Oak Leaves

Powell puts his flaws out in public

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 06:52:51 -0500

Mike Powell’s odyssey through the media last spring began with a faculty meeting in 2011. The veteran Oak Park-River Forest wrestling coach was invited to speak on behalf of teachers suffering from disabilities. Powell struggles with polymyositis, even though he looks relatively healthy despite occasional weight loss. But the rare disease diminishes his muscle strength and makes him constantly fatigue. At the meeting, Powell told the OPRF staff about his deteriorating health. A special education teacher, he finally was forced to give up his classroom duties in the spring of 2011. He had been diagnosed in April 2009, just a …

Strength improves with a careful diet

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 06:53:25 -0500

There is no definitive cause or treatment for polymyositis, but Mike Powell knows it is a burden he must carry for the rest of his life. Powell, 36, no longer needs a cane to help him walk around the hallways of Oak Park-River Forest, or even for his daily climb up the staircases to the wrestling room that is his second home away from his River Forest residence. And he reported in December that he could do nine pull-ups. “I’m getting my muscle back,” he said. He gets plenty of sleep each day and has changed his diet in an …

OPRF’s Mahomes makes big plans for club season

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 06:48:35 -0500

BLOOMINGTON — After finishing the IHSA season Saturday, Oak Park-River Forest coach Mike Powell plans on going on a vacation with his wife and then it’s back to business March 11. The Huskies lost in the Class 3A state dual-team quarterfinals to Sandburg, 33-23, at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The next phase of the wrestling season begins next month as Powell trains several of his wrestlers for the club season. The veteran coach plans on sending many of his wrestlers to different club meets, including state for freestyle and Greco-Roman, the Folkstyle Nationals in Iowa and the season-ending USA Junior and …

Sandburg shocks Oak Park-River Forest in state quarterfinal

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:53:05 -0500

BLOOMINGTON — Two major upsets sent Oak Park-River Forest home early from the Class 3A state dual-team quarterfinals Saturday morning. Defending state champion Sandburg took five of its last six bouts to win 33-23 at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington. Sandburg (26-4) had to pull off a couple major surprises to eke out a win and the chore rested with seniors Chris Pajak at 182 pounds and Bill Gore at 285 to carry their team back to the state semifinals. “They are a really well-coached team,” OPRF coach Mike Powell said of Sandburg. “They are poised. They wrestle to win. …

OPRF senior Ariola follows path of champions

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 07:06:18 -0500

CHAMPAIGN — Oak Park-River Forest’s newest state wrestling champion was ready to quit during his sophomore year. “I didn’t like it. (Coach) Mike Powell and my dad (Jim) pushed me (to continue),” Joe Ariola said. “They told me what I was capable of. My dad has been training me since I was a little kid.” Ariola felt the pressure of trying to do too many things as a two-sport athlete. He then made a decision. He quit football — a sport, along with basketball, that he had played since he was a kid. Ariola ended his individual high school career …

Minnesota’s Dardanes: We were a package deal

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 06:54:08 -0500

In 2010, Chris and Nick Dardanes became the first brothers in Class 3A to win IHSA state titles in the same season and were the fourth twins to capture state titles since 1949. After graduating from Oak Park-River Forest, Chris and Nick red-shirted at Minnesota and are currently sophomore starters for the No. 3 Gophers. Entering this month, Chris was 12-3 at 133 pounds and Nick was 16-6 at 141. Both advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year, where Chris placed fourth. The brothers started out at Fenwick with state place finishes in 2008, but then transferred to OPRF, where …

O’Mara charts out feasts fit for kings

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:31:04 -0500

While competing for last year’s Class 3A state runner-up team, Jake O’Mara watched and learned from the captains on Oak Park-River Forest’s wrestling team. If he were given the chance to be a captain this season, O’Mara had one major plan he hoped try out in an attempt to create more team unity during his senior season. That opportunity came before the season when O’Mara was named a captain, along with one of his best friends, senior Joe Ariola, and junior Davonte Mahomes. O’Mara and Ariola are the top seniors contributing for the Chicago Sun-Times’ No. 1-ranked Huskies. To bring …

Mahomes copes through family, athletics

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:31:11 -0500

On the last day of school at Oak Park-River Forest before spring break, Davonte Mahomes received a text message from his older brother. Their mother, Cassandra, was being taken to a hospital in Joliet. She soon died from a brain aneurysm on March 25, 2011. The primary role of taking care of Davonte and his brother Antwan, who goes by the family nickname of “Duke,” fell upon their older half-sister Sheena Harris, 27, who is a foster case manager for a non-profit agency in Chicago. “I call myself a sister-mom,” Harris said. “I do not try to take over the …

Lee takes to wrestling like fish to water

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:31:15 -0500

For the last three weeks of the season, Andre Lee has been wrestling with a broken left hand. At this weekend’s Class 3A state individual tournament, Lee plans on removing the white padded, soft cast he has been using to protect his hand during meets. Even without being able to form a grip, the Oak Park-River Forest junior finished second at 195 pounds in the Maine East Sectional on Saturday to advance to state for the first time. “I don’t think about (the pain) when I’m out there,” Lee said. “I’ve been taking a lot of ibuprofen. It helps.” Lee …

Side by side: OPRF, Montini and Sandburg

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:59:57 -0500

Here is a side-by-side comparison of three top wrestling squads: Oak Park-River Forest, Montini and Sandburg.

VIDEO: Ariola on wrestling

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:03:51 -0500

Oak Park-River Forest senior Joey Ariola talks about his sport, his goals and the team goals ahead of the state wrestling tournament. …

Lemke-Bell forced to wait for next match

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:12:20 -0500

Adam Lemke-Bell qualified for the sectional meet but couldn’t compete in it over the weekend. Lemke-Bell injured his right hand during practice Feb. 1.

The Orange and Blue Wrecking Crew

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:17:27 -0500

The Oak Park-River Forest Huskies did some wrecking Saturday in the Class 3A Maine East Sectional with a school-record 11 finalists.

Little Huskies are big boost for OPRF wrestling

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 06:19:14 -0500

When Matt McDermott took over the Little Huskies youth wrestling feeder program nearly a decade ago, the team had about 10 wrestlers. Today, the club features nearly 100 wrestlers from ages 6-14 with 16 volunteer coaches in two practice rooms each weeknight at Oak Park-River Forest.

Townsell takes young Oak Park wrestlers under his wing

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 06:19:18 -0500

When youth wrestling coach Richard “Doc” Townsell left the Gladiators club in Maywood to join the Little Huskies two years ago, several young wrestlers followed. The man who helped turn Oak Park-River Forest coach Mike Powell into a state champion in 1994 now develops kids ages 6 to 14 into Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation winners.

Townsell: ‘Winners on the mat, winners in life’

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:28:26 -0500

Coach Richard “Doc” Townsell talks about the Little Huskies wrestling program, how they train and the goals for the young wrestlers. …