Weekly Review and Preview: Jan 5

   The first full week of January here offers some interesting dual meets. Certainly headlining that lineup is Chestnut Ridge at Berlin, scheduled for tomorrow night, though word is now that the weather forecast is for 2-4 inches of snow by midday on Tuesday. So we'll see what happens.
   I am planning a capsule preview of the match and hope to have that up later tonight or early tomorrow.
   The Lions home match with Somerset that was supposed to happen Saturday will now take place on February 14.
   There isn't much to review as HOPE for Hyndman was the only one of my locals to compete over the weekend. The Hornets wrapped up the Fort Hill Super Duals on Saturday with a fourth-place finish. In a 48-15 loss to Northern Garrett, an individual result of note was at 132 pounds, where NG's Justin Opel beat Hyndman's Tanner Clites 2-0. I saw Clites a little on Friday and he seems to be improved and stronger, and props for this result despite the loss. Opel is a returning state runner-up and is ranked third in Maryland at the weight this season.
   Is Maryland as good as Pennsylvania? No, but Clites could be someone to keep an eye on for the postseason. As for Opel, we should see him going for a third Thomas Tournament medal at the Bedford event later this month.
   Around the state, the Tool City Tournament took place at Meadville. General McLane won the team title by a comfortable margin over Boiling Springs. The District 3 power was still without a few of its top wrestlers.
   One of the individual champs at Tool City for Boiling Springs was Kyle Shoop at 138 pounds. In a matchup of the top two in the state according to Mark Dugan's Off the Mat Rankings, Shoop posted a 5-2 win over Saegertown's Tyler Vath.
   Here's a rundown of this week's action in my coverage area:

Tonight's Match
   HOPE for Hyndman at Northern Garrett

Tuesday's Matches
   Penn Cambria at Bedford
   Chestnut Ridge at Berlin
   Claysburg at Tussey Mountain
   Bellwood at Northern Bedford

Wednesday's Match
   HOPE for Hyndman at Frankfort

Thursday's Matches
   Somerset at Bedford
   Chestnut Ridge at Northern Bedford
   Everett at Claysburg
   HOPE for Hyndman and Southern Garrett at Meyersdale
   Tussey Mountain at Bellwood

Friday's Match
   Claysburg at Chestnut Ridge

Saturday's Tournaments
   Bloody Run Duals at Everett (Everett, Tussey Mountain)
   Mountaineer Duals at Berlin (HOPE for Hyndman)

   Also, I did want to offer congratulations on here to former Hyndman star wrestler and coach Jake Snyder. Jake and his wife welcomed a baby girl to the world and it was the first baby of 2015 to be born at UPMC Bedford Memorial.
   Jake and I nearly had something else besides the love for wrestling in common, as my wife and I were close to the New Year's baby for 2014. My son was born with 26 hours and change remaining in 2013.