Trio of seniors to lead SPASH on the mat All four local teams start season with new head coaches By MIKE KEMMETER of The Gazette The Stevens Point Area Senior High wrestling team has a new coach and lost its first state champion in 13 years, Nate Roth, to graduation. That said, some may think new coach Gee Pope, a SPASH assistant for seven years, and the Panthers would face a year of transition. But Pope and the Panthers, led by a trio of top seniors, are looking to build on last season. "We'll be better," Pope said. "We're looking at finishing in the top half of the conference. How high we finish depends on how hard the guys work. "We have a solid, good group of seniors. We have good leadership and promising young guys in the lower weights. We have guys who have been on (junior varsity) that have been waiting for their chance." Leading the way for SPASH are the team's three captains - Ty Pope (135/40-pounds), Rob King (135/40) and Robb Kolodziej (275). Other returnees include seniors Jed Haas (171) and Josh Chellberg (130); junior Tyler Salvinski (119); and sophomores Kevin Duda (125) and Nate Kurszewski (119). Newcomers to the varsity are a pair of freshmen at 103 pounds, Steve Bachinski and Jake Calhoun. Making the jump from junior varsity are seniors Jimmy Louis (112), Mike Bachinski (152), Ben Bachmann (152), Brian Baumgartner (160) and junior Josh Beyerl (189). "From 103 up until 140 we should be very solid. Then we have new guys, but I think they can do the job. We should be solid at (171), (189) and (275)," Pope said. "Our success will depend on where the guys fit on the team, weight-wise, and how hard they work." The Panthers made their 1999-00 debut Thursday at Wausau East. "We'll know right away how good we are because we have tough teams right away on the schedule," Pope said. In the Wisconsin Valley Conference race, Pope thinks the Panthers will battle with a trio of schools - Wausau West, Marshfield and Merrill. Perennial powerhouse Wisconsin Rapids is considered the favorite. "The conference is good. Any team that finishes in the upper half is a good team," Pope said. Pacelli The Cardinals, who enter their final season in the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association, will be strong in the upper weights and will count on underclassmen to fill in the lower weights. Neil Jurgella (171 pounds) is Pacelli's top returning placewinner from last year's state meet. The senior finished second at 152 pounds to lead the Cardinals to a fourth place team finish. "We have a good group of juniors and seniors returning," first-year head coach Jay Yenter said. "Unfortunately, we're bunched up in the upper weights. We have nine of our best wrestlers in the last five weight classes, from 152 to 275." Joining Jurgella in the upper weights will be juniors Greg Snow (152, 25-17 in 1998-99, 3rd at state last year) and John Sniadajewski (189, 17-11, state qualifier), and seniors Tim Snow (160, 23-19, state qualifier), Wayne Zelhofer (171) and Ben Kissel (275, 18-18, 6th at state). Juniors Justin Anderson (160, 2-1) and Dave Blaha (275, 5-4), as well as senior Matt Schulist (189, 25-13) will be in the mix in the upper weights. Franz Klein will anchor the lower weights. The senior, who will likely wrestle at 119, finished fourth at state last year and had a 30-19 record. Junior Matt Simcakoski (125, 6-4) and sophomores Brian Warzynski (119, 28-15, state qualifier) and Clint Piotrowski (135, 6-22) are back from last year's team as well. Freshmen Mike Kaczmarek (103), Tim Schwarz (130) and Simon Hesch (145) will step into varsity spots. Pacelli kicked off its season Tuesday night in a dual meet with Medford and fell to the Division 1 school 47-18. "We will use various lineups during the first part of the year," Yenter said. "After Christmas, when we get the extra two pounds, we may be able to move guys around a little and strengthen the lineup. "Until that happens, we need some of our younger guys to step in and be competitive. From 145 on down we will be wrestling with all freshmen and sophomores, with the exception of Simcakoski and Klein." The Cardinals will try to offset the losses of four-time state placewinners Casey Rutta (2nd at state last year) and Mike Suchocki (3rd at state last year). "The team overall has a lot of potential. Our success really depends on the younger guys getting it done for us in the lower weights," Yenter said. Amherst With a new coaching staff and 11 first-year wrestlers, the Falcons will have a different look this season. Steve Camber is taking over for longtime coach Pete Sippel, who retired after 28 years at Amherst, and Camber and the Falcons will likely suffer through some growing pains. Nine of the 17 team members are freshmen. Amherst also lost two-time state runner-up Ahren Groshek. "We've got a real young team," Camber said. "We're going to have to gain experience. We expect the kids to grow and learn from their mistakes. "We have to keep working hard and build confidence in ourselves." Not everyone on the Falcons is new, though. 1999 sectional qualifiers Randy Ward (145) and Nate Peplinski (152) are back for their junior seasons. They are joined by seniors Dan Ehr (160) and Joe Dambroski (171), junior Jeff Peskie (125) and sophomore Ben Ostrowski (275). Junior Adam Kinney (189) and sophomore Brandon Wolding (130) enter their first year with the team. Freshmen Scott Hintz (103), Cody Kanuscak (112), Alan Bohm (119), Brandon Ganoni (135), Nolan Kayon (140) and Shane Rzentkowski (189) all started the season on varsity while Adam Perrott (130), Adam Johnson (140) and David Ziebell (152) could see varsity time as the season progresses. Camber and the Falcons kicked off their season Tuesday and fell to Tomahawk 49-13. The coach is excited to see so many freshmen on the team and hopes it bodes well for the future. "It's great to see the young kids out. We've got to build a base," Camber said. "Hopefully we'll have them out as 10th and 11th graders." In the meantime, Camber is looking for Ward and Peplinski, as well as the seniors, to provide leadership to the newcomers. In the Central Wisconsin Conference race, Camber is hoping the Falcons can finish toward the middle of the pack. He said Bonduel and Weyauwega-Fremont are among the teams to beat. "If we can place halfway through our conference, I'd be happy," Camber said. "We'll shoot for that or better." Rosholt With eight seniors, which includes state qualifier and a pair of sectional qualifiers, the Hornets could make a run at Bonduel's stranglehold on the CWC championship. Senior Aaron Yenter (160) is the lone local returnee from last year's WIAA state tournament. He's joined by Jon Betker (171) and Geoff Yenter (125/30), who both advanced to sectionals a year ago. Throw in five more seniors - Bob Omernik (125), Scott Walenski (140), Dustin Wiza (189), Senica Omernik (275) and Tim Wiza (275) - and new coaches Kevin Cullen and Alan Carter are looking for big things. "We're pretty optimistic," Cullen said. "With our talent base, I see us up there (in the CWC). I think we can make a run for it if everybody stays healthy. That hurt us last year." Rosholt got its season started Thursday at home in a dual meet with Stratford. Also back from last season is junior Shawn Sarenpa (152) and sophomore Mike Sarenpa (145). Freshmen Casey Giese (103), Terry Fields (119), Ryan Boll (135) will be in the mix on varsity. Sophomores Jake Zakrzewski (135/40), Vince Rossier (140/45), Lee Schulz (189), Greg Firkus (145) could all see varsity action. The Hornets will be without sophomore Nathan Budsberg, who was a sectional qualifier as a freshman. He will miss the season following an off-season accident. One thing Cullen said he is noticing so far at practice is that his team is working very hard. "There seems to be an air of dedication," he said.