By Peter Dewey
ITW Senior Writer

The 2006-2007 wrestling season is right around the corner. There is excitement across the state as wrestling continues to grow and improve. We love to see such progress across the Lone Star State but the hot bed of wrestling continues to be the Big D. At the State tournament last year, six of the top 10 teams were from the Dallas area. I don’t expect that to change come February 2007.

In corresponding with the coaches of the teams profiled below, each coach firmly believed that this year’s team will be stronger than last year’s version. Some expect dramatic improvement. Many teams have enough depth to produce real competition for starting spots. A word of caution. Coaches warned that the lineups are very tentative. In many cases weight certification and wrestle-offs had not occurred as these potential lineups were being developed. In addition the way weight certification looks to play out this year, any number of wrestlers may be showing up in districts and Regionals at lower weights than they wrestled most of the year.

So lets get to it. Here’s my pre-season Top Ten Dallas teams. Eight are in UIL; two are private schools. All rankings are taken from the ITW Czar’s pre-season rankings. We’ll count them down in reverse order:

For today we have the 9th and 10th ranked teams in the DFW Metroplex.

10. Rockwall

There is reason to hope for a contender in Rockwall again. They grabbed the last spot in the Top Ten on the strength of five ranked wrestlers, albeit none ranked higher than 6th. Rockwall does have a nice mixture of
experience with a couple talented transfers (Stephen Wurster and Stephen Shinn). There is excitement. There is potential. But Coach Pohorsky had this to say about his team’s potential: “Potential is nice if it is met. We have to prove ourselves first. ”

Ranked: Stephen Wurster (7), Austin Cihak (7), Austin Barnes (7), Max White (6) and Ross Goen (6)

Counting on: Stephen Shinn, Thomas Davis and Robert Carter

Possible line-up:

103 Roderrick Gaines (9)
112 Stephen Wurster (11) – Prep State place winner
119 Alex Cihak – State Qualifier
125 Stephen Shinn (11) or Chris Carter
130 Austin Barnes – State Qualifier or Stephen Shinn
135 Avi Benitez or Austin Barnes
140 Avi Benitez or Erick Benitez
145 Erick Benitez
152 Simms Hazel
160 Max White – State Qualifier
171 Thomas Davis – Regional place winner or Robert Carter – Regional place winner
180 Gary Adams
189 Preston Warnick or Matthew Clagget
215 Stuart Kindred
275 Ross Goen

9. St. Marks

St. Marks is a small private school with a remarkable wrestling program. No one gets more out of his wrestlers than Coach Ortega. While they don’t have the numbers or the athletes of the public school programs, St. Mark’s wrestlers are rarely out-techniqued or out-conditioned. They are fun to watch because they stay aggressive for six minutes and due to their conditioning many opponents succumb in the 3rd period. They graduated four seniors and will start a nice mix of four seniors, seven juniors, three sophomores and a freshman. Always a tough dual team Coach Ortega feels they will be greatly improved this year in tournaments.

Ranked: Vincent Tenorio (6) and Ben Grisz (1)

Counting on: David Henry and Ike Crews

Possible Line-up:

103 Eric Frick (11)
112 Vincent Tenorio (12) – 2nd Prep State, 7th Prep Nationals
119 AJ Turek (10)
125 Avi Chavada (11)
130 Danny Reddin (12) – 3rd Prep State
135 Ross Granowski (12) – 3rd Prep State
140 Bill Sessions (11) – 2nd Prep State or Henry
145 David Henry (10) – 2nd Prep State
152 Conner Youngblood (11) or Ben Hudson (12)
160 Scott Haige (11) -2nd Prep State
171 Hayden Anderson (9)
180 Jorge Estrada (11) – 3rd Prep State
189 Ben Grisz (11) – 2X Prep State Champion, 3rd Prep Nationals, Fargo All-American
215 Ike Crews (11) – 3rd Prep State
275 Will Plunkett (12) – 3rd Prep State

8. Arlington Bowie

This team is in the mix every year and this season will be no exception. They lost a very talented senior class last year including Luke Brigmon, Chris Corry and Derick Moore. In 2006 Bowie finished a very respectable 7th at State but four of the five wrestlers Bowie brought to State have graduated. Only 145 lb State Champ Brent Rogers returns. A lot of kids are going to have to step up if Bowie wants to make another strong showing at State. The good news is the team is well stocked with seasoned wrestlers who could make that leap. The bad news is, after Rogers, it is all unrealized potential.

