ITW Releases the only true statewide UIL preseason rankings for the 2006-07 season

by The Ranking Czar

They were up first and they are the best statewide UIL rankings. These rankings are the work of a highly respected wrestling observer and his team of five Texas wrestling fans. The ITW managing editor (JR) does not approve, or contribute to the rankings so that they are totally independent in judgement.

103
1 Sean McCarthy (11) Azle
2 Aaron Keener (11) Leander
3 Victor Dotson (9) Canyon Randall
4 Austin Davis (10) Klein Oak
5 Chris Mears (9) Northwest
6 Ryon Hill (10) Arl. Bowie
7 Joey Voglesburg (9) Trinity
8 Tyler Lukes (9) Cy-Ridge
9 Bryan Osorio (10) Vista-Ridge

112
1 Danny Luttrell (11) Arlington
2 Chris Wilcox (11) Hebron
3 Greg Gogonas (10) Austin Bowie
4 Adam Purcell (12) Trinity
5 Nick Waltman (12) Cinco Ranch
6 Stephen Wurster (11) Rockwall
7 Eric Simmons (11) Allen

119
1 Erik Spjut (10) The Woodlands
2 Brandon McDonald (12) Canyon Randall
3 Ryan Benoit (12) McKinney North
4 Chris Nguyen (12) Klein
5 Nick Killip (10) Azle
6 Chris Ruiz (10) Amarillo Tascosa
7 Austin Cihak (11) Rockwall
8 Thomas Harris (11) Amarillo Caprock

125
1 Jeremy Sandoval (10) Colleyville Heritage
2 Harvey Saurez (12) Amarillo Caprock
3 Ian Aguirre (12) Trimble Tech
4 Zach Vick (12) HP
5 Tyler Lee (10) Marcus
6 Kalvin King (12) Canyon Randall

130
1 Josh Sandoval (12) Colleyville Her
2 Danny Caraveo (12) El Paso Franklin
3 Abel Carrillo (11) El Paso Hanks
4 Chad Gallatin (10) HP
5 Landon Christly (10) SGP
6 Austin Barnes (11) Rockwall

(more…)

The Houston Report:
Preseason Outlook and “Looking Back on Last Year’s Unreal Season”

By Russell Pate
ITW Staff Writer

When last year arrived it appeared that Houston would be in a rebuilding year. The class of 2005, led by James Aston, had come and gone. It looked questionable whether 2006 would keep up the trend of South Texas gaining ground on the rest of the state. Looking back on the season, the answer is a resounding “yes.”

Last season saw depth on a scale that Bayou-area wrestling never had known before. To make the top-ten area teams became a meaningful accomplishment rather than a guarantee for anyone simply with a full lineup of fifteen wrestlers.

(more…)

by John Rizzuti
Managing Editor
InsideTexasWrestling.com
Copyright 2006 All Rights Reserved

Also submitted exclusively to www.Intermatwrestle.com as part of Wrestling “48″

Top Recruit
Luke Ashmore
Bishop Lynch H.S., Dallas
Projected College Weight: 141/149
Background: Luke is the younger brother of the greatest dynamic duo in Texas High School wrestling history – The Bashmore Brothers. Following right behind his brother Ben, Luke is quickly carving out his own identity and the climatic setting he has done so is Fargo, North Dakota. He has been a national freestyle finalist the past three years and won the junior title at 140 this year – anchored by a stunning, do-or-die round-robin fall over heralded Ohio superstud Lance Palmer. The year prior, he won it all in the Cadet division and earned MOW in the process. He’s also a Beast of the East finalist and a National Prep finalist. He has won over 175 high school matches the past three years.

(more…)

By Brendon Lowe
ITW Strength & Conditioning Columnist

There has been much talk recently about the soon to be infamous wrestling certification regulations that will be in effect starting this season. The general consensus that I have garnered is that most individuals oppose the inevitable regulation on weight-cutting for high school wrestling.

Most of the opinions about the topic are meaningless and without reason. I have heard some ridiculous ideas about why these regulations should not go into effect. None of these ideas have been backed up by concrete knowledge or research. This article will explain why the regulations are a good step forward and will clear up what the certification process will entail this year. This article is a must read.

(more…)

by Brendon Lowe
ITW Strength & Conditioning Columnist

How much do you really know about steroids? For most athletes, the answer to this question is – enough to make you dangerous. For thousands of years, athletes have been in search of that “magic pill” that turns them into superman with unmatched abilities in all areas of their respective sport.

(more…)

by Brendon Lowe
ITW Strength & Conditioning Columnist

What two abilities best describe the ideal athlete? I would be willing to bet that the most popular answers to this question are strength and speed (and maybe endurance for those of you that are distance athletes).

(more…)

by Peter Dewey

On Day 3 Team Texas finds itself in the Consolation Quarter-finals. Anything less than 3 straight wins will be a disappointment to a team that already had its share of disappointment over the first 2 days. But 3 straight wins is a tall order. The half of the team that wrestled Greco enters a 5th straight day of competition. Even the Freestyle only boys have seen 7 straight matches in 2 days against the best wrestlers in the nation. And because it is win or go home the pressure is on every match.

(more…)

By Peter Dewey

The theme for Day 2 is survival. There are two more rounds in Pool A and then it becomes win or go home in the Consolation bracket. Coach Lujan asks the team to guard against a letdown. AA status is gone but it would be a helluva ride from here to a Consolation Championship.

(more…)

by Peter Dewey

The fortunes of Team Texas took a dramatic turn for the worst on the first day of Junior Freestyle. Day 1 of Junior Greco found Team Texas as high as a kite with a stunning upset victory over California. But oh how different does it feel after the first day of Freestyle as Team Texas hopes for AA status are effectively gone.

(more…)

by Brendon Lowe

It seems that every time you flip on the television there is a new fad diet or miracle pill that “burns fat while providing hours of energy.” I’m here to tell you that it’s called a fad diet for a reason. These methods of dieting are just that… fads. You may see initial decreases in body fat, but then a plateau is reached and the loss stops. Also, this weight loss is often at the cost of much needed energy which is needed for the grueling sport of wrestling that we have become addicted to. If you take anything from this article, please let it be the understanding that the ONLY true and effective method of weight loss is a balanced diet.

(more…)