights
3. Little Celtics
4. Crosstown Crushers
5. Gomez Wrestling Academy
6. Tinley Park Bulldogs
7. Plainfield Wrestling
8. Harlem Wrestling Club
9. Sycamore Wrestling Club
10. Force Wrestling Club
11. Frankfort Falcons Wrestling Club
12. Bolingbrook Jr. Raiders
13. Edwardsville Wrestling Club
14. Harvey Twisters
15. Bronco Wrestling Club
16.
That’s a heck of a list. Some real heavy hitting clubs in the IKWF. The Twisters are in yet they do not enter the Senior duals. That is puzzling to me and I’m sure others. I forget the reasoning but I wish they would give the Senior duals a try again. Is there a 16th club. Maybe the Sons Of Thunder could put a team together??? Talk about full circle. I remember in Moline when we ran the first Junior (10 and under) dual tournament. We had to scrape just to get 8 clubs. Now it’s up to 16. That’s awesome. Anyone remember who won that inaugural Junior dual tournament in Moline that year? And for a bonus, who finished second?? Where are the diehards to answer that?? As for this year, the Little Green Guys are gonna make a run but I’ll hold off on my predictions until later.
Ilwrestling.com’s Triple Crown...
We blew it off last year (sorry) but not this year. The ilwrestling Triple Crown is a mid-season award that goes to a wrestler that wins the LCWC Elite, Midwest Classic and the JD Kids Open Senior Elite division. Wrestlers still in the hunt; Louie Hayes (MFVE), Austin O’Connor (TPB), Austin Ryan (CLW), Josh Alber (DAK), Eddie Gonzales (GWA), Edgar Ruano (BRO). Sure would be a fine group to start a club with, wouldn’t it??? Good luck to these young ironmen.
That’s all for now wrestling junkies...
Tony B
1/4/10
I’m BACK!...
After some time away from this ilwrestling.com thing I think I’m ready to give it the attention it needs. The attention it needs is not only from me to recognize the kids, coaches and supporters of the IKWF, it needs you and your input. Pictures have never really been an issue but, a written article like coaches and club leaders submit to the local fish wrap (aka newspaper) has been. We have a section on the home page for those types of news articles. ilwrestling News...
Wrestling news or stories for the fans, by the fans...
Email YOUR news or story to: admin@ilwrestling.com
We will do our best to post your those stories in that section. I’m having an issue with editing/updating the main page but that will be fixed soon.
Gone but not dead...
I’ve been out of the IKWF loop for a little while now but, I have not totally ignored the federation and the people in it. Raising four boys (two teenagers and a fifteen-month-old sam-itched around a ten-year-old) will keep you busy. Not to mention my pit stop with my local club (more on that later) it has been tough to find quality time for ilwrestling.com.
More things change, the more they stay the same... (Random act(s) of class-less-ness)
No class. Why is wrestling full of the most classless people you will find in youth sports. A couple of the more glaring examples I’ve seen during the first half of the season are;
1) Watching Bantam wrestler take down and let up a WAY inferior opponent. It was despicable. It was doing nothing for the better wrestler(we’ll call him wrestler HT) or the wrestler being dominatited (we’ll call him wrestler B). I support that by saying wrestler HT, executing the take-em-down-and-let-em up, had no clue as to what he was doing. HT wasn’t giving away control long enough for wrestler B to be awarded an escape point. So you had wrestler HT’s coach yelling at him to let wrestler B go for a longer amount of time so the escape could be awarded. THE KID (wrestler HT) HAD NO CLUE WHAT WAS GOING ON!!! So after about six times of this and the score only being 2-0, wrestler HT over wrestler B, the coach finally told him to pin him, I think it was in the second period by then. It was one of the dumbest/no class things I’ve seen in the IKWF. This is a great topic for the forum too.
2) The crazy freaking mom from of one the Indiana clubs that frequent the IKWF. First of all the ref in this match should have cleared out the corner with four coaches and 2-3 parents in it. At any rate the mommy’s “Cael Sanderson” was in a heated match and she’s in the corner screaming and jumping up and down like a lunatic, WITH and baby in her arms no less. I was within an eyelash of stepping in for the sake of the infant but at the grace of god the match ended. Her little “Cael” lost for those wondering. Ohh how the “Super Heros” would have treated these two fine examples in the IKWF...
2010 Midwest Classic...?
Is Zab-dog still running the show over there? What the heck happen to the days of the Midwest being the toughest kid’s tournament in the Midwest? 290 some kids? That’s weak compared too just a few years ago, isn’t it? Dare I say the LCWC elite is now the premier Elite tournament of the state? Zab-dog, what’s the skinny, minny??? TPB...what’s it going to take to bring this tournament back to it’s past reputation??? This was always my FAVORITE tournament in the IKWF. Same day weigh-ins. Tri-state competition (IL, WI, IN) And I don’t mean just a couple of kids from out of state, I mean full clubs. Anyone remember the year when Rob Waller sent his club from PA?
Oh I have plenty more to talk about, but don’t have the time... Like it or not, I still call ‘em the way I see ‘em.....
More later,
Tony B
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.
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