Wauconda wrestles way to top

WAUCONDA – You could say that Wauconda has become something of a wrestling powerhouse the last two years.

Last year, the village became home to two state title holders – Scott Carlson, then a 152-pound senior at Wauconda High School, and Connor Haran, then a 215-pound eighth-grader at Wauconda Middle School.

Last year also was the first time assistant wrestling coach Bob Kenison remembers the high school's wrestling team - which finished with a 17-4 record - having such consistency on the mats.

Until this year.

"There's a willingness to work," Kenison said. "We always have four or five good kids, but there wasn't always a team effort. The last two years, we've had a pretty good kid at each weight class."

As the season begins to wind toward an end, the results of second year of impressive wrestling is beginning to show.

The WHS squad sits at an 11-4 record and recently won its own Wauconda Bad Mark Tournament - the first time the school has crowned itself king in the entire existence of the tournament.

The Bulldogs also picked up wins over powerhouse Harvard - another first in program history - and Marengo.

What's even more exciting is the trend WHS has shown in the past, Kenison said.

"We do better at the end of the year than we do in the beginning," Kenision said.

Why they're so good
With 12 of last year's wrestlers back on this year's squad, including more than seven seniors, leadership has been plentiful, Kenison said.

But experience also has been mixed with new blood. The 2007 opening of Matthews Middle School expanded the number of kids wrestling at the junior high level, Kenison said, which has translated into three freshmen wrestling at the varsity level this year.

Good team chemistry has been vital for freshmen like Devin Tortorice (13-7), who used to wrestle with the seniors when he was a fifth-grader and they were eighth-graders.

It's also something the Bulldogs haven't always had in the past.

"It's a lot different than when I was a freshman," said senior heavyweight Cody Smith, who, with a 21-8 individual record, is ranked ninth in state in weight group by the Illinois Matmen. "Now we're one big family. My freshman year, the seniors wrestled with the seniors. Now, we do a lot more group wrestling. The younger guys get to work with the older guys."

Not only has team chemistry improved, but the older wrestlers also believe they've finally earned some respect around the region, which has boosted team morale.

"We have a different mentality," said team co-captain Tom Tyrrell (21-8), a 140-pound senior currently ranked eighth in state. "I felt personally that other schools looked down on us."

Not so much any more, said junior co-captain Pete Kootstra, the team's top wrestler boasting a 23-8 record at 145 pounds and an 11th place ranking in state.

"[Coach said] we have the talent, we have the ability - the only thing we have to do is break that barrier," Kootstra said.

What's next
Kootstra's goal, along with his teammates, is to maintain Wauconda's status of a powerhouse and have other teams continue to see the Bulldogs as contenders.

Their game plan is simple: continue to work.

"It's each one of us trying to push each other harder," Kootstra said. "Tommy [Tyrrell], I try to push him to his limit, he pushes me to my limit. We're not so focused on ourselves any more. We focus on the team, and as a result, it's working each individual better."

Even off the mats, the team remains close, said 119-pound senior Mike Brown (19-10). It's not uncommon for a big tournament to end and the varsity squad to collectively find a place to eat and relax together.

The work ethic and bond his wrestlers share have made their "coachability" that much easier for head coach Tom Nance.

"We knew these guys were special when these guys were freshmen and sophomores," head coach Tom Nance said. "We were looking forward to working with them."

"We're very excited about this season so far," Nance continued. "We knew we were going to do well."

Looking ahead
Wauconda's schedule:
• 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, vs. Round Lake
• 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, vs. Antioch
• 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, Wauconda Duals