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Keeping focused
11:00 PM, Jan. 19, 2012
Written by
Kevin Foote
For wrestlers such as Comeaux High's Alex Guillory, it's almost over. All the hours of practice and years of training are about to reach a conclusion. And for the Spartans' senior leader, that leaves a few sparkling opportunities left.
The first one comes this weekend when Comeaux hosts the 36th annual Ken Cole Wrestling Invitational. Then comes that final state wrestling tournament next month in Kenner. Guillory and the Spartans will be taking on an expected field of 49 for this year's Ken Cole crown. Brother Martin claimed the title last year, just a hair over the host Spartans. Lafayette's Teurlings Catholic wasn't far behind in fourth place. Comeaux coach Keith Bergeron gives the favorite's role to Jesuit's Blue Jays this time around. "Brother Martin isn't bringing its 'A' team," Bergeron said.
Wrestling is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. today and conclude around 10 p.m. Action picks up again after an 8 a.m. weigh-in on Saturday morning and runs through the final round, slated for 5 p.m.
For seniors such as Guillory, though, it's about maintaining focus to the finish line. Guillory has fluctuated between 140, 145 and 152 this season, but will be wrestling at 152 this weekend because "it's too much weight to cut." Along the way, Guillory has claimed first-place finishes at Central and Carencro Duals, as well as finishing second at East Ascension. "It's my senior year, so I would love to do well at Ken Cole before I leave," said Guillory, who hasn't placed at Ken Cole during his career. "After that, my goal is to have a top three finish at state."
Malveaux's cruise
When you're a natural like Comeaux's Tyrek Malveaux, success tends to come fairly easily. Indeed, very few Lafayette Parish wrestlers win Division I state championships as a sophomore. For such a talent, the biggest challenge may be maintaining focus and not getting over-confident. With three tournament titles under his belt already as the defending Ken Cole and State champion, Malveaux has done a pretty good job of handling that task as well. "I'm a self-motivater, but my teammates and my coaches help me out a lot as well," Malveaux said. "They keep me grounded." Because of that, Malveaux sees himself still getting steadily better. "I'm better on top and my neutral is better," he said. "I think I've improved in every area, but mostly from the mental side." Malveaux, who has competed at 152 pounds at times this season but plans on wrestling at 145 from here on out, also said his motivation to shine this weekend hasn't lessened due to past successes. "Winning this is just as important to me as it was before I won state," Malveaux said.
Pippin's chance
A year ago, Acadiana High's Logan Pippin didn't really know what to do with himself. Oh, he knew what he wanted to be doing — wrestling for the Wreckin' Rams in pursuit of a Division I state championship. Instead, he was forced to sit out while recovery from surgery on his tailbone. So Pippin just wouldn't wait to get his opportunity to hit the mat for his senior season and he's definitely made the most of it. Competing in the 182-pound weight class, Pippin is off to a 22-1 start with top finishes at the Jacob McMillan and Carencro Duals and a third at Louisiana Classics. "It was terrible (last year)," Pippin said. "It made me cry almost every day. I was really looking forward to getting back." Pippin placed sixth at the Ken Cole as a sophomore and now he yearns to show his full potential in his senior season. "This is really important to me," he said. "This is my last chance to show that I'm something. It's my last chance to show that I'm more than just an average wrestler, that I was able to overcome adversity."
Welch's finish
It's not that Lafayette High's Ian Welch hasn't already accomplished more than most wrestlers during his first three years with the Mighty Lions. After all, he finished fifth at state last year and was second at the Ken Cole. From day one of his senior season, though, he's been determined to achieve even more. That focus has worked to the tune of a 29-4 record and five top-three tournament finishes. "I definitely worked hard and was focused on this year," Welch said. "I lost in the finals here last year and it wasn't close. It's one of my goals this year to win this tournament."
Rebels ready
It's been an interesting year for the Teurlings Catholic Rebels' wrestling team. Instead of doing the chasing, the defending Division II state champions are being chased by the field this season. If it's had a negative impact on the Rebels' top performers Philip Miller and Trey Bonin, they haven't shown it. Miller is 26-1 coming off a first-place finished at the prestigious Louisiana Classics Tournament in Baton Rouge, while Bonin is 32-2 with a third at La. Classics and a first at Trey Culotta in New Orleans. "It's been kind of tough trying to keep the title," Miller said. "You always want to wrestle your best, because if you have a bad match, they say, 'Man, they won. I can't believe they won.' "I'm not saying that we're going to score as many points or get as many in the finals as last year, but I still think we have a shot to win it again." Miller certainly has a chance to complete his stellar career. One of the things he must to do to complete his circle of goals is to win the Ken Cole title this weekend. Already under his belt is two Louisiana Classics crowns and two state titles. He's only won once at Ken Cole, though. "That's definitely one of my top goals this year," said Miller, who is still unbeaten against state wrestlers. Miller has shifted between 138 and 145 this season, but will be wrestling at 138 this weekend. "I'm still working to get better on my feet," he said. State titles come pretty naturally for Bonin as well after winning the Division II state title last year in addition to winning the state cross country title in the fall. "Winning it (Ken Cole) is very important, especially since it's my last year," said Bonin, who finished second here last year.
Brower's move
Over the years, some wrestlers have chosen to compete in a weight division away from the better competition to increase their chances of winning for themselves and their teams. Comeaux's Christian Brower chose the other direction. After wrestling at 285 last year and doing well with a second place finish at the state tournament, Brower elected to go down to the new 220-pound weight division for his senior season. "A lot of the better wrestlers from 285 were moving down, so I figured it would be more competitive," Brower said. "He (coach Keith Bergeron) just asked me what I wanted to do at the beginning of the year and I told him I wanted to go down."
Dale's return
Few of the wrestlers at this weekend's Ken Cole will be having more fun than Comeaux's Jacob Dale. After an encouraging freshman season in which he placed second at Ken Cole and fourth at state, Dale spent his sophomore season out of state and out of wrestling. Back at Comeaux High for his junior season, it's been like riding a bike for Dale, who picked up right where he left off. "I was concerned about getting back into it," Dale said. "I really didn't have any problems with it."