OAKVILLE/WINDSOR WRESTLING CLUB: Jr. Tiger State Champs & Coaching Staff

The following wrestlers have placed or won championships at USA/AAU state. Matt Miller and Luke Lowry were the program's first USA state qualifiers in 2007-08:

2005-06

1st- Luke Lowry (Won Rookie Triple Crown, AAU Rookie of the Year, undefeated season 39-0)

1st- Zach Melber

1st- Ryan Killoren (Won Rookie Triple Crown)

1st- Shane Frederick

Randy Lowry (Head Coach)- Randy returns for his fourth year with the program and feels this will be the most exciting season yet! A 1985 graduate of Fox high school in Arnold, MO., Randy was a three sport varsity letterman in football, wrestling, and baseball. An all conference and all metro football and baseball player as well as a two time state qualifier in wrestling, Randy understands and appreciates the rewards of hard work and dedication, as well as having fun! 

Randy held the school record for most pins in a season (22) until his senior year at Fox when teammate Stacy Weiland broke it at the state tournament. Randy played both football and baseball in college and was an all-conference DH his freshman season. Randy also has his personal training certification and spends time in the summer working with high school wrestlers to reach their full potential.

His two sons Jake and Luke are veterans of the program and Luke was one of only two USA state qualifiers last year, falling one win short of the medal round. Randy spends his "real" time as a police officer in the St. George police department where, in 2008, he recieved a medal of commendation for chasing down a felony suspect on foot, while off duty. Randy has also completed a total of seven marathons and still plays baseball in a men's 35+ league.

Dave Felts (Associate Head Coach)-  Dave Felts is truly an anomoly in the sense that his love of the sport of wrestling trancends his personal interests'. Dave's son Jake, a fine wrestler in his own right, is an alumni of our program and now wrestles for Oakville high school. Many parents, after their child had left the program, would have moved on feeling their job was done. Dave, in his usual unselfish fashion, has continued to stay on as a coach two years after his son left and it has been to our benefit. Dave is a Lindbergh graduate who also wrestled at Central MO. State.

Dave brings a wealth of experience in both wrestling and coaching to our program and in 2008 was awarded the prestigious Jr. Tiger coaching excellence award. Many nights, after a long practice, you will see Dave working one on one with a kid after everyone else has headed for the exits. Dave's contributions to this program are endless and his love and passion for the sport of wrestling are unmatched! Oh, he also hates the loud music we play during practice!

Kurt Bromeier (Associate Head Coach)- If there is one single person responsible for keeping the Oakville little league wrestling program afloat until back-up arrived, it would be Kurtis. Kurtis, an Oakville graduate and member of the 2000 state championship soccer team and a wrestler for Oakville, coached the program during a time when, as his little brother Jon would say, "we only had like five kids in here!"

When the going got tough and Oakville began to suffer from the wrestling "hangover" from all of the success of the 1990's era, Kurtis stepped in and made sure that the legacy of Oakville wrestling wouldn't die. Kurtis, who is training to be a firefighter, has a special way of connecting with the kids and keeps the memories of the "glory days" of OHS wrestling alive for the young wrestlers of this generation. Long after the rest of us have moved on in life, Kurtis will still be remembered for his dedication to this program. 

Kurtis was the first coach to actually wrestle in a tournament and competed in the Midwest Army Nationals over the summer. After being reminded of how difficult this sport really is, Kurtis stated "I'll do it again next year but I may want to actually train for it this time!" 

Kurtis also holds the distinction of being part of the only father/son combination to win soccer state championships at Oakville. His dad Ken, a former administrator in the program, was a member of the 1976 team and is a member of the OHS sports hall of fame, class of 2007. Kurtis and his teammates will be inducted in 2010.  

Tom Valenti (Assistant Coach)- Tom is a new addition to the Jr. Tiger’s coaching staff.  He has a passion for coaching and has coached boys and girls over the past ten years in a variety of sports including baseball, softball, soccer and basketball.  He is excited at the opportunity to be part of the Jr. Tiger wrestling team, where he joins his son, Michael, who is returning for his second year.

Tom was a four-year letterman in wrestling at Vianney High School,  where he graduated in 1979, and served as the captain of the wrestling team his senior year.  Additionally, Tom was a MSHSAA wrestling referee for six years after high school where he officiated numerous dual meets, tournaments, district and sectional matches. 

During the day, Tom is a licensed CPA and serves as the managing partner of Stone Carlie & Company, LLC.  With approximately 90 employees, Stone Carlie is one of St. Louis’ largest local certified public accounting and business consulting firms.  

Tragically, Tom was shot several times during a robbery attempt and passed away in January 2009. This cowardly act by the perpetrators took away a fine coach, man, father, and husband. Tom is missed by all and now has an award, the Tom Valenti award, named in his honor, given to the wrestler who demonstrates the most heart and selflesness during the season.

Kris Craig (Assistant Coach)- Kris comes to us from the Windsor side and we are fortunate to have him. A three-time state qualifier at Pattonville high school who took third his senior year, Kris spent his collegiate wrestling days at Meramec college, a wrestling powerhouse. Kris was ranked second in the nation at his weight class but suffered a career ending injury by separating both shoulders in a match. Kris believes in a strong work ethic and discipline and takes that to work with him everyday as a financial planner. 

Between coach Felts, Osia, and Kris, we have way too many coaches with a history of wearing green in high school! It really is an ugly color but Kris has vowed to submit to a blood transfusion (like it or not!) so he starts bleeding gold! 

John Osia (Assistant Coach)- John and his son are new to the program this year and we're glad to have them! John is a 1985 graduate of Mehlville high school and was a state qualifier in the heavyweight division. John also played football and baseball at Mehlville and coaches his son's little league team in the summer. John is a manager at Baldor Electric and has two other children along with his wife Kelly. 

Although certainly difficult for a Mehlville graduate to pull on Oakville colors, John will be a great addition to our staff and his knowledge and experience will be a benefit to all of our kids. We'll have to control any possible flashbacks though at our AAU tournament at Mehlville! 

Renee' Lowry (Team administrator)- What do you get when you take a room full of testosterone fueled men, who stink, and have very little knowledge outside of the world of wrestling and sports in general? An absolute mess! When Renee' was "tricked" into becoming the adminsistrator, we only had about 20-25 boys to worry about and no singlet, rental fees, or insurance and PR issues to deal with.

Now, four years later, the program has grown in excess of 70 wrestlers participating in two seperate entities (AAU and USA), and needs travel arrangements for tournaments, tournament registrations, last minute details, on and on and on ad infinitum! Renee' makes sure that the machine keeps rolling during the season and by March is usually ready for psychiatric help!

This former pom pom team captain from Farmington high school has completed two marathons (St. Louis and Chicago), plays on several softball teams during the summer, and recently earned her bronze coaching certification through USA wrestling! However, a strong supporter of coach Lowry's "Girls can't coach" rule, Renee' has no plans to go matside!

Literally, the job Renee' does is by far the most important to the program and I'd say she loves every minute of it but then again, I'd be lying! So, the next time you have a question and have no idea who to ask, there is a 99.9% chance Renee' is a good place to start!