Ranked: Ryon Hill (6), Brent Rogers (2) and Marcus McGraw (6)

Counting on: Shawn Klemm, Brad Atkinson, Adam Roberts and Chris Brooks

Probable lineup:

103 Kris Demont or Ryon Hill (10) – 4th District
112 Ryon Hill or Eric Martinez (11)
119 Amir Jalali (10)
125 Shawn Klemm (12) -2nd District, 6th Regional
130 Undetermined
135 Mark Goolsbay (12)
140 Arman Agarsi (11)
145 Brad Atkinson (12) – 1st District, 5th Regional
152 Brent Rogers (12) – State Champ – 145
160 Adam Roberts (12) or David Okere (12)
171 Barrett Galbraith (12) or Chris Brooks (11) -2nd District
180 Brooks or Casey Bloomfield (12)
189 Marcus McGraw (11) 1st District and leads the area in tackles in football
215 Jordan Spruiel (12) 3rd District
275 Robert Umeh -4th District or Cameron Carr

7. Lake Highlands

This is a team that finished 22nd at State last year but is going to surprise some people this year. Top 10 at State is doable, although being realigned into Highland Park’s district is no bargain. Coach Grieder tells us he has a young team but that a number of his young wrestlers have experience and in particular freshman Isaac Kinsella and Isaac Grieder are likely starters that should have an immediate impact. The team will be anchored by senior Tim Harris and junior Austin Cordova who placed 5th and 4th respectively at State last year. Although after Cordova and Harris it’s all potential and promise, Coach Grieder has a way of getting the most out of such teams. If he does they may even be pushing Highland Park by the end of the year.

Ranked: Austin Cordova (2) and Tim Harris (2)

Counting on: Luis Granados, Josh Marx, Isaac Kinsella and Isaac Grieder

Probable lineup:

103 Drew Lorett (9)
112 Greg Mitchell (11)
119 Luis Granados (11) – Regional Qualifier
125 Isaac Kinsella (9) – age group State Champ and All American last year
130 AJ Rose (11) – Regional Qualifier
130 Tyler German (10)
135 Isaac Grieder (9) – experienced youth wrestler
140 Austin Cordova (11) – 4th in State at 135
145 Josh Marx (11) – Regional Qualifier
152 Tim Harris (12) – 5th in State at 152
160 Luke Grieder (12) – State Alternate or Zach Atkins (12) – Regional Qualifier
171 Charles Shepherd (11)
180 Eric Guzman (11)
189 Jake Shoemaker (12)
215 Michael Hammond (12)
275 Nick White (11)

6. Colleyville Heritage

Coach Traver gives us the same theme we hear from many of the other coaches. He knows what the Sandoval’s can do and what LaPosta is capable of. What he doesn’t know is what kind of contribution he is going to get from the rest of his team. If he can get a solid contribution from four to five other wrestlers the team will be very good. If not, then it is a team with several elite wrestlers (competing for State titles) but little else.

Ranked: Jeremy Sandoval (1), Josh Sandoval (1), Logan LaPosta (4)

Counting on: Jacob Endert, Carlos Flores, Tyler Herrera, Johnny Shaw and Matt Courtney

Projected lineup:

103 Jordan Adams (11)
112 up for grabs
119 Ryan Burrus (11)
125 Jeremy Sandoval (10) – State Champ at 112
130 Josh Sandoval (12) – 2X State Runner-up
135 Jacob Endert (10)
140 Carlos Flores (11)
145 Tyler Herrera (12)
152 Not set yet
160 Johnny Shaw (12)
171 Matt Courtney (12)
180 Logan LaPosta (12) – State Qualifier
189 Nelson Adams (9)
215 not set yet
275 2 candidates

5. Keller

Coach Schee is very excited about Keller’s chances to improve on last year’s 8th place finish at State. The team will be led by the Couch brothers – Jordan a State placer and Camron a Greco All-American at Fargo. Both have been dramatically improving through involvement with Dallas Dynamite. Hey it never hurts to have Brandon Slay as your pracice partner! And then there is senior Matt Lupardus who will make a serious run at the 275 title in Austin. Add to this core move-in Robert Poyser from Florida and some wrestlers with experience and a solid team is taking shape. But the key to success, especially in dual meets, will be whether some juniors who have now been in the program for several years can step-up. If they can, Keller will emerge from middle of the pack to contender.

