Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Eighth Grader Andrew Okayama finished his career at Plank with an undefeated record and taking second at the IKWF State Tournament.
Plank Junior High wrestler Andrew Okayama finished his eighth grade career with a flourish. Andrew remained undefeated for Plank Jr. High and took second place at the IKWF State tournament for his club team Force Wrestling. He is currently a team member of IKWF Silver and Illinois Orange and Blue, two highly ranked national middle school dual teams. IKWF Silver placed 7th nationally and Andrew's individual performance earned him the all American award. “A huge thank you to Coach Josh Edwards at Plank Jr. High for taking Andrew from beginner level to conference champion, to state finalist in just 3 seasons with his outstanding coaching, mentoring and patience; and to Coach Joe Arquilla and all of Force Wrestling for their perseverance, …
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Eighth grader Kendall Elfstrum placed second in the Dixie Nationals Wrestling Tournament, which he originally entered just to gain experience.
Most kids take winter break to kick back and relax. Not eighth grader Kendall Elfstrum, and his decision to sign up for a wrestling competition earned him All American Status. The Plank Jr. high student was with his family in Georgia over break and found that with his USA wrestling card he could wrestle anywhere. So he signed up for the Dixie Nationals Wrestling Tournament, along with two others, to, as his mother Lisa Elfstrum said, "to get some mat time in, gain a little more experience and just do his best." Elfstrum's wrestling coach at Plank, Josh Edwards, said he has only been wrestling for three years. He entered the 155 lb bracket at the Dixie Nationals and ended up beating several nationally ranked wrestlers and placed second, …
Friday, November 30, 2012
Free admission to all those who donate toys to the upcoming wrestling match.
Oswego's wrestling teams are taking donations for the Toys for Tots program during their Dec. 6 match at Oswego High School. Calling it “Grappler’s For a Cause Toy Drive”, wrestling teams are accepting new, unwrapped toys, which will go to an area family in need for the holiday season. This is the third time the teams have participated in the toy drive. Anyone who donates a toy will get free admission to the wrestling matches, which include: For more information, contact Josh Edwards, head wrestling coach at Plank.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Team throws Jack Williams a surprise party.
With cheers of “Go Coach! Go Coach!” reverberating in the Thompson Junior High cafeteria, Jack Williams made his way to the front for a final farewell to Thompson’s wrestling team. Williams has been a coach and teacher at Thompson for 33 years and will be retiring this year. Thursday marked the final home meet of the wrestling team, which they won for a record of 8-1 on the season. “This is the stuff I’m going to miss,” said Williams, gazing around the gymnasium as the students cleaned up the wrestling mats and talked about their latest victory, many coming up to say thanks to their coach. “Good stuff.” Williams was surprised with a party after the home meet, complete with several cakes and fruit punch. “Wrestlers!” he called from the …
41.695329
-88.335193
Thompson Junior High School
440 Boulder Hill Pass, Oswego, IL
/articles/thompson-junior-high-coach-retires-after-33-years
1349846
/locations/6027816
Saturday, February 12, 2011
West Aurora senior will take his 38-0 record to the IHSA state tournament in Champaign next weekend.
DOWNERS GROVE–West Aurora senior wrestler Nicholas Drendel’s goal coming into the season was to win every match he was in and eventually win the state championship. After winning the 125-pound title at Saturday’s Class 3A Downers Grove North Sectional, he has the first part of the equation taken care of. Next weekend at Assembly Hall in Champaign, he has a chance to complete the goal. Drendel (38-0) was his usual dominant self, pinning DeKalb’s Doug Johnson (38-3) in a mere 1:37 in the finals Saturday. “My goal is to win every match I can,” Drendel said. “I feel just as good as I ever do. The way I see it, nothing else matters at this point. This is the end of the time that I have.” In the finals, Drendel leaned on his extensive Greco-…
Thursday, January 20, 2011
On a night when Oswego honored its five seniors, underclassmen Nick Schultz and Frank Yattoni set the tone in the Panthers' 57-15 victory over the Bengals with two quick wins out of the gate.
