2009-10 O.C. wrestling season preview

Click here to see the O.C. preseason team rankings

Click here to see the O.C. preseason individual rankings

Click here to see the important dates

Calvary Chapel’s William “Tank” Knowles had dreams of winning a state title as a freshman, but he failed to place at the state tournament.

Last season, despite a knee injury suffered in the first round of the CIF Masters Meet, he finished fourth at the state tournament.

This year, as a junior, he has his sights set on winning the state title.

“My freshman year, I wasn’t really confident or sure,” Knowles said. “Last year, was a big steppingstone to see where I was against the competition. This year, I'm ready to take it all and go undefeated.”

Knowles enters the season ranked No. 1 in the county at 215 pounds and will likely be No. 1 or 2 in the state at his weight class.

One of his first assignments, however, is a tough one. Knowles will compete in the Ironman tournament on Dec. 10-12 in Ohio.

“I’ve been training really hard. I’m pretty confident going into that tournament,” Knowles said. “I want to go undefeated and in order to do that, you can’t take any breaks.

Knowles will be pushed everyday in the Calvary Chapel wrestling room by his wrestling partner, returning state champion Morgan McIntosh.

McIntosh will compete at 189 pounds this year. He went undefeated last year, defeating Jordan Williams, 12-7 in the finals at 171 pounds.

“He’s by far the best training partner in the state,” Knowles said of McIntosh. “We push each other pretty hard.”

CHAVEZ LOOKING FOR NO. 4

While both McIntosh and Knowles are searching for their third consecutive CIF State appearance, Charles Chavez of El Dorado is aiming for his fourth in a row.

Chavez, a senior, has yet to finish in the top eight in his weight class. Will the fourth time be the charm?

TRIBUTE TO COACH COSSAREK

Westminster is hosting the first Cossarek Classic this weekend. The event is named in honor of former coach Bob Cossarek, who will be inducted into the Orange County Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame later this year.

Cossarek coached Westminster from 1969-1993. He won seven league titles and had a record of 155-38.

This year’s tournament features No. 5 Servite, No. 6 Edison, No. 8 San Clemente and No. 10 Fountain Valley.

One interesting note is that the top five teams get an automatic bid into the Five Counties Invitational in January.

NOTES

Mission Viejo, Los Alamitos, El Modena, Buena Park, Tesoro, Capistrano Valley, Marina, Trabuco Hills and Western all received votes in the preseason top 10 poll. … Coaches and statisticians are encouraged to call in all dual meet scores to 714-796-7804 immediately after the completion of the scheduled match. The deadline is 10 p.m. … Please send us a copy of your schedule, either via fax (714-796-6765) or email (dcalhoun@ocregister.com).