SPASH, Pacelli, Amherst, Rosholt wrestling teams hit mat By MIKE KEMMETER of The Gazette The Stevens Point Area Senior High wrestling team has just two seniors, but that doesn't bother coach Gee Pope too much. The Panthers, who lost state placewinners Rob King (fourth) and Ty Pope (fifth) to graduation, have seven returnees from last year's varsity team. "If we make a good improvement, we'll beat our share of people," Pope said, who is assisted by Todd Vanderloop and Nate Roth (171 state champion in 1999). "It depends on the kids' desire to win. We have the talent to win. The question is how bad they want to win. We'll find that out as the season goes along." SPASH's seven returning wrestlers are Jake Calhoun (112, sophomore), Steve Bachinski (119, sophomore), Tyler Salvinski (125, senior), Nate Kurszewski (130, junior), Adam Kurzynski (135, junior), Kevin Duda (145, junior), Grey Pope (160, sophomore) and Josh Beyerl (189, senior). They're joined by 14 others who hope to break into the varsity lineup - Timmy Peterson (112, freshman), Bobby Horst (119, sophomore), Kyle Peterson (125, sophomore), Danny Pawelski (140, junior), Brady Napiwocki (140, sophomore), Jon Wroblewski (140, sophomore), Josh Przekurat (152, junior), Adam Sandstrom (160, sophomore), Jeff Flisakowski (171, senior), Adam Dow (Hwt., senior), Justin Cislewicz (Hwt., junior), Bobby Pliska (Hwt., junior), Kevin Reed (Hwt., sophomore) and Ned Ruesch (Hwt., sophomore). "What I like about these kids is they want to wrestle. If we have kids that want to wrestle and want to compete, we'll do just fine," Pope said. "We have a lot of talent. A lot of guys wrestled in the off-season. They've been lifting weights." In the conference, Pope said, "I don't care about the other teams in the Valley. We know when we wrestle well, we'll beat people. We won't back down." Pacelli With seven seniors gone to graduation, including WISAA state champion Neil Jurgella, the Cardinals will have a young team in their first season in the WIAA and the Central Wisconsin Conference. Pacelli does have two WISAA state tournament placewinners back, senior Greg Snow (152) and sophomore Tim Schwarz (130). Schwarz will be out until at least the end of December after undergoing elbow surgery. The Cardinals also return seniors John Sniadajewski (171) and Justin Anderson (160). Sniadajewski qualified for state as a junior and, while Anderson spent much of last season on junior varsity, Pacelli coach Jay Yenter said he may surprise a lot of people. Pacelli also has five returnees who received varsity letters - Mike Kaczmarek (112, sophomore), James Duncan-Zook (135, junior), Mike Barnett (145, sophomore) and Simon Hesch (140, sophomore). "We are a very young team, but some of these young guys are full of potential," Yenter said. "They are going to take their lumps to start the year. It's how they react to those tough situations that will determine whether or not they reach their potential." The newcomers who are slated to start the season on varsity are Nathan Werra (103, freshman), Colin Zinda (119, freshman), Jamie Klein (125, freshman), Jared Braun (130, sophomore), Stephen Klein (140, sophomore), Adam Todus (189, junior) and Bryan Pliseck (Hwt., freshman). "The first part of the year should be a learning experience for all of our young wrestlers. The lineup will continue to change throughout the year," Yenter said. The Cardinals also lost WISAA runners-up Franz Klein (112) and Tim Snow (152). Ben Kissel (3rd at Hwt.) and Matt Schulist (6th at 171) also placed at state as seniors last year. In the CWC, Yenter isn't sure where Pacelli will finish. Weyauwega-Fremont, Wittenberg-Birnamwood and Bonduel appear to be the teams to beat," he said. "You also have up-and-coming Manawa in the conference and Rosholt and Amherst traditionally have had strong programs. I'm really not sure where we fit into the picture." Amherst The young Falcons have two seniors, a junior and a handful of freshman under second-year coach Steve Camber. Amherst, which will be led by seniors Jeff Peskie (130) and Nate Peplinski (160), are missing four wrestlers from last year that the Falcons weren't counting on leaving. Randy Ward moved to Oshkosh but three others are ineligible until just before the WIAA regional. "With the loss of those four guys, we're nowhere near full strength," Camber said. "We hope to hold our own in the conference." Nolan Kayon (152, sophomore), Scott Hintz (103, sophomore), Shane Rzentkowski (171, sophomore) and Adam Parrott (145, sophomore) are also back for Amherst. The team has four newcomers - Jeremy Leck (140, junior), Cory Marx (135, sophomore), Jed Shulfer (189, freshman) and Josh Poccha (Hwt., freshman). In dual competition, the Falcons will be forced to forfeit at 112, 119 and 125. "We're a young team with mostly freshman and sophomores," Camber said. "We're building." Camber said Wittenberg-Birnamwood, Weyauwega-Fremont and Bonduel are the top teams in the conference. "We'll probably fall somewhere in the middle, that's where I would think," he said. Rosholt The Hornets lost several seniors, including state placewinners Aaron Yenter and Jon Betker, to graduation and have six returnees. Willie Van De Yacht (125, senior), Casey Giese (103, sophomore), Terry Fields (around 140, sophomore), Ryan Boll (around 140, sophomore), Greg Firkus (145/52, junior) and Lee Schulz (189/Hwt., junior) are back from last season. Nathan Budsberg (around 140, junior) wrestled as a freshman but missed last season with a non-athletic injury. "We have a younger team. They're an enthusiastic bunch," Rosholt coach Alan Carter said. "There are a lot of opportunities to do well. When you lose all those seniors, they leave a big void. "We had a very mature team last year, and this year it will be a real learning experience for all of them." The Hornets have nine new wrestlers - Jeff Jaskolski (112, freshman), Zach Rodriquez (119/25, freshman), Jake Zakrzewski (135, junior), Matt Rice (around 130, sophomore), Chad Ganoni (135/140, junior), Devin Groshek (around 140, freshman), Donnie Carter (152/160, freshman), Barry Krisel (152/60, freshman) and Tom Stanislawski (Hwt., senior). Carter said the team's strengths are in the middle weights. Rosholt doesn't have anyone at 171. "The strength we have in numbers are 130-152. There's a lot of competition. That's going to make them good wrestlers," he said. In the CWC, Carter said Weyauwega-Fremont and Wittenberg-Birnamwood are the top teams in the conference. "We'll just try to keep up with the rest of them," Carter said. "All of our boys have to keep in mind that it takes hard work and it's not going to happen overnight. We're going to have fun. That's the main thing."