Three Wrestlers Claim ilwrestling Mid-Season Triple Crown Honors

1/18/10
(Peoria, IL) Going into the Jon Davis Kids Open wrestling tournament six IKWF wrestlers were still alive for the ilwrestling Mid-Season Triple Crown awards. At the end of the tournament three of those wrestlers could say they entered, and won, three of the most competitive tournaments in the IKWF at the mid-season point.

Number one seed at 130lbs in the Senior Elite bracket, Eddie Gonzales (Gomez Wrestling Academy), earned his mid-season triple crown with a fall over Jeff Klank (Indians Elite) in 2:00. In the semis Gonzales took care of business by pinning Ryan Fish (Gladiators). In the finals match Gonzales defeated Nate Higgins (United Souther All-stars) in a very workman like 13-6 decision. Eddie Gonzales was a 3rd in the IKWF state tournament at 115lbs Senior division in 2009.

Edgar Ruano (Broncos Wrestling) had three pins and a decision on the day to earn his mid-season triple crown. Ruano started his day off with a bye but then pinned Jason Chavez (Team West Wolves) in 1:25. Ruano then glued William Canales (Sauk Valley) in 2:28. For his third stick Ruano got Matthew Kent (Edwardsville) to his back in 2:54. In his fianls match Ruano won a hard-fought match against Nicky Allegretti (Vittum Cats) 6-0. Edgar Ruano was an IKWF Novice State Champion at 215lbs in 2009.

The third mid-season triple crown was decided between a pair of returning IKWF All State wrestlers in the Senior Elite 89lbs bracket. In addition, both wrestlers had won the Little Celtic Elite and the Midwest Classic entering the Kids Open. Something had to give. Joshua Alber (Dakota Wrestling Club) handled Austin Ryan (Crystal Lake Wizards) 11-2 in the Championship bout and joined Ruano and Gonzales as ilwrestling Triple Crown winner. Alber started his day off with a bye then beat Matthew Conrad (Barrington Broncos) 12-0. In his semi final bout Alber controlled Ryder Punke (Central Elite Rebels) for a 14-3 decision. Joshua Alber was 3rd in the IKWF state tournament at 79lbs Novice division in 2009.

Project Torch and Overtime School of Wrestling Bring International Wrestling to Naperville

Project Torch and Overtime School of Wrestling to host an Olympic style dual meet between some of the top U.S. High School aged Wrestlers and Bulgaria, June 20, 2008

Naperville, IL - Project Torch and Overtime School of Wrestling announced that they will host a cultural and athletic exchange with the Beroe Wrestling Club of Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. The training exchange and Olympic style dual meet will include Overtime School of Wrestling athletes and 16 Bulgarian wrestlers with five coaches hailing from the Beroe Wrestling Club.

The cultural and athletic exchange will consist of a ten day training camp hosted at the Overtime School of Wrestling, the Nation’s premier independent wrestling training facility located in Naperville, IL. and will culminate with a dual meet consisting of 15-17 Olympic Style (Freestyle and Greco-Roman) matches between the Chicagoland and Bulgarian wrestlers. The high school aged athletes participating are some of the World’s finest who are each taking another step on a journey toward dreams of competing for Olympic Gold. The dual meet will take place at Neuqua Valley High School located in Naperville, IL on Friday, June 20, at 7:30p.m. (Doors open at 6:00p.m. – Team line-ups T.B.A.)

The dual meet will be a great event for the sport of wrestling, and the Chicago area community, especially in this Olympic Year. The event will showcase many of the top high school aged wrestlers from the Chicagoland area and Bulgaria, many of whom aspire to compete in the Olympic Games themselves, possibly as soon as 2012. This is a rare opportunity to see young wrestlers compete in an international forum, many of whom were born and have trained locally in the Chicago area, and where, perhaps, they may be competing for Olympic Gold in their own backyard in 2016.

The training exchange and dual meet between the aspiring future Olympians represents the outstanding work being fostered by Project Torch, a foundation created by the Overtime School of Wrestling staff and prominent business professionals with an equal passion for wrestling and the Olympic spirit. The mission of Project Torch is to create awareness and secure support for amateur wrestling and to foster academic, athletic and personal excellence through sport. This cultural and athletic partnership is the first of many programs to be sponsored by Project Torch in the future, as wrestlers from Team Overtime will be heading to Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, in the coming year for an extended training camp and competition.

