The Week Ahead in Wrestling

Here's what's on tap for this week, the first full week of local high school wrestling action.

Tuesday
Somerset at Bedford
Mount Union at Everett
Claysburg at Juniata Valley
Northern Bedford at Southern Huntingdon

Bedford opens defense of its Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference championship against Somerset, who took the Bisons to the wire last year in its home gym in the regular season. The news going into this match is more of who's not on each roster this year, notably Josiah Koontz for Bedford (not wrestling) and Michael Sutton for Somerset (moved). The Golden Eagles finished fifth in the Philipsburg Tournament over the past weekend. Notable there was Jacob Nickelson's title at 195, where he beat Moshannon Valley's James Stodart in a marquee finals matchup.

Thursday
Chestnut Ridge at North Star
Southern Huntingdon at Claysburg
Juniata Valley at Everett
Northern Bedford at Central
Mount Union at Tussey Mountain

Chestnut Ridge opens its season at North Star. The Lions took two from the Cougars last year. Elsewhere, Northern Bedford at Central provides intrigue from a coaching standpoint as Central's new head coach is Mike Shippy, who guided Northern's junior high team for years with plenty of success. Shippy is assisted this year by the great Jan Clark, who formerly was the head coach at Central, Northern Bedford, and Tussey Mountain. Central had a nice third-place showing at the Claysburg Pizza Tournament.

Friday and/or Saturday
King of the Mountain at Central Mountain
ICC North/South Duals at Moshannon Valley
Sheetz Holiday Classic at Penn Cambria
Mount Carmel Tournament

The highlight here is the King of the Mountain, where Bedford makes another trip to. This has become one of the premier tournaments in the country, and this year, Bethlehem Catholic, Cumberland Valley, and Fort LeBoeuf join an already star-studded field. Also, Cuyahoga Valley Christian of Ohio is entered which means a chance to see the #1 wrestler in the country at 120 pounds, Nathan Tomasello. Tomasello is an Ohio State recruit.

Chestnut Ridge visits the Mount Carmel Tournament, Claysburg and HOPE for Hyndman are in the Sheetz Classic, and Everett, Northern Bedford, and Tussey Mountain take part in the ICC Duals.

I am expecting to have more on the King of the Mountain, including some predictions, later in the week.