Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009

Althoff matmen work on basic fundamentals

BELLEVILLE -- The Althoff Crusaders begin the 2009-10 season with a group of enthusiastic, energetic and inexperienced wrestlers as they look to get back on track after a pair of winless dual match years.

With several of its 27 grapplers brand new to the sport, winning dual matches in a talent-ladden Southern Illinois area won't be easy even for Althoff Principal Dave Harris, who begins his second stint as the Crusaders' head coach for the matmen.

"Some of these guys have never seen a wrestling match, let alone compete in one,'' Harris said. "We're doing a lot of the basics and teaching the fundamentals with some of these kids. The good thing is they are very eager and they want to learn and to improve.

"Now will that be enough to win some dual matches? I'm not sure. I do know these kids are working hard and have great attitudes.''

Harris does have one of the best wrestlers in Southern Illinois in his son --senior Ryne Harris and some other solid individuals from which to build. Dave Harris takes over for Khris Whelan, who resigned earlier this year to become an assistant coach at Granite City.

Ryne Harris, who placed third in the Class 2A 112-pound weight class at the state finals a year ago, will compete at 119 pounds this year. Harris has already signed to attend the University of Nebraska next season.

"Ryne's goal is to be a state champion this year. He's put in some extra time this summer to try and make that happen,'' Dave Harris said. "The one area he really needed to improve on was on his feet and he spent some time working with other kids, going to camps and things like that.

"He's focused on becoming more aggressive this year.''

While Ryne Harris is winding up a solid prep career, younger brother Michael Harris is just starting his as the Crusaders' starter at 103 pounds.

"We'll see how he can do,'' Harris said of his young son. "He does have some knowledge of the sport and he has competed at a high level. But its different when you come in from little league to high school. You're sometimes competing with juniors or even seniors. We'll just have to see how he does at this level.''

Sophomore Brett Strebel begins his second year of organized wrestling and will be at 112 pounds.

Ryne Harris should be one of the best in the state at 119 pounds, while freshman Jeremy Miller (125) and sophomore Jeff Mayo (130) round out the Crusaders grapplers in the lighter weight classes.

"Mayo is a tough, hard nosed kid and we're interested to see how he comes along,'' Harris said. "Jeremy (Miller) is one of those kids with not a lot of experience, but who comes in and works hard. Wrestling at 125 for a freshman can be tough though.''

One wrestler who won't be a factor at least until late in the season is sophomore Nick Armstrong. Penciled in to be one of the top 135-pound wrestlers in the area, Armstrong had recent hip surgery and if he does wrestle this season, it won't be until later in the year.

Senior Cody Keller (140) and two inexperienced wrestlers -- Kyle Maitland (145) and Josh Edwards (152) will lead the way in the middleweights along with sophomore Dakota Finley (160) and Sam Wahlig (171).

Finley and Wahlig both wrestled a year ago.

"Dakota came out last year and did a good job for us. He's probably going to be down at 152 before long and we expect some good things from him,'' Harris said. "Sam (Wahlig) is a three-sport athlete and he's the kind of kid who will come out and give you everything he has every match.

Will Luth is a senior in his first year with the Crusaders after transferring in from Marion High School and could be a top wrestler at 189 pounds, while freshman Nolan Abernathy gets the nod at 215 pounds.

At 275 pounds, Althoff has one of the best in Southern Illinois in senior Thomas Moore. An excellent athlete, Moore missed qualifying for the Class 2A state finals by a single match.