Tuesday, October 28, 2014

An Early Look

   As you can see by the handy countdown clock I've posted on the blog, we are less than 20 days away from the official start of high school wrestling practices. Of course, with wrestling becoming more and more of a year-round sport, most kids and coaches (and media such as myself) have been gearing up for days and weeks if not months at this point.
   I see that Eric Knopsnyder is preparing a master list of teams and returning wrestlers from around this area for publishing on his blog, Knop's Knotes, in the near future. Eric does a great job with this, and I'm sure that he would agree with Tom Elling getting a huge hat tip for his annual work in his Pennsylvania Wrestling Handbook. It is an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to be connected to the sport. For anyone interested in obtaining a copy of this year's book, visit www.pawrsl.com and go to the link he has listed for ordering. I believe there are still copies available.
   As was the case last year, I leave that heavy lifting to Eric. I began my blog a year after him and my vision never was to be a competitor to him, rather just an extra resource in the area to discuss the sport. My real job at the Bedford Gazette has its limitations, as the paper is not readily available at most locations outside of Bedford County, and our website is fully subscription based. Aside from trying to provide the best local coverage I can in the Gazette and on here, I do like to discuss wrestling topics from around the region and around the state. From the response I've received from many of you, I feel confident that the blog has become an additional place to visit for information and opinion.
   I haven't always been sure how many of the Somerset and/or Cambria County folks, those who are more in Eric's coverage area, were frequenting my site over the past few years. But I did hear last night that Eric's parents, two of Berlin's finest sports fans whom I've never met, asked about me and whether my blog would still be up and running this season. Maybe I should ask them which blog they like better. (Just kidding, Eric)
  Whatever the case, I appreciate the support, whether you're from Meyersdale, Patton, Saxton or anywhere in between.
   Again, get Elling's book or see an upcoming post on Eric's blog for team information. But here's some of my opening thoughts as the season approaches quickly:

Chestnut Ridge or Berlin
   So who will reign in District 5? - Chestnut Ridge and Berlin are the likely players again. The Lions welcome back a lot of firepower, with state medalist Aaron Burkett included from last season and Greg Lazor's bunch should be very formidable if all the weights figure themselves out. Many are also anxiously awaiting the debut of Chestnut Ridge freshman Justin McCoy, as am I.
   Berlin returns three state qualifiers and some strong talent itself. The Mountaineers did take a hit though with the offseason transfer of upperweight Nate Zanoni to Somerset.

Marko Returns to Varsity Mats
   After a year away on the varsity level, veteran coach Dave Marko is back in the head chair as the coach at Martinsburg Central. The former Claysburg head, who built the Bulldog program into a perennial small-school power, inherits a good nucleus at Central that should include the return of Jordan Quarello, who showed promise as a freshman before sitting out last year with an injury.

Looking Ahead
   For anyone wanting to see a glance at the state's Class AA Team Bracket for 2015, here it is. Remember that Bethlehem Catholic (District 11) will be in Class AAA for the next two years.


See You Soon
   Stay tuned for more on this blog as my time warrants and expect full coverage once the season begins.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Claysburg Dual Tourney coming together

    Claysburg-Kimmel will be hosting a dual meet tournament on January 17, and is looking for at least one team and possibly up to three more. There are seven teams in the field currently: Claysburg, Central, Forest Hills, Glendale, Marion Center, Johnstown, and Juniata Valley.
    Please contact CK head coach Dave Aungst at 814-381-5860 if interested.
    This tournament basically replaces the Glendale Duals, which were cancelled for this season. Instead, Glendale will go to Claysburg and many of the other teams that were on the card for that event are coming also.

