Football: Kerstein turns his attention from football to wrestling

The early end to Hinsdale South’s football season gave winter athletes like Brett Kerstein an early start to their next sport.

Kerstein was a reserve offensive lineman for the Hornets and received more playing time as a part-time tight end later in the season for first-year football coach Mike Barry. Hinsdale South went 5-4, but joined Lake Park as a pair of five-win DuPage County teams that failed to advance among the 256 playoff teams.

A total of 25 five-win teams in the state failed to make the playoffs.

“We all thought that at 5-4, we would have a good chance to make it,” Kerstein said.

Considering the Hornets won three games in 2010, the Hornets can feel like a bright future is ahead.

For Kerstein, it’s now time to get back to business on the wrestling mat.

“I only took two days off,” Kerstein said. “I lift every day. I don’t take many days off.”

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior from Willowbrook faces new territory for this year’s wrestling season since the Indianapolis-based National Federation of State High School Associations changed the weight classifications for wrestling.

Kerstein, who was a heavyweight last season, might catch a break by moving to the new 220-pound class. Returning senior Steve Galiniak was Hinsdale South’s wrestler at 215 last season.

Kerstein finished sixth in the Hinsdale South Invitational Dec. 4 and later missed two weeks of the season due to a skin infection.

Kerstein (11-17 last season) had his season end with a pair of losses in the Class 3A Naperville Central Regional. He was pinned in 41 seconds by eventual undefeated state champion Jack Allen of Hinsdale Central in the regional opener and then was pinned again by Waubonsie Valley’s Adam Szott in 1:27 in his first consolation match.

“I think the (weight changes) will be good for us,” Kerstein said. “It will definitely be interesting. I’ve only been wrestling for three years. I started during my freshman year.”

Kerstein has been named one of Hinsdale South’s four captains for the upcoming season. Preseason practice started Monday. The Hornets don’t open the season until Nov. 28 as they host their own invitational.

Hinsdale South’s top returning wrestler is junior Sebastian Pique, who will attempt to become the school’s first back-to-back state champion this season.

“We have a lot of returnees with varying experience,” Kerstein said. “There is good potential here.”

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