Cassidy flexes muscles in GMU debut

  NCAA DI preseason: McCoy moving up, McGill seeks a fresh start  

   The more things change, the more they stay the same.

   For Kaden Cassidy, that means a new zip code and a different level of competition. But the results of George Mason University's wrestleoffs on Friday night showed much of the usual dominance that we saw throughout Cassidy's stellar high school career that produced a 106-7 record with three top-3 state finishes including his 2020 PIAA Class AA title.

   During his senior season at Bedford, Cassidy rung up 24 technical falls among his 38 wins, and he was back to the old tricks as a George Mason freshman with a pair of techs to solidify himself as the 141-pound starter when the Patriots begin their season next weekend.

   Cassidy bookended the wrestleoffs with his victories, winning the opening match by a 20-4 count against three-time Pennsylvania state medalist Nathan Higley before a 16-0 shutout of Shawn Nonaka to close out the proceedings.

   With an eye already towards March, Cassidy said himself that it's "back to work tomorrow."

   "My goal is (to be an) All-American at NCAA's," said Cassidy. "I think if I wrestle my best and get better at my weaknesses, I can do that."

   Cassidy also offered his thoughts on what makes collegiate wrestling a different game from that of the high school variety.

   "I would say the biggest difference in college wrestling is that everyone is good for the first three minutes," he said. "The last four minutes of the match is where the better wrestler separates himself."

   Cassidy greyshirted at George Mason last year but kept up with his wrestling and conditioning before transitioning this fall to being on campus. He also took part in several mixed martial arts competitions, and is trying to reap the benefits of that as it pertains to being on the mat.

   "MMA helps with the handfighting aspect of wrestling," he said. "There's nothing compared to a grown man throwing punches at you, so it helps with the hand fights."

   Speaking of changes, former Chestnut Ridge standouts Justin McCoy and Jared McGill are also in the news.

   McCoy will enter his third year of varsity action at the University of Virginia, but it will be a new look with him moving from 157 to 165 pounds. The two-time NCAA qualifier and returning Atlantic Coast Conference runner-up is ranked 20th in the preseason 165-pound poll by Intermat.

   Meanwhile, McGill will not be wrestling for the University of Pittsburgh this winter after opting to enter the transfer portal. He went 11-10 overall at Pitt between his redshirt and freshman seasons at 174, but in a September quote to Pittsburgh Sports Now said "things didn't work out at Pitt", and "I'm going to find a new home and a good fit for me."

Remembering Rob Reed

    Most high school athletic programs have at least one person that is that go-to in any situation type.

   Rob Reed fit that category at Northern Bedford. His warm personality also made him a favorite throughout the Black Panthers’ profile in local sports.

   Reed, who unexpectedly passed away last week, has been fondly remembered over the past several days.

   I didn’t know Rob too well, but it was always nice to chat with him for a few minutes. Most of our interactions took place on the football sidelines, where Reed served as an assistant coach. 

   He would usually ask me about other games that particular night. At NBC, cell phone service is spotty at best, so I didn’t always have the score or any information, but I would do my best to seek it out. I do remember that Rob would often ask about Bedford or Chestnut Ridge, more so than Northern’s local rivals in the Inter-County Conference. 

   One other thing I’ll remember about Reed was his willingness to help out the younger or more inexperienced players on the Panther sidelines. This was mentioned by Northern Bedford head coach Garry Black in a piece for the Altoona Mirror, and also stated on the team’s Facebook page in announcing his passing. I saw that aspect of his teaching/coaching ability first hand on many occasions. 

   Also on the Facebook page, it was noted that Reed wore blue pants on at least a couple of game nights, which gave me a laugh. I also own some blue pants and have worn them quite often, including I’m sure at Panther Community Stadium at some point or another. Rob wore them for a game with Williamsburg, whose colors are blue and white. He said he was color blind. I’m not, as of yet and I try to only wear them at a game when both teams have blue or neither team does, but it gave me a smile and a chuckle to have something in common, at least a little bit.

   If and when I get to Northern Bedford for an athletic event again, I’ll miss the friendly face that Rob Reed was. My condolences go to his family and friends.

