Top 10 Returning Wrestlers

I've been MIA from this blog for awhile and I apologize, but there's only so much time in the day. But with wrestling season quickly approaching, expect things to pick up here at Spring Into Sports.

To give you a taste, I've made up my list of the top 10 returning wrestlers, regardless of weight class. These are just my opinion and I've added some comments to back my picks up. I have not included any incoming freshman, it wouldn't be fair to do so just yet. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if Bedford ninth-grader Jon Gabriel cracks the list early in the season. Schools included for consideration are Bedford, Chestnut Ridge, Claysburg, Everett, HOPE for Hyndman, Northern Bedford, and Tussey Mountain.

Top 10 Wrestlers

1. Ryan Easter, Bedford - Easily at the top of the list is Easter, who is already a two-time state placewinner with 73 career wins. He is the lone returning state placewinner from this group of schools and the junior lightweight is a solid bet to place again which would make him just the third Bedford wrestler ever to own three state medals. His dad Joel is one of the two so far.

2. Tyler Dibert, Chestnut Ridge - Dibert is closing in on the 100-win mark and should get it in the first two weeks of the season. The Lions senior has won three straight District 5 titles and is a two-time state qualifier.

3. Josh Brown, Claysburg - Brown is the big returnee for Claysburg after the Bulldogs were hit hard by graduation. The CK senior finished second at districts and followed that up by qualifying for his second straight state tournament.

4. Trent Crouse, Chestnut Ridge - Crouse quickly became one of the rising stars with a run in late January and early February that included a pair of wins over Easter and a rout of Beth-Center's Zach Swarrow. Three straight losses (including one to Easter in the district finals) to end the season put a damper on what he accomplished in 2011-12. Now a sophomore, Crouse belongs near the top of this list and I could make the argument that he could be higher than #4 right now.

5. Michael Brett, Bedford - Find yourself in one of his textbook cradles and it's pretty much lights out for you against Brett. He clinched the Bisons' fifth straight District 5 Duals title and also won the Thomas Tournament. Unfortunately, some late season injuries hampered his district and regional tournament outings and he fell short of the state tournament.

6. Garrett Thomas, Bedford - Thomas scored 33 wins last season and should do that much if not more as a junior. A hard-nosed wrestler, he had bad luck last year by being in the same weight class as North Star great Nick Roberts. I expect Thomas to get to the PIAA Tournament this winter, he's too good not to be there.

7. Derrick Claar, Chestnut Ridge - Like Crouse, Claar was one of a handful of Chestnut Ridge youngsters that helped propel the Lions to a Richland Duals title and their first district tournament team championship since 1983. Claar won the 106-pound D5 crown but an 0-2 mark at regionals should have him motivated.

8. Austin Buttry, Chestnut Ridge - Undersized at heavyweight, Buttry made up for it with intangibles and is one of the more mat-savvy wrestlers you will find around. His pin of Somerset's Jake Hayman in the finals of the Richland Duals was the highlight of the season. Buttry gave Chartiers-Houston's Nate Grandelis, who went on to place second at states, a hard battle in a one-point loss at regionals. If Buttry wins that bout, he likely would have made it to Hershey. I see Buttry getting there this year.

9. Drew Gartland, Northern Bedford - If his headlock tackle of North Star's Thomas Miller during the District 5-A football playoffs is any indication, it should be a great season for Gartland, who has shown many flashes of what he can do in the past. The Northern Bedford senior should go over 100 career wins this year and I like his chances to go deep into the postseason.

10. Mason Replogle, Northern Bedford - Tall and lanky, Replogle can be a dangerous opponent in the lighter weights. Like his teammate Gartland, he's shown flashes of being brilliant (remember his major decision of Swarrow two years ago at regionals) and a little more consistency could pay off in a big season for the NB senior.

No doubt, there are some good wrestlers not on the list, and it was a tough call on many of them so let that debate begin.