(For more information on Project Torch visit: www.projecttorchusa.org).

Freestyle wrestlers make nationals

(IKWF North Chicago/North Sectional) - May 28, 2008 - Area wrestlers excelled at the Illinois Freestyle State Championship on May 17 and 18 in Danville and now look to make their mark at nationals.

Zach Synon of Cary won the schoolboy division (born 1994-’95) in the 84-pound weight class, finishing with a 4-0 record, including two pins and a technical fall. It was the second state championship for Synon, who won at 75 pounds last year.

In the cadet division (1992-’93), Crystal Lake Central freshman Joey Kielbasa won at 140, and Marengo sophomore Joey Moorhouse won at 145.

Both wrestlers tallied 5-0 records at the tournament. Kielbasa recorded three technical falls, and Moorhouse had two.

By winning state, the wrestlers qualified for the national freestyle championships in July. Kielbasa and Moorhouse will compete in Fargo, N.D., while Synon will wrestle in Orem, Utah.

Crystal Lake Central junior Trevor Parlburg also qualified for nationals in Fargo with a second-place finish at the Northern Plains Junior and Senior Regional Championships on May 8-10 in Waterloo, Iowa. Parlburg wrestled at the 189-pound junior division (born after 1988 and in high school).

Synon, Kielbasa and Moorhouse also will wrestle for Team Illinois at the national dual meet championships. Synon will wrestle June 18-22 in Indianapolis. Kielbasa and Moorhouse will compete June 25-29 in Kansas City.

Dan Synon, Zach’s father, said that while wrestling mostly is an individual sport, particularly before high school, competing with Team Illinois is exciting for his son. Last year, Zach also competed at dual nationals with the state team and won six matches while dropping two.

“Being on Team Illinois is really an honor,” Dan said. “To wrestle on a dual team like that is pretty exciting. You get to rub elbows with the best.”

As for his son’s success, Dan Synon said Zach is aggressive on the mat and likes to attack early.

“He’s got a really explosive double-leg takedown,” Dan Synon said. “He usually scores first, and that sets the tone for the match. It puts the opponent more on the defensive.”

Zach will wrestle for Prairie Ridge in the fall, but he hopes to get a little bigger since the lightest high school weight class is 103 pounds.

“He’s got to grow a little bit,” Dan Synon said. “Hopefully, he’s due for a growth spurt.”

Joe Kielbasa, Joey’s father, said Illinois has become one of the top wrestling states in the nation. In his estimation, only Pennsylvania, Ohio and Iowa can be considered ahead of Illinois.

“Illinois really has turned into a top state,” Joe Kielbasa said. “The expectations are high.”

Dan Synon concurs and said Illinois also is strong at the younger divisions in which Zach wrestles.

“Illinois wrestling is really off the charts,” Dan said. “To be a state champ is really a big deal.”

Joe Kielbasa said the top eight in nationals not only medal but also qualify for All-America status. With an Illinois pedigree, that’s a realistic goal he said.

“If you’re the best in Illinois you have a good chance of being in the top eight,” Joe said. “Anywhere on the podium would be extremely great.”

Other area wrestlers placing in Danville included Sean Cannon (second novice 70), Andrew Marsden (third at novice 95), Jeffery Morrow (third at schoolboy 77) and Crystal Lake South’s Cullen Smith (fourth at cadet 98). Novice wrestlers were born in 1996 or 1997.

Also competing in Danville were Crystal Lake Central wrestlers Trevor Jauch, Brett Blickle and Austin Marsden, and Prairie Ridge’s Brendan Barrett.

Wizards wrestlers win at state

Crystal Lake, IL - March 20th 2008 - After losing 15 wrestlers to high school on last year’s state championship senior team, Crystal Lake Wizards coach Tony Fontanetta thought that this season would to be a down year for the club.

The Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation State Championship Friday and Saturday at the Rockford MetroCentre proved him wrong, with the Wizards capturing three individual state titles and 11 total medals.
“We had a great weekend,” Fontanetta said. “It was supposed to be a rebuilding year for us, but the boys came to wrestle.” As a team, the Wizards qualified 20 wrestlers for state and placed second as a team in the novice division and fifth in seniors.