Ranked: Jordan Couch (4), Camron Couch (6) and Matt Lupardus (3)

Counting on: Chase Groeke, Colt Gibson and Tim Mcalister

Probable lineup:

103 Ty Ledesma or Matt Powers
112 Chase Goeke (11)
119 Colt Gibson (11)
125 Barry Smithley (11) or Kashiff Solarin (11)
130 Charles MacMillan (9) or Justin Lewis (12)
135 Travis Irby (12)
140 Tim McAlister (11)
145 open
152 Jordan Couch (12) – 6th State at 140
160 Camron Couch (11) – Fargo Greco All-American
171 Robert Poysner (10) – Regional Qualifier in Florida or Austin Grant (10)
180 open
189 Jacob Moss (12)
215 Josh Doty (12)
275 Matt Lupardus (12) 3rd State at 215

4. Arlington

Coach Harmony thinks this will be his best team ever at Arlington. And I believe him. Arlington returns three of the four wrestlers they brought to State last year and earned a 13th place finish, including Danny Luttrell who was 3rd at 103 and Spencer Jernigan who was 2nd at 152. The team is also counting on solid seasons from a number of veteran seniors – Joey Cox (135), Drew Munson (152), Justin Delay (140), Brenden Schnieder (189) and Josh Favara (215) – as well as move-in Matt Tanguma (130) from Seguin and junior Ben Gala (145). And finally add to this potent mix the help of retired Oklahoma coaching legend Dan Province and Arlington could be the team to beat in the toughest District in the State.

Ranked: Danny Luttrell (1), Johnny Luttrell (1) and Spencer Jernigan (2) and Stephen Speer (6)

Counting on: Joey Cox, Drew Munson, Justin Delay, Brenden Schnieder, Josh Favara, Matt Tanguma and Ben Gala.

Projected lineup:

103 Austin Handcock (9)
112 Danny Luttrell (11)
119 Jacob Jeszak (10)
125 Open
130 Matt Tanguma (12)
135 Joey Cox (12)
140 Justin Delay (12) or Tommy Frazier (12)
145 Ben Gala (11) or Jared Bunton (11)
152 Drew Munson (12)
160 John Luttrell (12)
171 Spencer Jernigan (11)
180 Mike Dominguez (12)
189 Brendan Schneider (12) or Thadius Madison (10)
215 Josh Favara (12) (and four footballers)
275 Stephen Speer (12) or Andy Harmony (10)

3. Coppell

Like Highland Park, Coppell brought nine wrestlers to State and finished 3rd only a point and a half out of 2nd. They return three State qualifiers including 171 lb. State Champ Spencer Covey. But with six State qualifiers graduated we will learn how much depth the Coppell program has. There are a lot of quality wrestlers to replace especially in the upper weights where Assistant Football Coach Stralow is looking for some athletes to recruit into the wrestling room.

Ranked: Dillon Horn (3), Ben Robinson (4) and Spencer Covey (1)

Counting on: Kegan Joplin, Jordan Love, Matt Hansen, Jeff Wales and Justin Johnson.

Projected lineup:

103 not set
112 Kegan Joplin (11) – State Alternate
119 Austin Souders or Justin Johnston
125 Austin Souders or Justin Johnston
130/135 Jeff Wales
140 Dillon Horn (11) -4th State at 130
145/152 Jordan Love or Matt Hansen
160 Ben Robinson (11) – State Qualifier
171 not set
180 Spencer Covey (12) – State Champ at 171
189-215-275 – still on the football field (?)

2. Highland Park

Will HP 3-peat? The accolades abound for the two time defending UIL State Champions and Coach Marzoula who enters his 25th and final season at the helm of the HP juggernaut (and 30th season as head coach). The defending champs lose four State qualifiers (including State champion Rowsey) but return five other State qualifiers including two State placers – Chase Gallatin 2nd at 135 and Kyle Anderson 3rd at 152. This year’s team is very deep at the lower and middleweights with less depth at the heavier weights. They could once again bring 9 or maybe more wrestlers to State. They will be very tough to beat.