   

Remembering Cory Isenberg

    The most prominent word I would use to describe Cory Isenberg is “dedicated.”

   Throughout her sportswriting career, Cory was exactly that and so much more. And that is why the news of her passing on Wednesday night was met with a wealth of fond memories and admiration for the longtime Johnstown Tribune-Democrat scribe.

   Cory died at age 64 after courageously battling cancer for the third time in her life. 

   I didn’t know her that well outside of the sports media world, but I always enjoyed the moments and events when our paths crossed. 

   At the state track and field championships every May, Cory and I would usually sit near each other under the media tent at Shippensburg University, as I regularly covered the first day of the meet for the Bedford Gazette. We never planned it that way, it was just one of those quirky things that you tend to sit in the same place each year. I’ll always remember her pleasant, upbeat attitude whether we were discussing the day’s happenings at the state championships or local district playoffs in baseball and softball that also take place in that same timeframe.

   One other quick story about Cory comes from the 2012 Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference football media day. It was held at Greater Johnstown High School, and was just a day or two after Clearville native Natalie Dell (O’Brien) had won a bronze medal at the London Olympics, of which I had written a front page feature for the Gazette. I can’t remember Cory’s exact words upon greeting me, but she was so elated for Natalie and for me as well to capture that moment even though it wasn’t her story or one in her coverage area. She always displayed that positive attitude and was just a pleasant personality to chat with and share interview time with coaches and athletes.

   And Cory wasn’t a great female sports reporter, she was a great sports reporter. Period. Man, Woman, it does not matter.

   That said, she was a trailblazer for female sports media personalities in this area. Go back just a few years and see how many women were (and many still are) involved with one of either the newspapers or television stations that cover District 5 and 6 schools. I won’t list them because I would probably forget someone, but I’ve always thought it was pretty impressive to have so many females covering sports, and all very well I might add, from this part of Pennsylvania. 

   And Cory was a big part of the beginning of that, whether she wanted the accolades or not.

   In my full-time sportswriting days, I felt like I had the passion and dedication similar to what Cory displayed. And yet I only made it to about a third of the time as her 35 years in the business. Why?

   Simple answer: There will never be another Cory Isenberg.

   My prayers and thoughts are with Cory’s family, friends, and colleagues at the Tribune-Democrat.

Girls Wrestling growing fast in PA

    The total number of girls participating in wrestling has grown nationally for 29 straight years.

    While that has included the wrestling-rich state of Pennsylvania, the past 12 months have seen the Commonwealth gain even more steam on that front, with a number of girls varsity programs having formed alongside their boys' teams.

    Early last year, a task force (of which I am part of) made up of coaches, school administrators, wrestling parents, and other wrestling representatives was formed with the ultimate goal of sanctioning the sport in Pennsylvania, meaning that the PIAA would recognize girls wrestling as an official sport and thus hold a state tournament. 

     Currently, PIAA by-laws state that 100 varsity teams must be formed to have the sport be considered for sanctioning. In mid-March of 2020, Lancaster's J.P. McCaskey became the first school to start a girls varsity program. Even with Covid-19 causing so many issues as we all know, that decision opened the gates for others to follow. In order, Easton (District 11), Executive Education Academy (District 11), North Allegheny (District 7), Central Mountain (District 6), Governor Mifflin (District 3), Annville-Cleona (District 3), Gettysburg (District 3), and Brandywine Heights (District 3) have all formed girls teams. 

     "Within the first six months of our initiative, and during a pandemic, eight teams (Brandywine Heights since) formed and many more have expressed significant interest," said Brooke Zumas, who is the chairperson of SanctionPA and a creator of the task force. "The fact that this was achieved when schools were shut down, school board meetings were virtual, and many schools halted funding speaks to the momentum and support that girls wrestling has across our state."

     Zumas, who coaches girls in wrestling at Parkland High School near Allentown, knew the effort could seem daunting at first, thus the task force was born.

     "In Pennsylvania, we saw a need to work collaboratively to continue to grow the sport and work towards sanctioning," she said. "As a group, we're focused on advocacy and education, especially educating coaches and schools about girls wrestling and helping schools to form teams."