Leading the charge was Fontanetta’s son, Nick, who won at the 79-pound senior level. It was Nick’s sixth state championship – three at the midget level and three at senior. Tony Fontanetta said that Nick was the only IKWF wrestler to win three titles in each division. Nick will attend Crystal Lake South in the fall. The midget division is for wrestlers who are 8 to 10 years old, novice wrestlers are 10 to 12, and senior wrestlers are 12 to 14.

Gage Harrah won at 177-pound senior, his third state championship as a Wizard. In the novice division, Michael Zelasco won at 79 pounds. Harrah also will graduate the Wizards program and attend Crystal Lake Central.

To qualify for the state tournament, wrestlers must place in the top six at regionals and then finish in the top three at sectionals. “Getting there is a big deal,” Tony Fontanetta said. One his strategies, Tony Fontanetta said, was to wrestle boys who qualify for two divisions at the higher level. “We like to get them there a year early,” Tony Fontanetta said. “Then the next year they’re not awestruck.”

He also takes his best wrestlers to elite tournaments that draw athletes from a four-state area. The competition and experience wrestling in larger meets proves beneficial when the wrestlers get to state, he said.
“Once they get to the state tournament, it’s kind of old hat, they’re not nervous,” Tony Fontanetta said.

Rounding out the medal winners in the novice division for the Wizards were Sean Cannon, second at 66; Nick Peters, second at 89; Jeff Morrow third at 70; Kyle Fugiel, third at 74; Austin Ryan, fourth at 62; and Brian Loftin, eighth at 130. Medaling in the senior division were: Jason Fugiel, second at 101 and Logan Kein, seventh at 147.

Who's up for "2008 Chicago Cup"

On Tuesday, February 5th World Sport Chicago will return to Northwestern University's Welsh-Ryan Arena in McGraw Hall to host the Second Annual Chicago Cup. The 2008 Chicago Cup will feature the first ever World Champion Grecco-Roman Men's Team from the United States versus a very strong team from Bulgaria. The US Women's National Team will also return to face-off against the Polish Women's Team in the Olympic Weights. Don't miss your opportunity to preview many hopefuls for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and also look out for Northwestern's own Jake Herbert as he faces off against international competitors. This is surely not an event to be missed!

Link to event flier: chicagocupflier

Location

Welsh-Ryan Arena
Northwestern University
2705 Ashland Ave.
Evanston, IL 60208

Ilwrestling.com’s “Two-bits” worth their weight in GOLD.

We here at ilwrestling.com like to start the year out with a list of wrestlers we think you, the fan, should see in action.  These are all very talented wrestlers and are worth your time to observe at your next local IKWF tournament. Of course there are a lot of talented kids at all ages and weights throughout the IKWF and some are not on this list. This list is not the "end all / be all" for wrestlers in the IKWF. Its way to difficult to “rank” wrestlers at this time of year.  Way too many factors too try and equate. So, here is this year’s preseason lists…

