Friday, November 21, 2008 11:07 PM CST
Charleston transfer could keep Mattoon from missing a beat
By RICK DAWSON, Staff Writer
rdawson@jg-tc.com
MATTOON -- When he lost Tyler Orr to graduation, a kid who won 36 matches last year and culminated his prep career with a state tournament berth, Mattoon wrestling coach Dave McDowell could only imagine where to begin looking for a replacement.
In walked Mick Wurtsbaugh, and the Green Wave’s depth has barely suffered a lick. Devin Patterson, Cordaro Cavazos, Treye Williams and Mitch Sawyer were already a foursome expected to bring good things. Add a couple of talented freshmen to that mix – not an unreasonable stretch – and a successful season could lie ahead.
It doesn’t hurt that the IHSA is going to three classes this year, giving Mattoon a chance to compete against schools closer to itself in enrollment. A deep schedule that still includes trips to Bethalto, Quincy and Chatham reflects McDowell’s optimism.
“This is going to give Mattoon once again a real shot in the arm, a real boost to our opportunities to show the caliber of competition we have for schools our size,” he said.
“The advantage for us now is that some of these kids are going to finally get some of the recognition that they deserve.”
Wurtsbaugh offers the type of competition Patterson needs in practice. During his past three years at Charleston, Wurtsbaugh won two regional titles and ended his junior season with 22 wins wrestling at 119. Now a weight class or two larger, he serves as a good complement to the 140-pound Patterson.
“I told him, ‘You have been wrestling for a while (in) a different place, different kids’ program and so on,” McDowell said. “And the first question is, are you going to be receptive to my style of coaching, my style of teaching?’
“He has brought an open mind and a willingness to work hard. I know that he has already learned a different technique, a different style – things that he can add to his repertoire of good wrestling success.”
As for Patterson, who won 27 matches before reaching the sectional, this is a team he was destined to lead before Orr graduated. Chosen as the captain this year, the senior burst onto the scene with a sectional appearance at 112 pounds as a sophomore.
“He is by far my leading student athlete,” McDowell said. “He has a lot of responsibility and weight to bear as the leader of the team. You can be the leader of the team by example and not be the best wrestler on the team. But he doesn’t like to lose contests, either.”
Cavazos, who won 24 matches at 160 pounds, could be back there again after qualifying for the sectional while Williams (152) showed promise as a freshman. Injuries have struck the team in the weeks prior to the start of the season: Hayden Tinsman (broken foot) could be out for a while and Tanner Webb’s return this season is in question. Another returner, David Plankey, starts the year on the ineligible list.
Still, the roster is 43 strong, down to the 16 freshmen and 14 sophomores who make this a spirited battle for time, particularly in the lower weight classes.
“The good part of that is, what we’re seeing is the direct benefit of having our youth wrestling, and now the middle school wrestling, (having) four years of bringing kids into the program,” McDowell said. “We’re starting to see the net result.
“You look at Kory Culp, you look at Zach Myers — quality, quality freshmen who are going to fight to get chances to wrestle. And they know, having had the opportunity to wrestle in middle school, that the more matches they wrestle the better they’re going to be. This is going to be a fun group to work with.”
Perhaps the most intriguing trend has been the growth of female participants in the sport. This year, Mattoon has three (junior Jenny Sawyer, sophomore Brittney Tipsword and freshman Brittney Evans), the most in school history.
If that trend carries statewide, too, it could hasten the birth of girls’ wrestling in Illinois much like girls’ soccer branched off from the boys. At the middle school level, Mattoon had five girls sign up this fall.
Contact Rick Dawson at rdawson@jg-tc.com or 238-6855.
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