Post by coachgkirgan on Jan 27, 2009 0:39:12 GMT -5
Granite City Wrestling Club set for IKWF state
Squad travels to Villa Park for today's tournament
The Granite City Wrestling Club will compete in the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation dual team state tournament today at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park. Team members are; (front row, from left) Josh Harvill, Josh Rozell, Steve Hartline, Austin Wachter, Jake Schulz; (middle row) Anthony Stoicheff, Justin Heavilon, Michael Pixley, Torry Williams; (back row) Alex Brooks, Matt Busby, Tyler Cochran, Josh Masters and Sam Tamayo.
By Theo Tate
Saturday, January 24, 2009 3:13 AM CST
The Granite City Wrestling Club will head to suburban Chicago today to compete in the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation dual team state tournament.
And the team hopes to return with a state title.
"These guys come to win, so we better be ready," GCWC coach George Kirgan said. "I think we will do well. I think we'll wrestle well. If we go out there and wrestle to our potential, then definitely we have a shot."
GCWC draws a first-round bye in the 12-team state tournament at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park. It will face the winner of a first-round match between the Chicago Force Wrestling Club and the Villa Lombard Cougars in the second round.
"The top eight (teams) place," Kirgan said. "So hopefully, we'll come back and we'll be able to have a team finish. That's what we're gunning for. We're getting the experience and that's what I really like to see. These boys are coming together as a team and we're getting some experience up north wrestling some really good teams."
Photo Galleries | Prep Sports Photos
GCWC qualified for state by winning the IKWF South Sectional tournament on Jan. 18 at Lincoln Middle School in Edwardsville. GCWC beat the Central Elite Rebels 61-40 in the semifinals and the Edwardsville Wrestling Club 69-37 in the championship match.
"In the finals, we wrestled Edwardsville and I expected it to be a really tight match," Kirgan said. "After Edwardsville dominated the Jon Davis tournament (on Jan. 10 at Edwardsville Lincoln), we're probably going to lose. But the way the boys rallied together, they wrestled fantastic. It's a testament to the kids and their families for giving them the extra opportunity to wrestle."
The Edwardsville Wrestling Club and the Central Elite Rebels also qualified for the state tournament. The top three teams in each sectional advance to state.
Kirgan said he was thrilled to see his team qualify for state.
"It means that we're going in the right direction," Kirgan said. "My goal is to get more kids excited about wrestling and I think whenever they hear about success, more kids are going to be intrigued to be a part of this, so I think it means a lot for us. If these guys stick it out and wrestle in high school, then we're going to have a very good nucleus of kids. Granite City wrestling will continue to thrive."
The GCWC squad is comprised mostly of wrestlers from Coolidge and Grigsby Middle Schools. Josh Rozell (70), Jake Schulz (84), Michael Pixley (108), Justin Heavilon (138) and Michael Pope (285) are from Coolidge. Austin Wachter (74), Jason Moerlien (89), Anthony Stoicheff (115), Sam Tamayo (166), Tyler Cochran (122) and Matt Busby (147) are from Grigsby.
"In club wrestling, not only do they have to practice after school at Coolidge or Grigsby, but they have to come to practice on Tuesday and Thursday nights," Kirgan said. "The boys are really into it and I think as a high school coach, I'm really looking forward to having those boys come up and wrestle for me."
Squad travels to Villa Park for today's tournament
The Granite City Wrestling Club will compete in the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation dual team state tournament today at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park. Team members are; (front row, from left) Josh Harvill, Josh Rozell, Steve Hartline, Austin Wachter, Jake Schulz; (middle row) Anthony Stoicheff, Justin Heavilon, Michael Pixley, Torry Williams; (back row) Alex Brooks, Matt Busby, Tyler Cochran, Josh Masters and Sam Tamayo.
By Theo Tate
Saturday, January 24, 2009 3:13 AM CST
The Granite City Wrestling Club will head to suburban Chicago today to compete in the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation dual team state tournament.
And the team hopes to return with a state title.
"These guys come to win, so we better be ready," GCWC coach George Kirgan said. "I think we will do well. I think we'll wrestle well. If we go out there and wrestle to our potential, then definitely we have a shot."
GCWC draws a first-round bye in the 12-team state tournament at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park. It will face the winner of a first-round match between the Chicago Force Wrestling Club and the Villa Lombard Cougars in the second round.
"The top eight (teams) place," Kirgan said. "So hopefully, we'll come back and we'll be able to have a team finish. That's what we're gunning for. We're getting the experience and that's what I really like to see. These boys are coming together as a team and we're getting some experience up north wrestling some really good teams."
Photo Galleries | Prep Sports Photos
GCWC qualified for state by winning the IKWF South Sectional tournament on Jan. 18 at Lincoln Middle School in Edwardsville. GCWC beat the Central Elite Rebels 61-40 in the semifinals and the Edwardsville Wrestling Club 69-37 in the championship match.
"In the finals, we wrestled Edwardsville and I expected it to be a really tight match," Kirgan said. "After Edwardsville dominated the Jon Davis tournament (on Jan. 10 at Edwardsville Lincoln), we're probably going to lose. But the way the boys rallied together, they wrestled fantastic. It's a testament to the kids and their families for giving them the extra opportunity to wrestle."
The Edwardsville Wrestling Club and the Central Elite Rebels also qualified for the state tournament. The top three teams in each sectional advance to state.
Kirgan said he was thrilled to see his team qualify for state.
"It means that we're going in the right direction," Kirgan said. "My goal is to get more kids excited about wrestling and I think whenever they hear about success, more kids are going to be intrigued to be a part of this, so I think it means a lot for us. If these guys stick it out and wrestle in high school, then we're going to have a very good nucleus of kids. Granite City wrestling will continue to thrive."
The GCWC squad is comprised mostly of wrestlers from Coolidge and Grigsby Middle Schools. Josh Rozell (70), Jake Schulz (84), Michael Pixley (108), Justin Heavilon (138) and Michael Pope (285) are from Coolidge. Austin Wachter (74), Jason Moerlien (89), Anthony Stoicheff (115), Sam Tamayo (166), Tyler Cochran (122) and Matt Busby (147) are from Grigsby.
"In club wrestling, not only do they have to practice after school at Coolidge or Grigsby, but they have to come to practice on Tuesday and Thursday nights," Kirgan said. "The boys are really into it and I think as a high school coach, I'm really looking forward to having those boys come up and wrestle for me."