Will history repeat itself? Sandburg sure wouldn’t mind.
The last time Sandburg’s wrestling program returned 11 of 14 starters, the Eagles went on to capture three individual state crowns and their second straight Class 3A team championship.
Now three years and almost an entirely new roster later, Sandburg’s lineup bears a striking resemblance.
Eleven starters and six state medalists are back, including two-time champion Rudy Yates (Northern Iowa), state finalist Louie Hayes (Virginia), and Brian Krasowski (Penn) and Patrick Brucki. Krasowski and Brucki were standout linebackers in football.
“It’s natural to see how the teams compare,” Sandburg coach Eric Siebert said. “You look at the superstars on that team. They had three state champs. Do we have three state champs in here? I don’t know about that. I think we potentially do.”
There’s little doubt Sandburg will find success at individual state, but unlike in 2012 when the Eagles were the prohibitive favorite to win the team title, the 2015-16 dual team series should carry plenty of intrigue.
That’s because two-time defending state champion Oak Park-River Forest, which Siebert called one of the “best teams in our state’s history” last season, is just as stacked as the Eagles.
“We all remember what it felt like to take second last year,” said Hayes, a four-year starter at lightweight. “Don’t get me wrong, it felt good to be top two in the state, but we’re definitely aiming higher than second place.”
Just don’t think Sandburg isn’t already looking ahead to its Jan. 16 home dual — and a potential third state finals showdown in five years — with the Huskies.
“Everyone should be marking that date because it’s going to be good,” said Krasowski, a 170-pounder seeking his third state medal. “I think we line up really well with them. They’re very talented. A lot of Division I athletes on that team, as well as ours.”
“I don’t think it’s ever too early,” Siebert said of looking ahead. “After our (state finals match) last February, I may or may not have already been stacking that up.”
Marmion and Lockport are also knocking on the door with a slew of high-profile recruits, including Lockport’s Shayne Oster (Northwestern). Montini, which has won eight consecutive state titles (including the last seven in 2A), adds some extra spice with a jump to 3A.
In the Southland, though, Sandburg is king of the hill.
It’s hard to spot any holes in its lineup, and opposing teams will rarely go a bout or two without facing a former state-placer such as Robbie Precin (fourth, 113) or senior Christian Robertson (fifth at 126 as a sophomore).
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“We’re going to have success because our coaching staff can coach up anybody,” Brucki said. “But it helps having varsity guys with experience who know their way around.”
Many national publications agree. Sandburg is ranked ninth in the country by Amateur Wrestling News and 10th by Intermat. Oak Park-River Forest is ranked eighth and seventh, respectively.
It’s all shaping up to be one of the more competitive 3A title races in recent memory.
“We’re very level-headed and driven,” Brucki said. “There’s no doubt in our mind that we’re going to take it this year because we don’t like taking second fiddle to anybody.”
Logan Malloy is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.