Bolingbrook wrestling coach Rob Kichka gives us a preview of his team with his first guest blog appearance at The Brook Blog.
The 2008-2009 wrestling season actually started last spring with many new changes. First, there was a coaching change. The new coaching staff right away set goals and began to develop an off-season wrestling program that many other local schools do.
We began weight lifting and conditioning. This was a great start for our program and the turnout was great.
During this time Assistant Coach Dan Bullivant and I traveled with many kids over the spring weekends to various tournaments around the area so that the wrestlers could get matches in at open tournaments. Second, we set up and planned a summer wrestling schedule.
For the first time since I have been at BHS we had a summer wrestling camp. 28 wrestlers from the high school and middle schools came and participated in an 8 day camp. This was a great opportunity to work with some of our youth wrestlers and introduce the high schools kids to our new coaching staff.
The best part of the summer was the fact that we participated in a summer wrestling league with 13 other high schools in the suburban area. On Tuesday nights for 6 weeks we traveled or hosted 6 or 7 other teams and wrestled. Other veteran coaches from other schools said this was the best opportunity for wrestlers they had ever seen. Every Tuesday night each wrestler got 3 or 4 matches at no cost.
We enter this season with only three seniors on the team and two of them who did not wrestle last year. However, over the last two years we have had great freshmen classes come in and we expect them to use this season as a learning experience.
Senior Andrew Flynn comes in at 189lbs and will be the leader of the team. He is a 2 year starter and was a sectional qualifier last year.
Sophomore Frankie Campos returns this year at 103/112lbs and last year won the SWSC championship at 103lbs to become the only BHS freshman to ever win a varsity wrestling conference championship.
Other key returners will be Sr. Charlie Chew 152, Jr. Joe Siemetz 171, and Soph. Kyle Clark 160. We are also glad to welcome 2008 Jr. High State Champ and member of Team Illinois Wrestling Robby Bain to our wrestling program. Robby is a freshman and brother of 2005 Heavyweight State Champion Ryan Bain.
Our goal this year as a program is to grow in numbers and develop it into a respectable program. This might be the type of season that wins and losses don't explain the success of the season. Since April we have already accomplished many goals and worked like we haven't done in the past and with a very young team. It is going to be important for the coaching staff to teach, prepare and get the young wrestlers experience for the future. At the same time we have a few veterans and skilled underclassman that can make an impact right now.
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