Ranked: Zack Vick (4), Chad Gallatin (5), Briggs Montgomery (6), Chase Gallatin (1), Kyle Anderson (3), Teddy Gambordella (2)

Counting on: Every other starter

Projected lineup:

103 Tobin Fulton (11) 3rd in District, member Junior National
Dual team, Fargo participant
103 Colin Montgomery (9) 8 years wrestling with the Scots wrestling
Club
112 Stephen Sharp (12) captain, 4-year starter, 5th in state @103
Freshman year, state qualifier @103 soph., lost to injury in December 2005
112 Chad Lake (10) part time starter @ 103
119 Michael Sharp (12) 3 year starter, missed 2nd half of last season, 2X regional qualifier
119 Konstantin Wachs (11) moved in from New Jersey last year, part time
starter @103 and 112 last year
119 Alex Flores (12) move in from W.T. White
125-130 Zach Vick (12) captain, 4-year starter, 2X state qualifier,
member Junior National Dual team and Fargo participant
125-130 Chris Solari (12) part time starter @119, Fargo
participant
125-130 Tommy Schober (10) regional qualifier @112
130-135 Chad Gallatin (10) member Cadet National Dual Team and Fargo
participant
130-135 Chase Lake (11) District Champ @ 119, regional
qualifier
135-140 Briggs Montgomery – State qualifier (will return after Christmas from surgery)
140 Chase Gallatin (12) captain, 4-year starter, State runner-up @135,
member Junior National Duals Team, Fargo participant
140 Madison Oden (10) move in from Houston St. Thomas
145-152 Spencer Ewing (12) part-time starter @140 last year
145-152 Derek Burdick (11) 3rd in District @140, Regional qualifier, participated at Fargo
152-160 Tom Klessig (10) part-time starter, qualified for Team Texas Cadets but could not go
152-160 Max Vilmar (10) missed last year with broken ankle, wrestled 4
years with Scots wrestling club
160-171 Kyle Anderson (12) captain, 3-year starter, 2X state qualifier,
3rd state @152 last year
171-180 Ted Gambordella (12) captain, 3X state qualifier, 3rd state
@171 2005, member Junior National Dual Team, participant at Fargo
171-180 Barret Howell (11) part time starter at 180,189, and 215
189-215 Dan Samson (11) part-time starter at 180 and 189
215 Adam Starks (12) starter at 215
285 Will Shellenberger (11) starter @275, 3rd in Districts

1. Bishop Lynch

BL burst onto the national scene last year with a 4th place finish at the very tough Beast of the East and runner-up at National Preps. With Ben and Luke Ashmore, the Adamson brothers, Luke Silver and Johnny Koepp tournament scoring was the team’s strength. Dual meets were their Achilles heel since there were mostly inexperienced wrestlers behind the elite. Gone are Ben Ashmore and Riley and Ace Adamson. But four nationally ranked wrestlers return and seven wrestlers are in the Czar’s preseason rankings.

Coach Mathews insists the 2006-2007 team will be much more competitive up and down the line-up than they were last year. Remember Bishop Lynch was second to St Marks at Prep State last year. In addition to the ranked wrestlers, BL returns a couple additional TX Prep Champions (Tommy Sheils and Scott Collins) plus freshman Troy Silver and Tanner Eitel, newcomers Alex Munoz and Evan Epstein and get Justin Armstrong back from injury. Simply stated this team is absolutely loaded with talent. In addition to being a stellar tournament team they will be much better in duals.

Ranked: Dak Adamson (2), Justin Armstrong/Tanner Eitel (4), Luke Silver (1), Luke Ashmore (1), Johnny Koepp (1), Alex Munoz (7) and Jake Hanley (5)

Counting on: Scott Collins, Troy Silver, Tommy Sheils, Andrew Ellis and Evan Epstein

Projected lineup:

103 Jared Snapka
112 Scott Collins (10) TX Prep Champ
119 Troy Silver (9)
125 Tommy Sheils (12) TX Prep Champ
130 Dak Adamson (11) TX Prep Champ, 3rd at National Preps
135 Tanner Eitel (9)/Justin Armstrong (10)
140 Luke Silver (12) 3X TX Prep Champ, 3rd at National Preps
145 Luke Ashmore (12) 3x TX Prep Champ, 2nd at National Preps, 2X Fargo Champ
152 Johnny Koepp (11) TX Prep Champ
160-Sean Rohe (12)/Alex Munoz (11)
171-Alex Munoz (11)/Sean Rohe (12)
180-Andrew Ellis (12) /Casey Collins (10)
189-Matt Houston
215-Jake Hanley (11)
285-Evan Epstein (11)