Posted: Dec. 8, 2009 |(0) Comments

For the most part this winter, North Shore area wrestling teams will be battling issues of depth and the ability to fill all 14 weight classes.

But there is talent littered throughout and also signs of hope, and nowhere is that more evident than with the surging Whitefish Bay squad, where veteran coach Dale Loebel has finally seen hard work and perseverance pay off to the tune of the Blue Dukes' first North Shore dual win in eight seasons (a 48-27 decision over Nicolet on Thursday) and their best numbers in quite some time (25).

"Just very encouraging," Loebel said. "We're very excited about the kids. They're really working hard to do the things they need to win. It's not just going to be about individual battles (matches) this season but about trying to win wars (dual meets)."

Leading the way will be senior 171-pounder Jake Beckert, who missed the second half of a promising junior season when he went to study in Israel. Loebel said Beckert has come back stronger and more determined than ever. He already is 8-0, with all his wins coming by pin.

Other veterans include sophomore Andrew Reidy at 125, senior Luke Davey at 130, sophomore Brendan Hanrahan at 135, senior Tony Lane at 145, junior Tim Carlin at 152 (5-3 on the season) and senior Logan Schwenker at 160.

The Blue Dukes beat Sheboygan South and lost to Waukesha North in a double dual Monday after going 1-4 in the Kettle Moraine Invite on Saturday. They will host Germantown in a North Shore dual at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

'Rough start' for Nicolet

Nicolet coach Gus Kaufmann was anticipating a better-than-usual season with a veteran team, but a few people didn't come out and other issues are delaying the participation of others.

"It's been a bit of a rough start," Kaufmann said. "We had expected to be able to field a full line-up, but that's not quite happening yet."

The Knights have 26 wrestlers on the team, and Kaufmann estimates about eight of them are ready for varsity. Leaders include seniors Ethan (112) and Tamir (119) Klein, junior Dakota Mitchell at 130, senior Bobby Herrick at 145, senior Chris Rinehart at 160 and juniors Chris Morrell at 103 and Matt Dineen at 135.

Kaufmann also has hopes for freshmen Austin Bay at 125 and Andrew Martin at 171 and sophomore Wilhelm Fehlhaber at 152. The Kleins, Herrick and Mitchell all started out 6-0 after the Bay dual and the Milwaukee Hamilton duals on Saturday.

Nicolet took only seven varsity wrestlers to that meet and, as a result, went 1-4 in team matches, beating only Bay View. But in individual bouts, Kaufmann said the Knights did no worse than a 5-2 record in each match.

"Spirits are up," Kaufmann said. "It's unfortunate that the team concept won't be developed until much later, but it is a good test of our character to see how we come out on the other side of things."

Nicolet will be at the Sheboygan Falls Invite on Saturday.

Trouble ahead for Homestead?

Homestead coach Barry Bernstein, who also has spent time with Bay and Germantown, is also concerned about numbers, but on a more long-term scale. His Highlanders will be all right with the 30 or so wrestlers they have right now, but Bernstein notes that the sport has certain image problems and that is holding down hopes for the future as there are only four freshman on the Highlanders' team.

"We're hurting as a sport a little bit, and that's something we'll have to work on," he said. "Still, I like the way this particular group practices and I like their work ethic. Bottom line, I like this group. I just wish there were more of them."

Leaders for the Highlanders, who went 3-2 at the Lomira Invitational on Saturday, include senior Ryan Greve (215), who just missed out on a state berth last season when he took third at sectionals, as well as juniors Nick Weyker (130), Spencer Bold (125) and Taylor Ruffin (160) and sophomore Mike Kress (171).

Other seniors include Alex Fischer at 119, Jason Ottem at 145 and Conley Brown at 152. A junior of impact could be 189-pound letterwinner Pat Farrell.

At Lomira, the Highlanders beat Brown Deer, Cedar Grove and Ripon and fell to Lomira and Berlin.

Weyker and Bold both went 5-0 for the Highlanders while Ruffin, Kress and Greve all turned in 4-1 marks.

The Highlanders will be at Milwaukee Lutheran at 7:30 p.m. Thursday for a league dual.

Falcons are experienced

Brown Deer's program has 11 wrestlers out this winter, and the Falcons will have some good experience, especially at the upper weights. They are led by returning state Division 2 qualifier Justin Naber at 145, who finished 26-11 last season.

Other experienced hands include senior Tony Rheinschmidt at 285, juniors Tory Dibb at 215 and Brad Dziadosz at 189, and sophomore Evan Naber at 152.