A bunch of smiles stood out as Chestnut Ridge once again posed for team pictures following Saturday's conclusion of the PIAA state dual meet championships.
That's become the norm with the Lions, who found themselves with another round of medals and a team trophy before they departed Hershey's Giant Center.
Chestnut Ridge finished third in Class AA for the third straight season, and earned its fifth medal overall from the team tournament. The Lions have the three third places along with a runner-up finish in 2015 and a fourth-place effort in 2013.
In eight short years, Chestnut Ridge has transformed itself from one of the stronger programs in the region to among the top two or three on the state's small school level. Only Reynolds, which won its fourth consecutive championship and has medaled in each of the past eight years, has more hardware than the Lions over this time period.
Certainly, there are a number of factors for it that have been well-chronicled before.
A really strong feeder program, a top-notch coaching staff, and a brutal regular season schedule are just a few of them.
But some teams just know how to compete on the big stages, and Chestnut Ridge is one of them. The Lions have found themselves in several big situations in Hershey over the years, and have delivered on more occasions than not.
That's why there's five team trophies sitting in the school right now, and that's why the top teams know when the Lions are standing on the other side of the mat, it's likely going to be a heavyweight fight for every team point available.
It's no secret that success breeds success, and that rings true at Chestnut Ridge, where the wrestling bloodlines often run deeper than the family bloodlines.
I spoke to Calan Bollman after he won the 106-pound title at the Thomas Chevrolet Tournament at Bedford two weeks ago. I asked the talented freshman what he may have learned or seen from previous wrestlers at Chestnut Ridge.
Here was his response: "My (assistant) coach right there (was standing nearby), Tyler Dibert, the Buttry boys (Austin and Conner), they have all helped me. And even Jared (McGill) and Justin (McCoy). I remember watching all of them when I was like six or seven years old, and we would go to tournaments on the weekends. They've just helped a lot with the program and they're giving back to it now."
In that answer, Bollman rattled off a who's who of some of Chestnut Ridge's most decorated wrestlers in its history. Among other things, all that group did was win 12 state medals collectively, including state titles for McCoy (2017) and McGill (2019).
Like many of them, Bollman came to the varsity ranks highly decorated and expected to do big things. And whatever he may have picked up in the past, he's putting to good use with a 30-3 record to date as perhaps the next superstar for the Lions.
That’s just one example of current wrestlers taking a page from those before them. It’s not exclusive to Chestnut Ridge at all, but in this day, the Lion program is taking full advantage of it.
That said, in a team concept, you need everyone to contribute. And Chestnut Ridge gets that too, whether it's an upset win or just staying away from getting pinned or surrendering major bonus points.
Just this weekend, look at Duane Knisely moving up to heavyweight twice and beating a pair of really good kids (Southern Columbia's Lear Quinton and Saucon Valley's Nick Warnke). Or how about Luke Moore's win over Saucon's Thomas Spirk, who was a state medalist last year.
Those are the kind of things that have to happen to do what Chestnut Ridge is doing.
That's what Reynolds does, and if you want to be where the Raiders are, that's what you do.
Honestly, if I had to bet money this past weekend, I would have said I thought this was Southern Columbia's year. But yet again, Reynolds is Reynolds as I've heard so many say in the confines of the Giant Center.
As for the near future, Reynolds will be of course there, Southern Columbia will have a strong group back, Saucon Valley is a mainstay in the medal hunt, Notre Dame wants what it doesn't have yet, and Forest Hills is coming on fast with a young group of high talent already with more on the way.
But don't forget about Chestnut Ridge. Yes, I'd bet on that too.