1. Joey Allegretti(VIT)- Comes back STRONGER then ever.

2. Dylan Reel(CER)- Dylan is the REEL deal.

3. Michael Johnson(RWC)- Time to rack up the IKWF titles now.

4. Nick Fontanetta(CLW)- The next IKWF 3X’er???

5. Cameron Kennedy(FACTORY)- He’s a Kennedy, nough said.

5. Bryce Brill(FV)- One of the nation’s elite.

6. Eddie Klimara(VIT)- Is this the year Eddie gets it done. A cat?!?!?!!!

7. Ricky Robertson(VIT)- This Cat is king of the beasties.

8. Gage Harrah(CLW)- Yet another tough Wizard.

9. Zane Richards(CAR)- Deep South skillz.

10. Josh Bennett(BULLS)- Different club, same result.  TOUGH!

11. Brad Johnson-(LEM)- Big guy to watch for.

12. Sam Brooks(LH)- This dog will be in the hunt this year.

13. Austin Gomez(GWA)- A must see for the little guys.

14. Jordan Ellingwood(MFVE)- Best is yet to come?

15. Nuntrea Jackson(HPDT)- Leads a loaded group of Twisters.

16. Brian Murphy(V/L)- Big win at state deserves props.

17. Demechio Spraggins(GC)- This Warrior is a sign of things to come.

18. Josh Albers(DAK)- Latest edition of the Dakota wrestling machine.

19. Ernest Battaglia(FV)- Bags is rock solid.

20. Notay Jackson(HPDT)- Red storm just keeps coming.

21. Jon Marmolejo(GWA)- Another young gun from Gomez.

22. Collin Holler(FV)- Standing on top of the podium this year?

23. Steve Congenie(MFVE)- Important ‘cog’ for the Martinez team.

24. Jared Jayne(BRO)- JJ looking to repeat.

25. Jabari Moody(HPDT)- This Moody going to give you da blues.

25. David Pearce(BULLS)- Another contender from the Bulls. 3?

Wrestlinggear.com Announcement!!!

Fall Clinic To Help Coaches

“GET READY FOR THE MAT!”

Elmhurst , IL – August 27, 2007 – Wrestlinggear.com is working with youth, high school and college coaches to put together a unique program to help coaches “Get Ready for the Mat!” In addition to several sessions on technique, there will be sessions on how coaches can improve their team’s results both on and off the mat.

“I think we have put together a unique program of coaches and wrestling leaders who will talk about ideas on building a program like marketing, motivation and team building. It won’t be just another technique clinic. Also, coaches will be able to visit tables of wrestling top manufacturers. Matman, adidas, Asics, Brute are planning on attending our clinic.”

All the proceeds from the clinic will be given to The Smile Train, an organization that helps kids with cleft lips. A cleft lip is a condition where the top of the lip does not form properly during pregnancy. A cleft lip can be corrected with surgery. WrestlingGear.Com has already raised over $7,500 since we started working with The Smile Train.

“We are looking forward to helping kids who were born with a cleft lip that might otherwise have to live with this fixable facial birth defect. With our National website and our local clinic we can help build awareness about cleft lips and help raise money to help children,” says Jeff Pape, owner of WrestlingGear.Com, whose son was born with a cleft lip.

For more information, please contact WrestlingGear.Com’s owner, Jeff Pape, at 800-565-0995 or locally at 630-832-0500. Be sure to leave September 23, 2007 open so you can attend this clinic in Franklin Park , IL . Clinic will be from 1:00 to 5:00. Resurrection Lutheran Church at 9920 W. Grand Ave , Franklin Park , IL will once again host our clinic.

Returning speakers will include Mark Massery, NCAA Champion and Wild Cat Wrestling Club President, Mike Bukovsky, Head Coach Montini Catholic and Harry McGinnis, Head Coach and Athletic Director Triton College . New this year will be Israel Martinez of Izzy Style wrestling. Israel was a five time IKWF State Champion and 3 time IHSA StateChampion.

If you can not attend the clinic, but would like to help with our efforts, send a check made payable to The Smile Train, c/o WrestlingGear.Com, 655 W. Grand Ave, Ste 140 60126. The Smile Train is a 501 (C) 3 organization so your contributions will be tax deductible as allowed by law.

About WrestlingGear.Com:

WrestlingGear.Com, Ltd is one of the most visited wrestling websites in the country. Started in 1998, it now offers products from adidas, Asics, Brute, Championship Productions, Cliff Keen, Matman, Suples, Tanita and other major wrestling companies. Every year, more wrestlers “Get Ready for the Mat!” with WrestlingGear.Com.

About The Smile Train:

The Smile Train is a non-profit organization that provides services and programs in more than 60 countries — including the United States — has helped provide free surgery for thousands of children as well as free training and education for more than 15,000 surgeons and medical professionals. Additionally, The Smile Train is sponsoring major research projects that are searching for a way to prevent clefts. For more information visit:www.smiletrain.org

Team Illinois Schoolboys win Freestyle consolation bracket; 6th in Greco-Roman
New Jersey prevents Illinois Schoolboy “double”