     The idea of a girls wrestling team was an easy sell to the powers that be at Central Mountain, which announced its program was a go in early September.

     "Our school district and community were very supportive of sponsoring a girls wrestling program from the very beginning," said Wildcats' head coach Biff Walizer. "Our director of athletics, superintendent, principals, Central Mountain wrestling booster club, and school board members were all eager to have one of the first sponsored programs in the state, and to help lead the charge in getting girls wrestling officially sanctioned by the PIAA."

     Just prior to the beginning of the 2020-21 high school boys season, the task force rolled out a new initiative, #4GirlsWrestling, as a hopeful way to increase overall numbers among the girls. The goal is to get as many schools as possible to have at least four girls competing on the wrestling team. 

     But regardless of how its being done, girls wrestling is increasing exponentially. Zumas reports that 295 girls were listed on official rosters this year, including 41 freshmen that were part of a boys junior high team. That number is up from 229 last season.

     Girls tournaments across the state have taken place nearly every weekend for the last few months, and upcoming events include a PAUSAW (Pennsylvania USA Wrestling) sponsored state tournament on March 21 at the Spooky Nook complex in Lancaster.

     Locally in Bedford County, all of the school districts that have boys teams had at least one girl on a junior high or varsity roster. That includes Northern Bedford, where a strong girls wrestling club is already in place, making the Loysburg school a potential groundbreaker at some point for the first junior high or varsity girls program in this area.

     Jordyn Fouse, an eighth-grader at Northern Bedford, will be a name to know for the next few years in boys or girls wrestling on the local scene. Having competed since she was 5 years old, it didn't take long for her to love the sport.

     "I have always looked up to my brother (Alex, a three-year varsity starter, now wrestling at Shippensburg University), and when I saw that he was doing it, I knew I had to," she said. "So I quit dance after two weeks and started wrestling.

     "Wrestling is overall an awesome sport and I enjoy everything about it. A few things that stick out to me are the lessons it teaches you. You have to give it your all every single second when you are on the mat. It's also a sport that really shows if you put in the work, many amazing things come out of it. One of the best things about wrestling is all the amazing people you meet because the wrestling community is just one very big family."

     While Fouse already owned several high-level accomplishments, the current season has brought more notoriety. Among the highlights are a Powerade Junior Tournament championship, a victory in the prestigious Tulsa Nationals, and winning the Mountain Conference Tournament this past weekend and being named that event's outstanding wrestler.

     "Winning Tulsa Nationals and Mountain Conference are some of my favorites," said Fouse. "Nine years ago, I never would have thought I would be traveling to different states to do the thing I love."

     Her athletic ability aside, Fouse's comments about girls wrestling overall make her a perfect example of what the task force desires for so many all across Pennsylvania.

    "With how big girls wrestling has grown in PA and especially in my area, I take that as a huge accomplishment," she said. "When I started wrestling, there was maybe only one other girl in this area wrestling. The 2019-20 girls program at my school had about 30 girls. Knowing that they wouldn't be able to experience the amazing sport if I didn't work hard to get it going throughout the years is huge to me."

     As for SanctionPA, it's full steam ahead.

    "Participation numbers will continue to increase and one day, hopefully soon, girls wrestling will be an official sport in Pennsylvania," said Zumas. "In the meantime, the girls will continue to represent our state well within Pennsylvania and at the national level. I fully believe as we look ahead to the day that the sport is sanctioned in every state, Pennsylvania will be the best state in the country for both boys and girls wrestling."

     

McCoy earns second straight NCAA berth

    The Virginia Way is a popular hashtag phrase used by the University of Virginia's wrestling program whenever it publishes a post on Twitter.

    And for Justin McCoy, that way will land at a familiar, but not so familiar, destination next month. On Sunday, the former Chestnut Ridge star and current Cavaliers' sophomore finished as the 157-pound runner-up in the Atlantic Coast Conference championships which were held at N.C. State. Seeded second, McCoy defeated Virginia Tech's Connor Brady, 8-6, in the semifinals before dropping a 12-3 major to top-seeded and former NCAA finalist Hayden Hidlay of the host Wolfpack. As an ACC finalist, McCoy also earned all-conference honors.

