Hubs wrestling team season preview

Rochelle matmen return for first week of practice

Russell Hodges
Posted 11/7/17

After winning the Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference two years ago and taking home the IHSA Class 2A Regional last season, expectations are higher than ever for the Hubs varsity wrestling team, which has nearly all of its competitors returning from 2016.

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Hubs wrestling team season preview

Rochelle matmen return for first week of practice

Posted

ROCHELLE — After winning the Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference two years ago and taking home the IHSA Class 2A Regional last season, expectations are higher than ever for the Hubs varsity wrestling team, which has nearly all of its competitors returning from 2016.

While many of the wrestlers are still fighting for the Hubs varsity football team, head coach Rich Harvey and his staff led several of Rochelle’s younger grapplers through workouts on Monday for the team’s first practice of the 2017 season. The varsity team will open its season at home against Dixon and Burlington Central on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 5 p.m.

“It’s an opportunity for us to work with some of the kids who are just starting out,” Harvey said. “We’re going over a lot of the fundamentals to get them going in the right direction. We’ll be adding in more once the football season is over with.”

Rochelle sent two wrestlers to the state tournament last year including seniors Alex Harvey and Eddie Villalobos, who will return after football season to lead the wrestling program once again. Several sectional qualifiers are also expected to suit up including seniors Justin Hernandez, Bazil Bennett and junior Nick Henson.

“I know the kids have high expectations,” Harvey said. “We have to stay healthy and work hard. Every year is a new year. We have to set our sights on a goal. We’d like to win a regional championship and a conference championship as well as have a couple of wrestlers place at state.”

Villalobos and Hernandez will highlight Rochelle’s lighter weight classes this winter, and Harvey said he’ll be looking to his two returning captains for leadership with the team’s younger competitors. Harvey also said he likes the experience of his heavier kids including senior Austin Tracey, Bennett, Henson and his son Alex.

“Those guys have to be leaders in the room and they have to practice hard and compete in matches,” Harvey said. “They have to do things right and get themselves ready for the postseason… We have several heavyweights who I think will contribute this year.”

Rochelle also has numerous wrestlers expected to rise up from the junior varsity level this year. Some of those grapplers include juniors Will Jandak and Brandon Johnson. Harvey will also be looking to junior Jacob Fore and sophomore Zeke Horn for wins this winter.

“I’m looking for Jake to have more of an impact on the varsity team,” Harvey said. “Those guys have to step up and be ready to go.”

ROCHELLE WRESTLING CLUB SIGN-UP INFORMATION

The Rochelle Wrestling Club will begin practices on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at Rochelle Township High School. The club is open to wrestlers between kindergarten and eighth grade, and interested participants can register online at http://www.rochellewrestlingclub.com. Participants can also register at the first practice on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Questions should be directed to Joe Tourdot at 815-739-5116.