He just won't budge.
In his 30th and final year as Dundee-Crown wrestling coach, Al Zinke refuses to take credit for building one of the best high school wrestling programs in the state.
Instead, the Illinois Coaches Hall of Fame and Dundee-Crown Athletic Hall of Fame member continues to give all credit to the wrestlers he's had an opportunity to coach since 1978.
Today is Zinke's final trek down to Champaign for the State Finals as a coach. However, reminiscing isn't something Zinke will be doing.
He's strictly concerned about and excited for his four state-qualifiers -- Miko Villanueva (103 pounds), Jeremy Lee (119), Jermaine Lee (125) and Jack Lewis (152)
"It's not about me, it's about the kids and what they want to do," said Zinke, who is only the fifth coach in the state to surpass 500 career dual meet wins. "I've been there plenty of times before. This is for them."
What Zinke is most proud of heading into today's first-round action is that three of his four state-qualifying wrestlers never even saw the mat before high school.
Senior brothers Jermaine and Jeremy Lee, along with Villanueva, a junior, learned on the job since freshman year and sport a combined 103-25 record this season. Meanwhile, senior three-time regional champion Lewis is 38-5 on the year and coming off a third-place finish at sectionals.
"They're great kids and work really hard," Zinke said. "It comes down to attitude and mental approach Downstate. I don't think anybody's more skilled than our kids. Give it your best. Be mentally ready and throw caution to the wind."
Session 1 first-round matches begin this morning and Class 1A through 3A championship matches begin at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Assembly Hall.
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