High School Wrestling Preview: Mid-Penn Colonial

by Patriot News Staff Report

Posted on December 6, 2007

BIG SPRING Bulldogs

Coach: Richard Hilleary. 2006-07 record: 11-5 (6-2 division).

The big picture: The Bulldogs have been nibbling around the edges of success in the Colonial Division, handling the lesser lights but unable to chase down dogs bigger than themselves. There's a chance that could change this year. The Bulldogs will have a lineup full of veterans and have the requisite star in senior Mallie Shuster, a two-time District 3-AAA champion who redefines the word "focus." The Bulldogs will find out their status soon enough; they host Cumberland Valley tonight in a match that could very well decide the division championship.

Top returnees: Colten Keck (23-13, soph, light), Justin Morris (22-12, sr, light), Tyler Jumper (7-6, sr), Ryan Irvin (21-12, jr, middle), Chad Johnson (3-11, jr, middle), Luke Etter (20-11, soph, middle), Mallie Shuster (43-2, PIAA AAA 3rd at 145, sr, upper), Saul Cohick (3-17, jr, upper), Michael Stoudt (16-14, jr, upper), Ben Smith (13-9, sr, upper), Travis Bahrt (20-11, sr, upper), Josh Myers (13-15, jr, upper)

CARLISLE Thundering Herd

Coach: Joe Wilson. 2006-07 record: 8-13 (2-6 division).

The big picture: The Thundering Herd is quite young this year, but that's cause for celebration. Last year, the Herd was extremely young, and it showed more often than not in an 8-13 season. But the Herd also came on strong late in the season, winning six of its final 10 matches. Most of those youthful wrestlers return and are helped by the transfer of two-year starter Alex Crown from Mechanicsburg. Things are looking up.

Top returnees: Matt McCollum (25-11, sr, light), Matt Willow (6-17, jr, light), Alex Crown (13-17, jr, light), Josh Lynch (15-14, jr, middle), Bryant Foster (8-12, jr, middle), Andrew Witherite (15-11, sr, upper), Pat Towery (7-21, jr, upper), Greg Wuestner (14-16, jr, upper), Greg Tate (10-20, jr, upper), Austin Morrow (5-8, jr, upper)

CHAMBERSBURG Trojans

Coach: Doug Rine. 2006-07 record: 4-13 (1-7 division).

The big picture: The Trojans were much like Carlisle, young and inexperienced across the board with a just few top-tier guys to break the mold. But there's no question Chambersburg will be better this year; the question is how much. It would be a stretch to see Chambersburg in the top half of the standings at season's end, but there's some nice postseason talent available to Rine, especially tough sophomore Jimmy Hughes.

Top returnees: Chase Wenger (19-12, soph, light), Jimmy Hughes (31-6, soph, light), Tim Sharrow (12-15, jr, light), Alex Young (8-20, jr, middle), Ryan Miracle (11-19, jr, middle), Joey Wilmot (31-6, sr, middle), Alex Swartz (16-12, sr, upper); Ray Setaro (6-14, jr, upper), Mike Hamilton (8-12, sr, upper).

CUMBERLAND VALLEY Eagles

Coach: Dave Heckard. 2006-07 record: 22-4, third in PIAA Class AAA Team Championships (7-1 division).

The big picture: CV's surprising and joyful run through the consolation bracket at the PIAA Team Championships was a reason for considerable celebration last year and optimism this year. Some of that hope has been temporarily doused by the absence of returning District 3-AAA 152-pound champion Mike Evans (45-5, soph), whose lower leg fracture will keep him shelved for most of December. But the Eagles return a solid pack of talent -- including much-improved Top Hat champion Travis Friend (215) -- that is formidable even without Evans in the lineup. Plenty of good things await the Eagles.

Top returnees: Ian Ritchie (18-25, jr, light), Zach Mayberry (jr, light), Luke Walker (14-14, jr, light), David Rattay (10-11, jr, middle), Nate Zeff (sr, middle), Tom Wiechelt (25-18, sr, middle), Bryce Busler (20-8, jr, middle), Joey Napoli (37-8, jr, middle), Tristan Warner (25-15, soph, middle), Mike Evans (45-5, soph, upper), Travis Friend (13-13, soph, upper)

GETTYSBURG Warriors

Coach: Perry Smith. 2006-07 record: 3-15 (1-7 division).

