Scouting Elgin-area Fox Valley teams

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:54PM

Dundee-Crown Chargers

Coach: Al Zinke

Top returnees: Seniors Travel Rounds (119/125 pounds), Connor Lewis (112/119), Gus Jacobo (140/145), Steven Vincent (152), Chris Lambrecht (160), Carson Tanner (189), Cody Churkey (215). Juniors Jimmy Kuzynski (171), Dillon Muscat (130), Vince Amato (119/125). Sophomore Raymond Griggel (285).

Outlook: Even though Dundee-Crown won twice as many matches as it lost last year, the Chargers will be looking to rebound from their worst record in school history.

In order to get back to the top and grab hold of the tough Fox Valley Conference, Chargers coach Al Zinke is hoping experience and attitude can overcomes his team's drawbacks.

"We are going to have to stay healthy," Zinke said. "We do not have that much depth this year."

Nonetheless, Zinke is working with a senior-dominated team. Zinke has seven seniors leading the Chargers this year. Captains Travel Rounds, Connor Lewis and Gus Jacobo are the ones that will need to step up to get this team back up to Dundee-Crown standards.

"The three [Jacobo, Rounds and Lewis] are not the most talented, but they want to lead," Zinke said.

Other help will come from fellow seniors Steven Vincent, Chris Lambrecht, Carson Tanner, juniors Jimmy Kuzynski, Dillon Muscat, Vince Amato and sophomore heavyweight Raymond Griggel. Zinke said if the work ethic stays constant throughout the year, his Chargers will be the team to beat in the FVC.

"We have no standout stars, but a great group of kids working together to achieve a common goal," Zinke said. "They are just hard-working young men making a commitment and trying to do it the old-fashioned American way of just earning it."

Huntley Red Raiders

Coach: Kevin Summerville

Top returnees: Seniors Lucas Rogers (135 pounds), Matt Zeis (215), Josh Laluz (285). Juniors Josh Symbal (160), Jacob O'Neil (125), Jett Lucas (145). Sophomore Brandon Mabry (189).

Top newcomers: Juniors J.J. Martinez (112), Brandon Doty (171). Sophomores Zach Stinger (103), Jordan Powers (119), John Walker (140).

Outlook: Any team with a lack of depth going into a new season is depending heavily on its health. That will be the case for the Huntley Red Raiders as they enter the season without every position filled.

However, coach Kevin Summerville is not letting that get to his young team as it looks to make that big jump up from a .500 record.

"We are only losing two seniors from last year," the third-year coach said. "Last year, we kind of finished at the bottom and this year we are looking to be in top three or so in the [Fox Valley] Conference."

Playing a large part on improving that 9-11 record will be senior co-captain Lucas Rogers. Last year, the 135-pounder was a state qualifier, but lost in the second round. Summerville is hoping Rogers' experience at the state meet will give him a leg up this season so he can become the first Red Raider in program history to place at the state tournament.

The other captain, junior Josh Symbal, is also expected to make it to the state tournament after being placed as an alternate last season.

"Josh [Symbal] was one match away," Summerville said. "He has gained some experience on the mat and now he is not afraid to perform at the next level."

Other upperclassmen that Summerville expects to mentor his young team are returning varsity wrestlers Jett Lucas, Matt Zeis and Josh Laluz. They will have to show what it takes to compete at the varsity level to newcomers Zack Stinger, J.J. Martines, Jordan Powers and John Walker.

"As of right now, they are all looking pretty intense," Summerville said. "A lot of them have the goal to make it to the state tournament. That motivation should lead us to success."

Jacobs Golden Eagles

Coach: Chris Taylor

Top returnees: Seniors Joe Ladick (152 pounds), Frank Garcia (160), Brad Jenisch (171). Junior Colin Zaio (140).

Top newcomers: Sophomore Kenny Thompson (112). Freshman Austin Ryan (103).

Outlook: Any wrestling program that goes through five coaches in four years will be forced to fight through growing pains. However, Jacobs coach Chris Taylor is hoping his experience and philosophy will help turn the Golden Eagles' program around and improve on their 5-14 record from a year ago.

"Last year, we had a couple of real close matches," Taylor said. "Against [Crystal Lake] South and [Dundee-] Crown, they didn't know what to expect when teams started punching back. This year, we know what to expect."

Taylor certainly knows how to keep his wrestlers fighting, no matter the circumstances. Before coming to Jacobs, Taylor spent 16 years coaching in California. There, Taylor produced several individual state champions as well as four dual meet championships.

In order to bring Jacobs to greatness, senior Joe Ladick and junior Frank Garcia will have to lead the Eagles against the stiff competition in the Fox Valley Valley.

"[Joe] Ladick decided this year to focus and go out strong," the second-year coach said. "I couldn't ask any more of him. Garcia, his overall confidence has grown dramatically. You can just see he is a different specimen."

The key to the Eagles' success will be if they can stay in the match and fight for the full six minutes. Last season, Taylor said his guys would routinely just be happy to compete. This year, he wants them to go out and battle.

"They are starting to see things my way and it has started to pay off huge dividends," Taylor said. "We are getting real close to paying back some of those favors we got over the last couple of years."

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