By Peter Dewey

Returning to the 2006 Grapevine Duals are some of Texas’ top dual teams, including Highland Park, Arlington Bowie, Dumas, The Woodlands, The Colony, Houston Westside and St. Mark’s. Each of these 7 teams has an excellent chance of being included in JR’s top 10 dual teams in the state. And if they don’t make the initial list, a good showing at the Grapevine Duals will get them ranked.

Why do these team return? Its simple – for tough competition in a well run tournament. Grapevine Duals, now in its 11th year, may be the best high school duals tournament in the State – bar none. In addition to some of the top Texas teams, Coach Lujan brings in 9 out-of-state teams from Oklahoma (4), New Mexico (2), Louisiana (2) and Colorado (1). The best of this group is likely perennial powerhouse and defending champion New Orleans Jesuit. The always tough-as-nails Okie contingent includes returners Carl Albert and Tahlequah, and newcomers Norman and Elgin.

Format

28 teams are divided into 4 pools. On Friday each team will wrestle 5 matches against the other teams in its pool. The 6th and 7th round matches are Saturday morning. The top three teams from each pool advance into Saturday’s championship matches with the pool winners getting a well deserved bye in the first round. When this tournament gets down to 8 teams the intensity really picks up and the semi-finals have given us the legendary showdowns between NOJ and Highland Park. Saturday afternoon is just some of the finest high school wrestling you can find in Texas.

Pool A
Dumas, TX
Carl Albert, OK
The Colony, TX
Colleyville, TX
Vista Ridge, TX
St. Michael’s, NM
San Antiono Madison , TX

Dumas is led by Taylor Torisk, state runner-up at 152 and #1 ranked this year, and Jason Logan, state champion at 160 and #1 ranked. Historically Dumas has a tough line-up and this year is no exception. In addition to their two stars, keep an eye on Sean Elibee at 103, Levin Cornelius at 119 and Fredy Jimenez at 275. Dumas was 5th here last year. Carl Albert has brought some very good teams to Grapevine (runner-up in 2003) but appeared to be reloading last year. This year they are ranked in the top 10 in 4A in Oklahoma and may be ready for another run at the Championship. The Colony is led by #2 ranked Chris Capodagli at 180. This is a team that has quietly been putting together a very nice season with some impressive wins in duals and I look for them to advance into the Championship bracket.

Colleyville Heritage would appear to be the team on the bubble and will likely need an upset over one of the higher seeded teams to get in the Championship bracket. Colleyville boasts the toughest brother act in the UIL with #1 ranked Jeremy Sandoval, a freshman, at 112 and #1 Josh Sandoval, a junior, at 125. Vista Ridge, St Michael’s and SA Madison are relatively unknown but potentially dangerous.

Pool B
Arlington Bowie, TX
Tahlequah, OK
Houston Westside, TX
Lake Highlands, TX
Plano East, TX
Parkway, LA
Keller, TX

Arlington Bowie had a tremendous 3rd place showing at the very tough Rio Rancho Duals. Their sole loss was a very controversial dual in which a referee changed the score after the end of the dual of a bout wrestled an hour earlier. Bowie is led by 4 wrestlers who went undefeated in those duals – HM Brent Rogers at 145, #2 ranked Luke Brigmon at 152, #3 Chris Corry at 171 and #4 Derrick Moore at 180. They will be looking to better last year’s 7th place (tie) finish. Tahlequah always brings a strong team to Grapevine and 2006 is no exception. In 2005, they finished 6th.

Lake Highlands shared the 7th place finish with Bowie last year (the teams were too beat up to wrestle for 7th/8th places) and will be trying to improve their showing. Lake Highlands will be led by HM Sam Stell at 125, #6 Bryce Marx at 171 and Scott Winkler at 189. Houston Westside did not make the championship bracket last year and want to rectify that this time around. They bring 2 ranked wrestlers: #7 Patrick Blakely at 130 and #5 Zach Nichols at 160. Plano East boasts #6 Sean Kitchen at 130 (how tough is Texas wrestling if an outstanding national-caliber wrestler like Kitchen is ranked sixth?!?) and defending state champ Andre Taylor ranked #3 at 119. Parkway will bring some north Louisiana talent to Dallas. Watch out for Mike Newberg at 160. Keller could be the dark horse that sneaks into the championship round. Keller has some really good talent including the super-tough Couch brothers, Cameron at 135 and Jordan at 140, #1 Matt Lupardus at 215 and a tough 275 #4 Chad Bahr.

