Whitnall Wrestlers Host Pewaukee in Opener Wednesday

It won't take long for wrestlers to find out how good they are.

The Falcons open the 2011-12 season , which has won the conference championship every year since joining the Woodland Conference in 2006, has yet to lose a conference dual match, and is listed fifth in preseason rankings of Wisconsin high school wrestling teams. Last year, Pewaukee's Pirates downed Whitnall, 58-7, the team's only loss in finishing runner-up in the league.

"Until somebody knocks off Pewaukee, they're obviously going to be the favorite to win the conference," said John Quinlan, who shares head coaching duties with Craig Austin.

"Outside of them, it's up in the air," Austin said at a recent practice. Both coaches agree that South Milwaukee will be strong this year, as will the combined team of Wauwatosa East and West.

"Overall, I don't know that there are quite as many state place winners returning this year as in past years," said Quinlan, "but the overall depth of the conference will be better."

Seniors, freshmen dominate lineup

For his own team, that depth will rely heavily on seniors — some with limited varsity experience — and freshmen. "We're definitely a senior-freshman driven team," said Austin, who predicted that there could be as many as four freshmen among the 12 starters when the lineup is determined.

Leading the returning seniors is co-captain Mason Howard, son of assistant coach Mike Howard. The 145-pounder narrowly missed a trip to the state tournament last season and seems determined to make it to Madison at the end of this season. He attended wrestling camps and participated in freestyle tournaments over the summer in preparation for his final season.

"I definitely know it takes a lot of hard work," Howard said. "We need a lot of improvement as a team, and one of my goals is to set an example for the team." Another goal, it goes without saying, is the mat at the Kohl Center in Madison next spring. But Howard is looking to the immediate future: "Right now my focus is on Pewaukee. We need to take it one match at a time," he said.

Other seniors on the Whitnall squad include co-captains Evan Olson and Sam Howard; John McGee, who is the only returning wrestler besides Mason Howard to have posted a winning record last season; Alex Sterling, who missed most of last season due to injury; Jeremy Brunner, Amal Mody and Ty Fisher. Ruben Garcia, considered a potential conference champion, opted not to compete this year.

No Returning Champs or Qualifiers

While the program drew a healthy turnout of 40 athletes this year, it's the first time in more than 20 years that Whitnall's lineup has no returning state qualifier or conference champion. Austin believes that shouldn't keep the Falcons from posting their ninth consecutive 20-win season. "We're solid enough up and down the lineup to be competitive with anyone," he said.

Following Wednesday's opener, Whitnall travels to East Troy for a series of dual matches Saturday.

PinPoints:

--Two new assistants have joined the wrestling coaching staff. Nick Doerflinger is a Whitnall grad who wrestled at Lakeland College. Russ Martini, another Whitnall grad, assisted at Menasha for two years.

--Coach Quinlan notes that his team will face some premier talent in nonconference activity. The Wisconsin Dells Invitational includes some of Wisconsin's top-ranked high school teams. Whitnall's own 16-team Zelinski Tournament in January will feature nine teams that won regional tournaments last year. The Falcons will also travel to Louisiana during the holiday break to compete in a 32-team event that includes nationally-recognized high school teams.

--Former Whitnall standout Dave Witkiewicz was a visitor at the Falcons practice last week. Witkiewicz just completed his senior season on the Drake University football team. The Bulldogs tied for the Pioneer League championship, and Witkiewicz, a nose tackle, was all-conference honorable mention for the second time.

--The WIAA has moved Whitnall from the southeast regional/sectional in which it has competed for the past several years. The team will be facing a new slate of competitors when the tournaments begin next February.