Monday, October 13, 2014

PA kids in national rankings

    In the latest edition of WIN Magazine, plenty of Pennsylvania wrestlers are listed in the outlet's Preseason National Rankings (Top 20 at each weight). Those kids are below:

106 Pounds
16. Matt Parker, Pennridge (Class AAA)
17. Max Murin, Central Cambria (Class AA)
20. Gavin Teasdale, Jefferson-Morgan (Class AA)

113 Pounds
1. Devin Brown, Franklin Regional (Class AAA)
20. Trent Olson, Wyoming Seminary (Prep)

120 Pounds
1. Spencer Lee, Franklin Regional (Class AAA)
6. Jack Mueller, Wyoming Seminary (Prep)
13. Luke Karam, Bethlehem Catholic (Class AAA)

126 Pounds
2. Luke Pletcher, Latrobe (Class AAA)
20. George Phillippi, Derry (Class AA)

132 Pounds
3. A.C. Headlee, Waynesburg Central (Class AAA)
13. Sam Krivus, Hempfield (Class AAA)

138 Pounds
4. Cameron Coy, Penn-Trafford (Class AAA)

145 Pounds
2. Vincenzo Joseph, Pittsburgh Central Catholic (Class AAA)
4. Michael Kemerer, Franklin Regional (Class AAA)
6. Patrick Duggan, Cumberland Valley (Class AAA)
17. Hayden Hidlay, Mifflin County (Class AAA)
18. Jared Verkleeren, Belle Vernon (Class AAA)

152 Pounds
4. Josh Shields, Franklin Regional (Class AAA)
12. Billy Barnes, Southern Columbia (Class AA)
13. Cole Walter, Mifflinburg (Class AA)
17. D.J. Hollingshead, Altoona (Class AAA)

160 Pounds
3. Chris Weiler, Wyoming Seminary (Prep)
4. Zach Kelly, Kiski School (Prep)
5. Josh Maruca, Franklin Regional (Class AAA)

170 Pounds
5. Nick Reenan, Wyoming Seminary (Prep)
16. J.J. Walker, South Fayette (Class AA)

182 Pounds
10. Christian Dietrich, Wyoming Seminary (Prep)
12. Dylan Reynolds, Saegertown (Class AA)
15. Kellan Stout, Mt. Lebanon (Class AAA)

195 Pounds
5. L.J. Barlow, Haverford (Prep)
6. Jan Johnson, Governor Mifflin (Class AAA)

220 Pounds
3. Jordan Wood, Boyertown (Class AAA)
11. Buzzy Maines, West Branch (Class AA)
12. Andrew Dunn, Bethlehem Catholic (Class AAA)

285 Pounds
11. Michael Rogers, Wyoming Seminary (Prep)
20. Allan Beattie, Burrell (Class AA)

Notes
   - Have heard Teasdale at 106 is an absolute stud, and I've seen him much higher in other polls, so a little surprised here that he's the third PA wrestler ranked there. Murin won a D6 and SW Region title before placing fifth at AA states. Parker, one spot above, lost in his SE AAA regional quarterfinal and didn't get to states last season. I realize that most of these magazines/websites utilize offseason events as ranking criteria, so maybe Parker's done something big that I don't know about.

   - Remember that Bethlehem Catholic is up in AAA this season and next, so Karam and Dunn will be wrestling in college before the locals have to deal with them again.

   - Nice to see the region (meaning D5 and D6) represented well with Murin, Hidlay, Hollingshead, and Maines.

   - Not sure if Rogers is a legit 285 in weight since he went the prep school way, but I remember the former Penns Valley standout competing more in the 170-182 range a couple of years ago.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Sines taking over Hornets

    Chadd Sines will still be coaching wrestling in District 5, but he'll be working out of a different zip code this coming season.
   The former Meyersdale coach is the new head man at HOPE for Hyndman Charter School, where he takes over for Jake Snyder, who stepped down after the 2013-14 season.
    Sines, who is also now employed by the Bedford County school as a science teacher, inherits a program that is low in numbers but does have some individual talent. Expected back are four wrestlers - Cameron Gibbner, Tanner Clites, Robby Snyder, and Brandon Greise - that each won at least 19 bouts last winter.
    Taking over for Sines at Meyersdale is Mike Swick, who was an assistant coach with the Red Raiders. Swick should get off to a nice start in his stint as he has top wrestlers in district champion Ty Smith, district runner-up Christian Hutzell, and Brady McKenzie expected to return.