Even after 36 seasons in the business, Carmel wrestling coach Bob Kuykendall said the future is always a mystery until the new freshman class walks into the wrestling room.
Kuykendall said he likes the mystery just fine, thank you, and it’s appeared to work for him all these years. In December, Kuykendall was voted into the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Hall of Fame, and he was honored for the feat in January at Carmel. The induction ceremony will take place next month, though it will be tough to match the hometown ovation he got at the East Suburban Catholic Conference tournament.
“I’ve enjoyed some great memories in this sport, but that night surely ranks right there at the top,” said Kuykendall, who’s also an English teacher at Carmel. “It’s a little unique coaching wrestling here at Carmel because most of the guys that come into our program have little or no wrestling experience, but that’s the kick of coaching, because we take kids with nothing and make them into something.”
“Something” includes helping eight wrestlers win a total of 12 state medals during his three-plus decades in Mundelein. His most recent state medalist is Riley Palm, who placed sixth in Class 2A at 106 pounds last year, then was sixth at 126 this season.
Palm, by the way, is only a sophomore.
At the Class 2A Grayslake Central Regional, Kuykendall had six freshmen, three sophomores, two juniors and two seniors in his lineup. Freshman Christian Valadez (106 pounds, 34-10) and Palm (126, 16-7) both won regional titles and later advanced to state, and six others made it to sectionals. Junior Anthony Schaer (120, 30-13) also advanced to Champaign.
“Bobby Pryhocki (145 pounds) and Palm were our building blocks this season,” Kuykendall said. “After some rough times early on, and with the guys sticking with it and working ever so hard to get better, we came around to become a team that will be a fun team to watch in the next couple of years.”
Valadez and 138-pound freshman Yovaniel Garcia combined to win nearly 70 matches. Junior John Ivan (195) won 25, and Kuykendall said sophomore Tommy Hoy (152, 19-14) is ready to take the next step.
Freshman Vincent Swindell (132, 11-9) is another up-and-coming wrestler who has family ties to the program. His father, Frank Swindell Sr., won a conference title at Mundelein and was a 1981 AA state qualifier. Frank Swindell Jr. repeated the feat in 2010, and now Vincent Swindell could be next in line. Another brother, Anthony Swindell, also made state at Carmel and placed sixth at 145 pounds in 2015.
“The bloodlines are there, and Vincent is a real hard worker, so he’ll be another one to keep an eye on,” Kuykendall said. “The fun thing (still) for me is to take kids from point A, to B, then C, right from that first day, and to see how far they have progressed when February rolls around. It’s the best thing about coaching.”
Next up for Carmel wrestlers is a summer of conditioning work and college camps.
Michael Garofola is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press