Saying Goodbye, for now

   I'm sure many of you have already heard the news that I will be leaving the Bedford Gazette in less than two weeks. I wrote a column about my departure in last Saturday's edition of the paper, and word travels fast in these parts.
   Frankly, I'm a little overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and well wishes I've already received from a number of people. Of course, I also got a couple of looks like "You know it's wrestling season, right?"
   Yes, I do, and it should be another strong one around here.
   I began this blog a few years ago not knowing really if it would take off at all, but it didn't take long for me to realize that it would, thanks to all of you. My mindset was to add more, and different, local content to what I was already being paid to do for the Gazette, while also trying to expand to statewide and even national wrestling matters, mostly on the high school level.
   Covering wrestling for the last 10 years here has been one unbelievable ride. And it's been an absolute honor to get to write about accomplishments such as Chestnut Ridge's first-ever state champion (Gary Pfahler), Bedford's first in 50+ years (Jonathan Gabriel), and Chestnut Ridge's trip to the state team finals in 2015. Obviously, there's so much more on the local level, as well as seeing so many high-level wrestlers around the state. From Zain Retherford and Jason Nolf to Spencer Lee and Gavin Teasdale, the list goes on and on and on.
   Like I said in Saturday's piece in print, there's no way I can thank all of the local sports community enough for their friendship and hospitality over the years.
   As for my next move, I'm departing out of journalism on a full-time basis. Priorities change as we get older sometimes. In reality, writing was never something I thought I'd be in anyway. After one high school season at the local newspaper near my hometown, I moved to Bedford County and enjoyed the last decade immensely.
   I'm proud of what I did here and to get what I did out of it for 11 years. I feel truly blessed to have been a part of such awesome moments, not just in wrestling but in all of local sports.
   So as the new wrestling season begins, I will still be around for the first week of it and plan on seeing a few matches. And if time and needs warrant, I might be at an event to help out.
   To the wrestling community and beyond, thank you.

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   Here's a quick rundown of what I see this year.
   — Numbers, and enthusiasm surrounds many of the local schools as much as ever at places where wrestling has seen a recent downturn. That's good news overall for the sport.
   — Individual success should be very good this season when the state tournament rolls around. Chestnut Ridge has three state placewinners back in Justin McCoy, Jared McGill, and Morgan Deremer. Everett has three state qualifiers in Liam Flaherty, Garret Cornell, and Wes Graham. Cornell and Graham fell one win short of a state medal, as did Northern Bedford's Zach Clark.
   Look for some youngsters to make noise as well. A lot of eyes will be on Bedford native Kaden Cassidy, who is wrestling at Bishop McCort in its first year as a program. Cassidy won a Pennsylvania Junior title last season. Also keep an eye on Northern Bedford's Ian Sherlock, who has some high credentials coming into his freshman year.
 
   I also would like to give a hat tip to Eric Knopsnyder for creating a regional media day that was held this past weekend. While I would have liked to have been there, even though I had already accepted a new job, I chose to spend time home with my family as I have been putting in a lot of time at the Gazette. Eric's idea is so good for the sport, and he promotes wrestling as good as anyone in the state in my opinion.