2012-13 Results and Media Coverage
Youthful Jesuit squad makes changes for Louisiana ClassicPosted by: Ken Trahan--Executive Producer in Prep Sports on Jan 18, 2013 |
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Along with Holy Cross (26 state titles), there is no greater winning tradition in wrestling that the legacy of Jesuit.
With 23 state championships including 22 since 1972, Jesuit has established a record second to none. The Blue Jays, who last won a Division I state championship in 2009, are virtually always in the top three finishers in the state.
But 2012 was an exception. Jesuit finished fourth behind champion Brother Martin, Catholic and Rummel. Catholic won the state title in 2010 while Rummel won it all in 2011. Times have changed, and numbers are not as steep, Club sports have impacted the sport with more young men participating, and the emergence of the three wrestling programs mentioned have clearly impacted Jesuit.
In his second year as the head coach, Spencer Harris is working hard to restore Jesuit to championship form. Harris has deep ties to the school's wrestling legacy.
A graduate of Jesuit in 1989, Spencer helped restore the Blue Jays to wrestling prominence. Jesuit ended Brother Martin's reign in 1988, finishing in a three-way tie with Bonnabel and Holy Cross under legendary coach Sam Harsongkram before winning the state title in 1989. Brother Martin had won four straight team titles prior to Jesuit breaking through.
Harris won three individual state titles in three different weight classes (98, 119, 145). He coached under Harnsongkram for six years as an assistant coach after graduating. |
"I learned under the very best," Harris said. "It is important to keep the tradition that Coach Sam established alive, to let our current kids know about what has come before them. It reminds us all of what has been and what can be again."
To get to that level, Harris is tinkering with his team. After winning the prestigious Grapevine Duals at Dallas, Texas on January 5, Jesuit has some momentum. Harris will field a brand new lineup this weekend in Baton Rouge in the prestigious Louisiana Classic, featuring 54 top teams, a clear preview and prelude to the state championships February 15-16 at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner.
Harris is building his team's future with youngsters. "We will have five sophomores in our lineup," Harris said. "On the one hand, it's a good thing, but on the other hand, you will make young mistakes. Maturity-wise, Brother Martin, for instance, is older and very physical by nature. In most cases, the senior is more physical than the sophomore."
Acknowledging that Brother Martin has the deepest and most talented team in the state, Harris feels Catholic, Rummel and St. Paul's are good teams as well and eagerly anticipates seeing how his newly configured lineup will compete.
I'm excited to see this weekend come around," Harris said. "We finally have guys slotted where they belong. We lost a number of guys this year who simply quit and we had holes to fill."
Senior Mitch Capella (113) has just two losses, with both coming in Oklahoma in close matches. "He is looking very good for us, as we expected," Harris said. Capella was the state runner-up at 106 pounds in 2012.
Other seniors who have been standouts include Jimmy Brown (170), who has dropped down from 182 a year ago. "His only loss in-state was to Daniel Albrecht of Brother Martin," said Harris. Senior Gage Grush (182) has lost just once in state. Manny Armour (195) has won all of his matches in Louisiana.
Sophomore Ben D' Antonio (120) wrestled at 113 last year and he is dropping down to 106 moving forward. "That will be someone to watch because he is quite good and he is replacing Nicky Charles, who has been good for us," Harris said. "We feel Ben has a chance to reach the state final."
Sophomore Will LaFranca (126) moved into a starting role early in the season and continues to improve. "He has really improved quite a bit since the start of the season," Harris said. "He is a hard working kid who is a real bright spot for us after being thrust into the limelight. He's an exciting guy to watch."
While those six wrestlers comprise the bulk of Jesuit's contenders for state honors, team success will be determined by the other eight weight classes.
"Our team success hinges on others stepping up," said Harris. "We need others to continue to improve and score points for us."
Other Jesuit starters include sophomore Max Grosch (120), senior Jackie Robinson (132), Gaston Eymard (138), who has dropped down from 152, Efosa Eboigbe (145), Christian Queyrouze (152), who drops down from 160, sophomore Robert Lobrano, a football player, who moves in at 160, sophomore Dominic Carmello, who has lost twice to Brother Martin's Josh Tapia but is solid while Zac Creel is the heavyweight at 285.
"I am very encouraged by our progress over the last two years," Harris said. "When I took it over, we had only two kids coming back who had ever wrestled varsity. We are very young. I think and I hope that what we are instilling and what Sam instilled in me is that you have to own what it is that you are doing. You have to take responsibility for your success. You must take responsibility to be totally committed. That is when success takes place. That is where Brother Martin is right now and where we need to return to. It can happen."
The Blue Jays will get two clear opportunities to measure themselves against the Crusaders--this weekend in Baton Rouge and next Wednesday in a dual meet at Jesuit. "We will find out how far we have to travel to reach their level," said Harris.
The deep ties to past success can certainly translate into future titles for Harris and the Blue Jays. "That is the goal and we must work very hard to get there," Harris said.