Nick Schultz and Frank Yattoni provided the spark for the Oswego wrestling team Thursday night at home. Schultz, a 103-pound freshman, and Yattoni, a sophomore competing at 112, had a second-period fall and a technical fall, respectively, to jump-start the Panthers in their regular-season finale against Plainfield East. The Panthers’ bookends were equally dominant in the Southwest Prairie Conference dual meet as Oswego ended the match with a 31-point burst in claiming the 57-15 victory. “I just took him down in the first period,” Schultz said of his 4-1 lead after the first two minutes. “I tried to wrestle as well as I could. The pin came with it.” Yattoni only wanted to maintain the Panthers’ early cushion. “(The Schultz fall) made it …
41.700872
-88.275481
Oswego East High School
1525 Harvey Rd, Oswego, IL
/articles/oswego-wrestlers-flatten-plainfield-east
1350251
/locations/3121107
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Wolves fall as Indians post five pins in 41-30 SPC dual wrestling victory.
OSWEGO—Minooka High School’s wrestling team not only took on Oswego East in a Southwest Prairie Conference dual meet Thursday at Oswego East, but also squared off against two other formidable opponents. Like it has done all year, the Indians are competing with the mental burden of being the defending Class AA state champs. And now, the team is wrestling with illnesses. Those illnesses kept a handful of wrestlers on the sideline during Minooka’s 41-30 victory. Minooka (19-1), which hasn’t lost a SPC dual since the league was formed, improved to 6-0 in the conference. Oswego East fell to 13-6, 4-2. “I didn’t give anybody the night off; we’ve had a run of strep throat and sinus problems,” Minooka coach Bernie Ruettiger said. “The kids who …
41.700872
-88.275481
Oswego East High School
1525 Harvey Rd, Oswego, IL
/articles/oswego-east-illnesses-test-minookas-depth-2
1350251
/locations/3052171
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Lincoln-Way East notches third-place finish at Palatine's 26-team wrestling tournament.
A year ago, Derek Nagel received the top seed at 171 pounds at Palatine's Berman Holiday Classic, but then proceeded to take fifth place at that weight. So, after getting the top seed again this season, this time at 160, the Lemont senior was determined to not have a repeat performance. After competing in four matches over the past two days, it's safe to say that Nagel is much happier about this season's showing. Nagel defeated Lincoln-Way Central's Tom Gross 6-2 in the 160-pound championship match at the 26-team competition that concluded on Wednesday. He improved to 18-0, while handing Gross, a senior for the Knights, only his second defeat in 20 matches. "I was the No. 1 seed last year and ended up taking fifth place, and I wasn't too …
41.67485
-87.993289
Lemont High School District 210
800 Porter St, Lemont, IL
/articles/nagel-langenderfer-capture-berman-titles
267652
/locations/2902788
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Wildcats remain undefeated in Southwest Prairie Conference action with a 42-21 victory at home over Oswego Thursday night.
Plainfield Central did not take long to bounce back from a tough loss. Thursday night at home against Oswego in Southwest Prairie Conference wrestling action, the Wildcats scored 23 of the first 26 points and ultimately doubled up the Panthers 42-21. Hinsdale Central handed Plainfield Central a loss on Wednesday, but it was all Wildcats to start Thursday's dual. Beginning with Ryan Soraghan opening the night with a major decision at 145 pounds and following up with Greg Cameron also winning by double digits at 215, Central dominated Oswego in the opening six matches. Aided by a forfeit at 160 pounds, Central received a thrilling victory by Wendell Daviston at 171 pounds, followed by a showcase effort by Jordan Ellingwood at 189. Ellingwood…
41.603154
-88.207772
Plainfield High School - Central Campus
24120 W Fort Beggs Dr, Plainfield, IL
/articles/plainfield-central-wrestlers-double-up-oswego
280020
/locations/2771565
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Hjorth, Lee earn second-place finishes on the mat.
A week ago, Downers Grove North's Jimmy Nehls, Maxx Lozano and Zach Lommatzsch and Bolingbrook's Frankie Campos all won tournament championships. That foursome once again made its way to the top of the awards stand after capturing titles in Saturday's Mustang Invite at Downers Grove South. The three Trojans, who also claimed titles at Hinsdale South, helped their squad to a second-place finish with 175 points. Hinsdale Central took top honors with 218.5 points. Campos, who also won a title at Stagg, captured his third straight Mustang Invite championship to help the Raiders to a tie for fourth place with 136 points. Jordan Laster also won a title for Bolingbrook, which tied in the team standings with the host Mustangs, who received …
41.76969
-88.01816
1436 Norfolk St, Downers Grove, IL
/articles/oswego-flexes-some-muscle-at-mustang-invite
/locations/2708221
Bob Okayama
7:25 pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2013
That's my Grandson! So proud. more ›