The big picture: That was a pretty bumpy ride the Warriors had last year, and it's a 50-50 proposition as to whether it will improve this year. Gettysburg is without an established stopper in the lineup, and even though some of the returning starters are decent, there's not quite enough of them to forecast a grand improvement.

Top returnees: Justin Amato (16-19, soph, light), Ryan Warner (16-16, jr, middle), Sean Shelleman (10-21, jr, middle), Bryce Shaffer (21-14, jr, upper), D.J. Cool (14-9, sr, upper), Zach Mencl (jr, 215)

MECHANICSBURG Wildcats

Coach: Roger Barrick. 2006-07 record: 12-8 (4-4 division).

The big picture: The big news was the offseason departure of former head coach Burt Cashman (now living in Maryland) and the re-emergence of former Susquenita and Cumberland Valley head coach Roger Barrick, who has been a winner wherever he's been. He'll have to to polish up that magic wand quickly; the Wildcats have a fairly empty shelf, and Crown's transfer to Carlisle didn't help matters.

Top returnees: Carson Mowery (7-14, jr, light), Jude Wenerick (3-4, sr, light), Evan Baer (27-11, jr, middle), Adam Tuttle (9-9, jr, middle), Raheem West (10-15, sr, upper), Dan Estricher (25-12, sr, upper)

NORTHERN Polar Bears

Coach: Fred DeLuca. 2006-07 record: 19-3 (7-1 division).

The big picture: The resignation of state and District 3 hall of fame coach Clair Rudisill was a preseason shocker, stripping away one of the midstate's constants over the last three decades. Into these huge shoes steps long-time assistant Fred DeLuca, whose son Jason was a Northern star of recent vintage. The timing is not the best for DeLuca; this year's team might be the least experienced Northern team in years.

Top returnees: Andrew Rentzel (26-11, sr, light), Ryan Hejmanowski (22-13, sr, light), Eddie Stephenson (30-8, sr, middle), Kyle Whary (2-7, sr, middle), Adam Whary (4-4, sr, middle), Andrew Juba (4-17, sr, upper), Kelton Mehls (8-19, soph, upper).

WAYNESBORO Indians

Coach: Eric Mowen. 2006-07 record: 4-7 (2-6 division).

The big picture: Waynesboro has foundered in the years since former head coach Dan Ireland departed, but this seems like a good place for the Indians to make a decent rebound. More than 60 percent of the lineup returns and there's little question most of those records will improve. A top-two finish seems unlikely, but a top three finish and a spot in the district team championships is not as outrageous as it seems.

Top returnees: Jacob Smith (13-11, soph, light), Matt Nel (22-7, sr, light), Marc Brumbaugh (3-12, sr, middle), Jesse Mowen (6-17, soph, middle), Brandon Beltz (18-12, jr, middle), Anthony Morales (13-11, jr, middle), Shane McFerren (9-16, soph, upper), Ryan Arnold (14-14, sr, upper), Evan Reed (18-11, sr, upper).

WEST PERRY Mustangs

Coach: Roger Austin. 2006-07 record: 17-7 (6-2 division).

The big picture: Austin would like his Mustangs to be more than just competitive in the division, but the timing isn't the greatest. The Mustangs have 10 starters back, but only a few were consistent winners. Depth, the usual West Perry strength, will help considerably, but the Mustangs need some big leaps in improvement from the vets and some nice finds among the youngsters to crack the Colonial's upper crust.

Top returnees: Mustafa Smith (22-8, sr, light), Eli Kell (21-8, sr, upper), Chaz Sheaffer (21-11, soph, upper), Jake Adams (13-13, jr, middle), Mason Baughman (10-19, jr, middle), Wade McKown (7-15, sr, upper), Sam Hernandez (5-13, jr, middle)

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