Hawks' lower and middle
weights could thrive

BY CHARLES ROTHWELL
Dec. 1, 2009, 4:15 p.m.

  Head coach Jim Stuef and assistant Jon Herstein are going to have their hands full this season. With over 50 wrestlers on the team to start the season and high expectations after last year's performance, they could probably use some help.

  Big-time help could come in the form of Dave Beazley, a wrestling dad and former head coach of four-time state champions Montrose High. As happened last year, Coach Stuef may also be aided by former collegiate wrestlers stopping by the room.

  This formula certainly worked last year as the Hawks were OAA Blue champions, team district champions and won their first team regional match before losing to Hazel Park. Two wrestlers qualified for the individual state meet, the first state qualifiers from FHH since 1998.

  The Hawks will have to find replacements for half their line-up as seniors Matt Conn (103), Jon Baldwin (125), Doug Babler (140, regional qualifier), Marcel Snodgrass (160, regional qualifier), Bobby Tucker (171), Ryan Roberts (215), and Mark Mouawad (285, state qualifier) are lost to graduation.

  Keys to this season's success will be returning state qualifier Kevin Beazley and regional qualifiers Evan Hahn, James Roberts, and Dan Leeb. Below is my best guess at the FHH varsity line-up:

103 - Fortune Martin, sophomore;
112 - Evan Doyle, junior;
119 - Ramy Zoma, junior;
125 - Evan Hahn, senior;
130 - James Roberts, junior;
135 - Ryan Ruspaj, junior;
140 - Jeff Wheeler, senior;
145 - Dan Leeb, senior;
152 - Kevin Beazley, sophomore;
160 - Sultan Hubbard, sophomore;
171 - Tanej Mukkatira, sophomore;
189 - Brandon Martin, senior;
215 - Brandon Beverly, freshman; and
285 - Tyler Tobel, junior.

  The Hawks appear to be fairly solid through the lower and middle weights, and Beazley will be a stud at 152. The upper weights are young and inexperienced which will make it difficult for FHH to have as good a season as last year.