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Article Excerpt
Mid-Suburban East
Buffalo Grove
Coach: Bob Tipsword (24th year)
Last year: 3-2 (T2nd, MSL East), 13-7 overall, 2nd at Highland Park regional
Key losses: Scott Wendell (state qualifier, Marquette), Mike Cherney (state qualifier, Illinois), Scott Klein (Augustana), Chris Piotrowski (Augustana)
Top returnees: Seniors Nick Blackshaw (state qualifier, 140, 29 wins), Kevin Epstein (145, sectional qualifier, 24 wins), Zach Just (135); juniors Rory Compton (160, 171, MSL and regional champ, 30 wins), Ross Cherney (119, 15 wins), Sean Stadler (125, 130, sectional qualifier, 20 wins), Joe Brogni (152), Dan Higgins (215), Phil Klopka (275)
Promising newcomers: Juniors Leon Kung (125, 130), Jim Piraino (145), Ken Holiday (160); sophomores Mike Badowski (189), Kenny Sefton (140), Blake Galow (145)
Outlook: A healthy senior season for Blackshaw will go a long way toward Bison success as the 2002 state champ looks to regain status among the elite at 140 pounds. Terrific group of juniors led by conference champ Compton and hard-working Epstein will allow Bison to make a run at division crown while improving on 7th place overall in MSL. "We have eight returning starters, three others with varsity experience and solid senior leadership all within a group of kids who display great work ethic," says Tipsword.
Elk Grove
Coach: Tom Whalen (7th year)
Last year: 2-3 (T4th, MSL East), 4-16-2 overall
Key losses: Jerry Krawiec, Chris Noerjadi, Chris Jarvis, Dan Zurawski
Top returnees: Seniors Kyle Knesh (189, 29 wins, state qualifier), Andre Santore (119, 23 wins), Joe Puzo (135, 17 wins), Ben Puzo (140, 22 wins, sectional qualifier), Darin Kiefer (160, 14 wins, regional champ), Eric Olson (189), junior Tim Chromik (152, 17 wins, sectional qualifier), Kris Kirmess (145)
Promising newcomers: Juniors Sean Freedburg (275), Mark Ternstrom (125), Phil DiMaso (130); sophomores Matt Grande (215)
Outlook: Strong 2002 finish by Knesh places the senior among top 10 in preseason poll in his weight class and he leads one of the most experienced groups Whalen has seen during his tenure. "The MSL East will be as competitive as ever, but we've finally got some people back who are seasoned, and know what it takes to handle a tough conference like ours," says Whalen. Junior Chromik appears ready after a solid effort at rugged Barrington tourney, while both Puzos and Kiefer look to use '02 regional success as a springboard to bigger and better things.
Hersey
Coach: Jim Wormsley (2nd year)
Last year: 0-5 (6th, MSL East), 6-12 overall
Key losses: Mike Sabatello (three-time state qualifier, Indiana), Jared Clark (two-time state qualifier, Wisconsin- LaCrosse), Matt Fulton (state qualifier)
Top returnees: Senior Derek Favata (275, 19 wins, sectional qualifier); juniors Ron Moravec (145), Steve Copeland (189); sophomore Charlie Curran (130)
Promising newcomers: Senior Anthony Baker (160); juniors Mark Yost (119), A.J. Torres (125), Pat Herling (112)
Outlook: Already smarting from loss of top-10 state...
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