Back to the mat as Owls grapplers roll out 2010

When a squad loses its school’s all-time wins leader, it would be easy to assume that the program might need a year to rebuild.

You’d be wrong when it comes to Highland Park High School wrestling.

The Owls enter the 2009-'10 campaign without the services of graduated star Will Randall-Goodwin, who posted 88 career victories, including a 32-8 mark at 171 lbs. last year on his way to a district championship. But the cupboard is far from bare.

Returning a couple of top-five district wrestlers at their weight class in senior D’Andre Bell (a regional qualifier) and sophomore Tyler Rios, Highland Park’s lineup is laced with skill.

“We have a core nucleus of tough, experienced leaders that we haven’t necessarily possessed in the past,” said fourth-year head coach Craig Girvan. “Because of some guys coming back and D’Andre taking the necessary strides to become an elite wrestler, we have a chance to compensate for the loss of HP’s greatest wrestler.”

Randall-Goodwin was joined by Joe Lobel and Justin Hambro in an accomplished Class of 2009. This season, Girvan added assistant Rutger Indri, a 2002 Highland Park grad whom the head coach credits with starting the revitalization of the wrestling program over seven years ago.

HPHS opened the season at 2-1 as of Jan. 3 with wins over Ewing and Willingboro and a loss to Princeton. Four Owls also placed in the top five of a weight class at the East Brunswick holiday tournament consisting of 16 schools.

As is the case for many of the boys’ varsity sports at Highland Park, there is a large football carryover to wrestling. Following a 6-17 campaign last season, Girvan believes that this year’s success on the gridiron will have a direct effect on his wrestlers.

“Many guys on our team also play football,” Girvan said. “They are certainly approaching things with more confidence. The fall truly energized the town and got it interested in Highland Park athletics again.”

The Owls' lineup has bright spots from its lightest weight class all the way to heavyweight. Girvan made comments about all 14 wrestlers in his main rotation.

At 112 lbs, junior Anthony Lanni is a returning starter who Girvan believes can emerge after training at a wrestling club. Junior Evan Farmer is at 119 lbs and maintains an “outstanding work ethic.” The teaching in the HPMS program will get a test as freshman John Coster slides in at 125 lbs from day one. Senior Matt McKinney and junior Kevin Rios will see time at 130 lbs, depending on lineup maneuvers during the year. McKinney, a co-captain, has hovered around 20 wins in each of his first three years.

The other captain and undisputed star of the squad is at 135 lbs in senior D’Andre Bell.

“D’Andre went to Maryland this summer and placed fifth in the Eastern Regional Championships,” Girvan said. “One of our goals is to get him to Atlantic City for states.” Junior Sam Lobel returns from a back injury at 140 lbs as “someone you love to have on your team,” with 19 career wins under his belt from his freshman campaign. First-year varsity wrestler and sophomore Nisam Ponary slides in at 145 lbs, while senior Louis Middleton returns to the mat from basketball this year at 152 lbs.

Sophomore Jeremy Leavitt and junior Adam Phillips continue to gain experience at 160 and 171 lbs respectively, and at 189 lbs, Girvan believes “the sky is the limit” for Tyler Rios if he can make weight and fine-tune his technique after bulking up to play fullback this fall.

Coming in at 215 lbs, freshman Casey Horn will have a chance to go up against a lot of juniors and seniors as “a great big guy to have.” Rounding out the lineup at heavyweight (285 lbs), the “Alabama Slammer,” senior Noah Kendall provides “enthusiasm and aggressiveness on the mat.”

Last season, Girvan added a new wrinkle to preseason preparation, bringing Duke University coach Clar Anderson and All-American heavyweight Konrad Dudziak to teach at a summer clinic. “I think it was a great experience for our kids to be around people from a top-notch program and learn about great wrestling,” Girvan said, pointing to technique, senior leadership and discipline as keys for the remaining months in the season.

As for expectations, Girvan was pleased with the quick start heading into Blue Division matches in early 2010, and feels his squad is ready to build on it with holiday break now behind them.

“With a lot of guys back or being added to the team, we aren’t as inexperienced as in past years,” Girvan said. “Our main goal is to make it back to postseason matches and the sectional tournament.”