Pool C
NO Jesuit, LA
The Woodlands, TX
Elgin, OK
Santa Fe, NM
Dallas Jesuit, TX
Regis Jesuit, CO
Strake Jesuit, TX

Pool C features Jesuit high schools from New Orleans, Dallas, Houston and Colorado. NOJ, 2X defending LA State champion, looks to be the favorite to repeat as Grapevine champion but this is a team that was literally torn apart by hurricane Katrina. Much of the team relocated to Strake Jesuit and the Houston area saw some talented NOJ wrestlers like Michael Weisner (103), Michael Gruezke (112), Michael Jones (135), Brad Gruezke (140), Christian Rabito (152) and Michael Bosetta (189). Also wrestling in Texas were Ben Capella (WDL – 119) and JP Richard (Dallas Jesuit 145). Ironically both The Woodlands and Dallas Jesuit are in the Pool with NOJ. The team reunited over the holidays and the Grapevine Duals is really an “early season” test to see if NOJ can return to its dominating ways under former assistant and new Head Coach Carlos Bertot.

The Woodlands is by most accounts the strongest and deepest team in Houston and will be attending the Grape for the first time. Their ranked wrestlers are: #3 Erik Spjut at 112, #3 Colin McElroy at 135, and honorable mentions Doug Rivas at 140, Austin Spires at 171 and Hinton at 275. Strake Jesuit had a very strong team and finished 9th last year but will be hard pressed to get in the Championship bracket in a rebuilding year. Dallas Jesuit looks to be rebounding nicely from some down years and has a solid core of upper weights: #5 Trent Bash at 152, #6 Alex Rinaldi at 180 and #7 Danny Neuhoff at 189 and Brett Sselley at 215. Elgin, OK, Santa Fe, NM and Regis Jesuit, CO are all newcomers to Grapevine so the caliber of these teams is difficult to gauge.

Pool D
Highland Park, TX
Norman, OK
St. Mark’s, TX
Klein Oak, TX
Euless Trinity, TX
Frisco, TX
Grapevine, TX

Highland Park, last year’s Grapevine runner-up, brings its usual talented line-up. By HP’s standards the early season was mediocore with dual losses to Bishop Lynch and Coppell. In neither of those duals did HP have the services of Michael or Stephen Sharpe or #1 ranked Fred Rowsey (Fred is ranked at 180 but would also be #1 at either 171 or 189). Fred’s return is sure to energize the team and if the Sharpe’s are ready, HP will be much improved. HP also has #4 Kyle Anderson at 152, #7 Drew Newman at 160,#4 Teddy Gambordella at 171, #7 David Baker at 215 and HM Zach Vick (125), Chase Gallatin (130) and AJ Forsythe (145). Don’t let the early season fool you, HP is ready to return to form.

St. Mark’s has an amazing program under Coach Rick Ortega. Despite a very small enrollment these guys have been over achieving for so long we consider it normal. Already this year St Mark’s won the Original Lone Star Duals with an upset win over Arlington Bowie in the finals. Led by undefeated #3 ranked Ben Grisz at 189, St. Mark’s will battle you at every weight. They will be trying to make the championship rounds after missing last year.

Norman, OK is a newcomer to Grapevine but a top 10 team in Oklahoma’s highest classification (5A). We can be certain these guys will bring in a team that can compete with anyone. Klein Oak is 5th ranked in Houston (giving this tournament 3 of the top 5 Houston area teams) and have beaten #2 Westside 36-31. They are led by defending state champion and #2 ranked Shane Doughman at 119 (some kid named Ben Ashmore is #1), Blake Allen (HM at 125), #1 ranked and state runner-up Kody Williams at 135, Josh Wisnowski (HM at 145) and Jon Elijah (HM at 215). This is a very tough bracket that will see one of these teams not reach the championship rounds. Trinity, Frisco and Grapevine will each bring some good individual performers (e.g. #2 Adam Purcell of Trinity at 103) but could struggle as a team.

Coach Lujan and the Grapevine parents, especially the super-talented and frisky Mrs. French do a wonderful job with this tournament. The facilities are terrific and the 2006 teams are the best yet. 10 days and counting!