Text Box: Notebook: Howell has turnaround

Text Box: By Joe Lyons

Text Box: POST-DISPATCH

Text Box: 01/23/2009

Text Box: The Francis Howell wrestling squad struggled last season, its first under the direction of former Viking Kevin Stroh. But Howell, which placed sixth in the seven-team Gateway Athletic Conference a year ago, took fourth in the recent South Division tourney. More important, the Vikings, ranked ninth in the area, are 10-2 in duals this season, with both losses coming to top-ranked Howell Central. Late last week, Howell slipped by No. 2 Holt, the two-time defending Class 3 champion. Holt "was missing (defending state champion) Greg Amos, which likely would've changed the result of the dual,'' Stroh admitted. "But a win's a win, and that was a huge win for our program. "I knew we'd be better and more competitive this season, but honestly, we've come a lot farther than I expected.'' Stroh credits his team's progress to more offseason training and competition. And to a newfound confidence. "The reason teams like Howell Central and Holt and Zumwalt West are where they are is because their kids train and wrestle year round,'' said Stroh, a four-time GAC champion who wrestled at Missouri before turning to coaching. "I can't say we're a young team — I'm starting five seniors — but of the 14 guys I'm starting, only four have wrestled Little League." Stroh continued: "We came into the season in excellent shape, got a couple of good wins early and have really been able to build on that momentum. Our guys go into every match expecting to compete and to win, and that kind of attitude goes a long way.'' Key squad members for the Vikings include Sean O'Leary (25-3) at 103 pounds, Nick Baker (24-4) at 112, Alex Lankford (22-6) at 145 and heavyweight Malach Radigan (25-2). Those four captured individual titles last weekend as Howell followed up on dual-meet victories over Holt and Troy to capture the Gold Division of the Riverview Gardens Tournament. Zumwalt North won the Blue Division. Howell will host the Kyle Thrasher Memorial Tournament on Saturday.