Indianapolis, IN - June 11th, 2007 - For the second year in a row, Team Illinois finished third in their pool and finished the freestyle dual tournament by winning the consolation bracket. Placed in the “D” pool, Illinois lost it’s opening dual with Minnesota-gold(53-31). Team Illinois beat Kansas(60-23) in round two and throttled Virginia(61-17) in round three. New Jersey topped Illinois(42-33) to send Illinois into the consolation bracket. Illinois finished off pool competition with a victory over Indiana-blue(59-28). In the consolation bracket Team Illinois rolled past New York(58-26) and Delaware(52-28). In the semi final round, Illinois beat a tough Michigan team(45-39). In the finals Illinois gutted out a tight dual against Minnesota-maroon(42-41). Trailing 40-24 going into the final four weight classes, and Minnesota-maroon forfeiting the last two, Illinois needed a decision and a fall to seal the victory. Cody Weaver(185lbs.) stuck Isaac Eichman(6-0, 0:55) and Austin Marsden(205lbs) came through with a huge three period win over Taylor Neaton(0-1, 3-1, 3-2). Team Illinois finished with a combined record of 13-6

NAME – GRECO – FREESTYLE - OVERALL

Zach Synon 1-8 , 6-2 , 7-10
Cain Salas 2-2 , 0-3 , 2-5
Brett Lunn 4-4 , 5-2 , 9-6
Josh Bennett 0-6 , 3-5 , 3-11
Eddie Klimara 8-1 , 9-0 , 17-1
Mike Mizuar 1-3 , 0-1 , 1-4
Tyler Nagel 2-3, 3-5 , 5-8
Kylor Sorenson 3-3 , 2-4 , 5-7
Brady Kolb 1-2, 2-1 , 3-3
Edwin Cooper 3-1 , 7-0 , 10-1
Nolberto DeAvela 1-4 , 3-0 , 4-4
Zane Richards 5-4 , 5-3 , 10-7
Steve Burling 1-2 , 0-3 , 1-5
Mike Andrukaitis 1-5 , 2-5 , 3-10
Sam Brooks 5-4 , 4-4 , 9-8
Zach Patterson 1-8 , 1-7 , 2-15
O`Shea Smith Traylor 3-5 , 5-5 , 8-10
Dylan Reel 5-1 , 2-0 , 7-1
Brian Strenk 5-1 , 7-1 , 12-2
Cody Weaver 5-0 , 6-1 , 11-1
Mason Wright 1-2 , 5-2 , 6-4
Austin Marsden 9-1 , 7-1 , 16-2
Shaquille McMurtry 9-0 , 9-0 , 18-0 - All Greco Team
Wren Goff 7-2 , 7-2 , 14-4

2007 USA Wrestling Schoolboy Freestyle/Greco-Roman National Duals;

Team Illinois qualifies for the Championship bracket after day one

(June 8th, 2007 Indianapolis, IN) - Illinois is one of twenty-three teams from across the U.S. that entered the USA Wrestling Greco-Roman National Duals. The two-day event kicked off yesterday with pool competition and one round of championship bracket competition. Team Illinois finished second in the “B” pool only losing their opening dual meet with Wisconsin. After the loss, Illinois bounced back with victories over North Carolina(70-13), Missouri(47-38), Ohio(50-18) and Oklahoma(65-23). In the opening round of the championship bracket, Illinois came up short in a hard-fought dual against Washington(47-28). Washington advanced to the championship bracket by winning pool “A.” Next for Team Illinois is pool “D” champions Minnesota-gold and Illinois finishes with pool “C” runner-ups, Kansas. Greco-Roman placement duals start later this afternoon and the Freestyle portion of the tournament begins tonight.

Team Illinois:

75 Synon, Zach
80 Lunn, Brett
80 Salas, Cain
85 Bennett, Josh
90 Klimara, Eddie
95 Nagel, Tyler
95 Mizuar, Mike
100 Sorenson, Kylor
100 Kolb, Brady
105 DeAvela, Nolberto
105 Cooper, Edwin
110 Richards, Zane
115 Andrukaitis, Mike
115 Burling, Steve
120 Brooks, Sam
125 Smith Traylor, O`Shea
125 Patterson, Zach
145 Strenk, Brian
145 Reel, Dylan
165 Wright, Mason
165 Weaver, Cody
185 Marsden, Austin
205 McMurtry, Shaquille
250 Goff, Wren

Results hosted by: www.trackwrestling.com