    The semifinal win was good enough to take McCoy to his second straight NCAA Division I Tournament, which will be held in St. Louis in three weeks. 

    McCoy is 9-2 this season with both losses to Hidlay. He has been ranked between 15th and 20th at the weight by most publications and was 16th by Intermat prior to the conference tournament.

    "The season has gone pretty well so far," McCoy said just a couple of hours after the ACC Tournament. "It's been a little different having a shorter season, but there's some pros and cons to it. I've definitely cherished every match that I've been able to compete in just because it's a short season. I think I've wrestled well, but I'm definitely always looking to improve. I know I have to get better to beat the top kids in the country."

    Familiar in that it will be a second time in as many tries to reach college wrestling's marquee event, but not so familiar in that it will be McCoy's first time to step on one of the eight mats at the national championships. After placing fourth in the ACC tourney last year, McCoy was ready to go for the NCAA meet in Minneapolis. However, the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States forced the cancellation of most anything sports related throughout the late winter and spring. 

   Wrestling can be as much mental as physical, and McCoy hopes a better mindset in 2021 can help him get to where he wants to go.

    "An area I think I've improved is my confidence," he said. "I've realized that I can wrestle with anyone in the country, and score from any position. But that's still something I need to keep improving on, especially against the best guys. I think I've also gotten better at re-attacks off of my opponent's offense."

    With Covid-19 protocols still limiting attendance and changing the overall atmosphere of events, McCoy has taken it in stride.

    "It really has been a lot different without fans. It's a little disappointing, but I try to make the best of it. I just try to focus on myself and what I need to do."

    That will be the case in St. Louis, where crowds are expected to be capped at 25-percent of the capacity of the Enterprise Center. Nonetheless, McCoy is set to make final preparations for what he hopes could land him his first NCAA medal.

   "I think a lot of the work has already been put in," he said. "My coaches and I will likely break down a lot of film on myself and make sure I'm crisp and ready to go. I'm sure we will also break down film on my first-round opponent."

   The brackets for the NCAA Division I Tournament will be released on March 10.

   McCoy's former Chestnut Ridge teammate, Jared McGill, also competed in the ACC Tournament on Sunday. A redshirt freshman at Pitt, McGill lost a pair of close bouts to finish his collegiate season. At 174 pounds, McGill dropped an 8-6 overtime decision in the quarterfinals and then was defeated 3-1 by one of McCoy's college teammates, Vic Marcelli, in the consolation semifinals.

   

   

      

Remembering Tyler Chesney and Dick Fisher

    Two more Bedford County natives, Tyler Chesney and Dick Fisher, that I have fond memories of have passed away in the last several days and weeks. Sadly, my most recent postings to this blog are of the same variety. I apologize for the lateness on this as I have wanted to write some words about each of them, but just haven't found the time to sit down and type. That said, both Chesney and Fisher deserve my thoughts.

   Chesney is one of the more decorated wrestlers in Northern Bedford history, as he put together a varsity record of 119-21, never losing more than six bouts in any of the four years. In 2009, Chesney joined an exclusive group of District 5 wrestlers by winning his fourth district championship. 

   That senior postseason for Chesney is something I remember most about him. In my years of covering the sport, the 125-pound bracket for the District 5 Tournament at Windber Area High School was as good as I've seen on paper. Chesney was the top seed, followed by Bedford's Devin Cook, North Star's Joey Lascari, and Hyndman's Levi Hosselrode in that order. For perspective, Chesney was a two-time state qualifier and a state medalist, while Cook and Lascari would each win two state medals in their careers. And Hosselrode was perhaps a step below those three, but still a tough competitor. The semifinal round went as expected with Chesney meeting Hosselrode and Cook drawing Lascari. 

