High school wrestling: Transfer Stahl makes Cavemen team to beat

[oldman]

Article published Nov 28, 2009

   

 

High school wrestling: Transfer Stahl makes Cavemen team to beat

By TIM CREASON Tribune Correspondent

 

If you've never seen a high school wrestling match, try to catch one of these:

Dec. 12 -- Charger Invitational at Elkhart Memorial.

Dec. 29-30 -- Al Smith Invitational at Mishawaka

Jan. 16 -- NIC Super Dual at Adams

It will be worth the trip.

 

 

Seems like every high school wrestling season comes with its own soap opera. It doesn't look like this one will be any different.

 

It was just last February, after all, that Elkhart Memorial fans were licking their chops in anticipation of this coming season. Based solely on the athletes who would be returning, a lot of wrestling "experts" figured this might possibly be the year that Memorial could knock off Mishawaka as the top team in the Tribune area.

 

Then a new school year arrived, and one of Elkhart Memorial's best wrestlers -- state 140-pound runner-up Ryan Stahl -- transferred to Mishawaka.

 

Besides setting off a firestorm on Internet message boards, the move guaranteed that Mishawaka will once again be the team to beat as serious grappling gets underway across northern Indiana.

 

"Obviously, the kid (Stahl) is a stud and we're glad to have him," says Mishawaka coach Darrick Snyder, whose Cavemen are ranked No. 2 in the coaches preseason poll.Elkhart Memorial is ranked No. 16, while Penn comes in at No. 14.

 

"It was as much a surprise to me as it was to everyone else when we learned (Stahl) was coming," said Snyder. "But, certainly, he's going to help us."

 

Snyder had been trying to figure out a way to fill holes left by the graduation of three-time state champ Josh Harper -- now at Michigan State University -- and two-time champ Steven Sandefer, as well as two other state qualifiers.

 

But truthfully, there isn't that much to figure. The Cavemen have six returning state qualifiers in their lineup.

 

Senior 215-pounder Christian Lentz (45-4 last season) and Stahl (42-3) were each state runners-up. Also returning are Nick Schrader at 130, Alex White at 160, Richard Morin at 171 and Travis Thomas at heavyweight.And except for one or two spots, the rest of Mishawaka's lineup looks rock-solid.

 

"The thing that encourages me most is we have a bunch of great seniors who are leading by example," says Snyder. "They have one goal and that's to get back to (the IHSAA team) state finals. They are working their butts off. If we don't make it, it's not because we didn't work hard enough."

 

Mishawaka's extended football season meant several wrestlers have just started training, but Snyder isn't letting anyone use that as an excuse for poor performances.

 

"They know our first meet is next Thursday with Adams," said Snyder. "They know they have to be ready."

 

By the way, lest anyone get the wrong idea, Elkhart Memorial isn't rolling over just because one kid transferred away.The Chargers have 10 starters back from last year's 15-1 powerhouse, which battled Mishawaka down to the wire at the Jimtown team regional.

 

Included in that group is state 145-pound medal winner Zack Corpe, and semistate qualifiers Dantrell Goodman (125) and Shane Hendrickson (215).

 

"Our freshman and sophomore classes are loaded with numbers and talent," says Charger coach Brian Seltzer. "If we can stay healthy and get everyone where they need to be, weight-wise, the outlook should be good."

 

Seltzer takes a different approach to the season than Mishawaka's Snyder, with individual success his main concern.

 

"Our goal is to get as many kids on the podium that we can at the individual state finals," says Seltzer. "If the kids are doing their job to reach their goals, the team deal will take care of itself."Conference outlooks

 

On tap

 

 

Elkhart Memorial has won eight consecutive Northern Lakes Conference titles. This season will likely finish with No. 9.

At Mishawaka, the Cavemen are working on their 12th straight Northern Indiana Conference crown.

Most years, the only team to challenge the Cavemen is Penn, and coach Brad Harper may field the strongest Kingsman squad in several years.

Junior Alex Gregory, fourth at state last year in the 112-pound weight class, leads the Kingsmen. Also back are All-Conference first teamers Mike Witous, Pat Davenport, Austin Kunze and Ben Sokol.

Riley is rebuilding with a team that consists mostly of freshmen and sophomores, though the Wildcats welcome back All-Conference first teamer Jordan Sailors.

The Northern State Conference will likely boil down to a battle between defending champ Jimtown and New Prairie. The Jimmies welcome back semistate qualifiers Collin Crume (36-8), John Michael Moore (30-13), Jeremy Hill (40-6) and Brandon Weinkauf (21-20).