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2007-08 Wrestling Season Preview
ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst College wrestling team enters the 2007-08 season gunning for their fourth-straight College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) title. With eight different wrestlers returning with starting experience, Elmhurst head coach Steve Marianetti believes his team has the talent needed to succeed at the conference level and beyond.
"We have a few team goals that we're aiming for," said Marianetti. "Our first goal is to win the conference championship, but we're also shooting for a top-15 national finish. I believe that this team possesses the talent to achieve both of those goals."
Last season Elmhurst captured its third-straight CCIW crown and later sent three individuals to the NCAA National Championships. Marianetti knows that in order to reach a top-15 national finish, it will take some strong individual performances.
"To reach the top 15 in the nation, you have to have three-to-five wrestlers qualify and then place in the top eight of their weight class at the national championships," said Marianetti. "This season, we should have several individuals that are in the hunt to qualify for nationals."
Leading the charge for Elmhurst is sophomore Jake Oster (Lockport/H.S.). Oster had an outstanding freshman season, earning All-America honors by placing seventh at the NCAA Championships at 125 pounds.
"Jake is only a sophomore but he's proven himself as one of the best wrestlers in the country," said Marianetti. "He certainly has the ability to be a national champion."
Adding depth to the Bluejays at 125 pounds are freshmen Mitch Collins (Yorkville/H.S.), Jacob Santiago (Chicago/Von Steuben) and Tyler Winland (Bloomington/Normal).
Marianetti has an opening at 133 pounds and will look for freshmen Ben Salabura (Chicago/Marist), Josh Thompson (Bridgeview/Argo) and Casey Vercruysse (Bloomington/Normal) to emerge as the starter.
With the departure of national qualifier Kenny Thomas, an opening now exists at 141 pounds. Returners Rob Lejman (Hoffman Estates/Conant) and Eddie Melgoza (Carpentersville/Dundee-Crown) along with transfers Charlie Curran (Arlington Heights/Hersey) and Cody Moody (Clinton/H.S.) are expected to compete for the starting role.
Marianetti's squad features returning national qualifier Jeff Kastel (Hinsdale/Central) at 149 pounds.
"Jeff is a returning national qualifier who's shown he has the ability to compete against the nation's best," said Marianetti. "He placed at every tournament he entered last season and he's also gunning to become a champion this season."
Returners Dan Hamilton (Homewood/Homewood-Flossmoor) and Matt Wahl (Carpentersville/ Dundee-Crown) give the Bluejays added depth at 149 pounds.
Marianetti will look to Kyle Katz (Des Plaines/Maine West) to build upon a solid junior season at 157 pounds. Katz enters the season ranked eighth in the nation at 157 pounds.
"Kyle had a very strong season last year," said Marianetti. "He's another wrestler who placed at every tournament he entered last season. Although he didn’t qualify for nationals, he has shown huge improvements in the offseason and looks ready to take the next step."
Returner Nick Parrish (Elmhurst/York) and freshman Sheldon Hubbard (Sterling/H.S.) could also see time at 157 pounds.
Marianetti has the luxury of having two Bluejays with starting experience at 165 pounds. Junior Tony Doan (Port Huron, Mich./H.S.) placed second at the CCIW Championships and sixth at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional last season. Sophomore Tim Gleich (Chicago/Marist) is moving down a weight class after placing third in the CCIW at 174 pounds last season.
Junior Greg Horn (Wheaton/North) is also dropping down a weight class this season. Horn, who placed second in the CCIW and fifth at the Great Lakes Regional last year at 184 pounds, is dropping down to 174 pounds this season. Freshman Frank Savegnano (St. Charles/East) could also see time at 174 pounds.
With Horn dropping a weight class, Marianetti will be looking for a new starter at 184 pounds. Sophomores Zach Holtzman (Hinsdale/South) and Garrett Washington (Oswego/H.S.) are expected to battle for the starting spot.
Sophomore Demetrios Vrettos (Cicero/Morton East), who placed second in the CCIW at heavyweight last season, is moving down a weight class to 197 pounds this year. While Vrettos recovers from an injury suffered during the football season, Marianetti expects returners Bob Hohn (Mokena/Marist) and Bernie Vazquez (Waukegan/Carmel) along with freshman Artie Grubba (Romeoville/H.S) to pick up the slack at 197 pounds.
The Bluejays have an opening at 285 pounds and Marianetti expects returners Joe Stumpfoll (Wheeling/H.S.) and Chris Rosado (Kenosha, Wis./Bradford) along with freshman Mark Corsello (Park Ridge/Maine South) to battle for the starting spot.
Overall, Marianetti believes his team has the right mix of returners and incoming recruits.
"While we have some great wrestlers returning, there will also be some new faces that we'll be relying on," he said. "We know that our returning wrestlers are capable of getting the job done, but there are some very talented recruits who could crack into the starting lineup."
The Bluejays begin the 2007 season on Saturday, November 17, by wrestling at the Concordia University (Wis.) Open.
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