   Right off the opening whistle, Chesney caught Hosselrode with an ankle pick and converted it for a quick takedown on his way to a 10-3 decision that I thought was a closer matchup that what that score ended up. Cook defeated Lascari on the other mat to set up the final. After the semifinal round was over, I said to WAYC Sports color commentator John Topper that I loved Chesney's aggressiveness from the start. That wasn't normally Chesney's style from my point of view, but he set the tone right away. He parlayed that into a 3-1 victory over Cook for the history-making achievement. 

   After a regional runner-up finish, Chesney eyed his first state medal the next weekend in Hershey. But he lost his first-round match and now had to battle just to have a shot at the podium. Chesney reeled off five consecutive victories, which is no easy thing to do. That included a 1-0 win over Cook in the consolations before avenging his regional final loss to Tyrone's Ronnie Garbinsky, 12-7 for third place in the state. As aforementioned, Chesney was almost always the winner on the mat and those last days in a Northern Bedford singlet cemented that status.

   Fisher had retired as athletic director at Chestnut Ridge just prior to my time at the Bedford Gazette, but I got to know him a little bit in seeing him at any number of Lions' sporting events as well as the annual Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame banquets. Fisher was inducted to the Hall in 2019. While I didn't know Fisher well, many of the remembrances I've seen of him this past week echo the same thoughts I have about him - a warm and engaging personality, professional, doing what's best for the athletes. 

   Whenever we chatted, those types of qualities stood out. Former Chestnut Ridge volleyball coach Wendy Miller called Fisher "one of the good guys," and I would say that certainly rings true.

Remembering Kai Burkett

    The local wrestling community suffered another tough round of news with the tragic loss of Chestnut Ridge's Kai Burkett last night.

    A senior, Burkett was pronounced dead on the scene of a two-car accident late Friday in Napier Township. State police in Bedford reported that Burkett swerved to avoid debris in the roadway before losing control of his vehicle and being struck by a vehicle coming in the opposite direction. The driver and passenger of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries. All three involved were wearing seat belts.

   Burkett had put together a stellar three-year varsity wrestling career with the Lions, including three District 5 individual championships and a pair of state medals, fifth place in both his sophomore and junior seasons. He had a 106-22 record, and was a key member of Chestnut Ridge's last three teams that all earned medals at the PIAA Class AA Duals. Burkett was also a member of the school's golf team.

   One word that I've used to describe Burkett's wrestling is consistent. I felt like every time I watched him, I knew what I would see from him, win or lose. He wrestled smart, stayed in good position, and he had one of the best tilts in the area. Even if opponents saw it coming, he'd hit it and often for multiple sets of nearfalls.

   Similar to his older brother Aaron, Burkett displayed a quiet demeanor around the mat. But on the couple of occasions I interviewed him, he was very personable and knowledgeable about the sport. 

   Though I hadn't spoken to Kai recently, both my family and the Burkett family attend the same church. But his name, as expected, came up in an informal conversation I had a few weeks ago with Chestnut Ridge head coach Josh Deputy, who is also Burkett's uncle. I asked the question about incoming prospects to the varsity team, so we chatted about the Lions' vaunted lightweights and where wrestlers might fit in. Of course, that included Burkett front and center.

   News of Burkett's passing spread quickly across social media. A number of former and current teammates as well as numerous other wrestlers along with several regional wrestling programs offered their condolences.

   Below are a few from Twitter:

   From Nathan Holderbaum, three-year varsity teammate who also posted a photo of he and Burkett warming up before wrestling: "I can't express the amount of pain I feel. Fly high Kai, love you brother."

   From Dave Marko, Central coach: "Prayers go out to the Chestnut Ridge wrestling family and the Burkett's from both my family and the Central Dragon wrestling family. Words can't express the sadness for your loss." 

   From Hannah Hutzell, Chestnut Ridge graduate and wrestling fan: "The Burkett's are some of the most selfless, humble, genuine, and kind people on the face of the Earth... my heart breaks for them... they always rally around community members in need... now it's OUR TURN to support them."

   Unfortunately, a senior season with so much potential for Burkett won't happen. My heartfelt prayers and sympathies go out to the Burkett's, the Deputy's, and the entire Chestnut Ridge wrestling family.