Buckwalter trying to help 'Cats

by Tom Fox

Posted on February 23, 2008

As I glanced at the proposed Central Mountain wrestling schedule for 2008-2009, I just uttered a few words.

Actually, it was about seven.

"Man, this is going to be ugly."

I know some read the article in Friday's edition of The Express, and probably thought that Central Mountain wrestling was trying to force the Keystone Central School Board's hand.

Like I said, everyone has his or her opinion about the Mountain League. Myself, I reserved my comment until one complete season has played out.

Here's what I do know: Something seriously needs to be done about CM wrestling.

I agree with Doug Buckwalter.

When he addressed the school board, the wrestling head coach didn't read from a prepared statement.

He didn't try to use big words to impress anyone.

What he said came from the heart. More importantly, he believed each word.

Watch a Central Mountain practice and you see how much the fourth-year head coach cares about his kids, and the direction of the program.

He teaches. He listens. He cares.

The results are showing; the program is at an all-time high.

That's why this has been brought in front of the school board. He doesn't want to hurt any of the other sports programs at Central Mountain. He doesn't want girls' tennis searching to find games. He doesn't want baseball traveling to Pittsburgh for regular-season contests.

What Buckwalter wants is for the wrestling program to continue heading in the direction it did in 2007-2008. What he wants is for the Mountain League to revisit the sport of wrestling and see if something can be done.

If you keep this schedule, there are going to be a lot of train wrecks. And I don't mean along Bellefonte Avenue near the Wendy's. It's going to be in Bald Eagle Township when some of these smaller schools line up against Central Mountain.

I am a realist.

Sometimes, I express my opinion, and people don't like it. They say that I am too hard on a team, or I don't give a certain squad enough credit.

No offense to Central or Penns Valley, but those two Class AA schools aren't at the level of Central Mountain. Honestly, there are a handful of programs in the great state of Pennsylvania that are.

What I can't figure out is how does it help Central or Central Mountain by wrestling against each other? And how in creation can representatives from the Mountain League think it's good?

Central was 0-3 in the Nittany Division this season. Central Mountain had a three next to its name, too. As in, third-place state finish. The Dragons, which I respect for fighting each match, each bout, just aren't in the same league with the Wildcats on the wrestling mat. In basketball, tennis, volleyball, maybe even baseball, it's going to be great to see these two programs meet up. It's great for the schools, even better for the sports.

But just not wrestling.

Where is it helping Central Mountain? Buckwalter's team is going to be loaded next season — absolutely loaded. There's no doubt a national ranking will appear in the preseason, and probably a No. 2 spot in Class AAA behind defending champion Central Dauphin.

In order to compete for a state championship, you have to be battle-tested. Events like King of the Mountain, Top Hat and Manheim do that. Where do you think CM is going against kids from Canton, Central Dauphin, Easton and North Allegheny? They are facing them at these tournaments.

Here's the dilemma. To put Central, Penns Valley, Huntingdon and Tyrone on the schedule, the Wildcats have to drop one of those three previously mentioned events or another contest known as the Central Mountain Duals. Since, to me, it looks impossible to drop an individual dual meet or the newly-formed Mountain League Duals, those four are on the chopping block.

Everyone wants to see Central Mountain compete for a state title. Well, how are they going to do that when you are mandated to wrestle teams that don't even fill 14 weight classes?

I agree with wrestling the Triple-A schools.

Good thing.

Indian Valley, Lewistown, Bellefonte, all great matches. Good, scholastic high school wrestling on display.

I love the Big 7 rivalries with Bald Eagle Area, State College, Jersey Shore and Shikellamy.

My point is Central Mountain, although the final result doesn't always show it, are pushed and tested. You can't skate through a mandated regular season and hope to compete with the Central Dauphins, Cumberland Valleys, Erie Preps, Council Rock Souths, Eastons and Northamptons. You just can't, and my friends, that is a realist point-of-view.

CM can't; neither can Centre County powers Bald Eagle Area and Bellefonte.

Although I don't agree with my friend in the local media business, John Lipez, and his view that maybe CM needs to leave the Mountain League, I absolutely agree with him that the Mountain League needs to look at this wrestling situation.

My thought? Wrestle the Triple-A schools. Keep Bald Eagle and Philipsburg on the schedule. Keep those Big 7 matches with Shore, Shik and the newest member, Hollidaysburg. Same goes with KOM, Top Hat and Manheim.

Allow Central Mountain to do what it feels necessary to prepare itself for the postseason with its remaining points, which I calculated to be in the range of two to four. If wrestling Huntingdon and Tyrone will make CM better, let Buckwalter make that decision.

Mountain League reps and coaches, do the right thing. Sit down, bring resources to the table, and make an educated, well-informed decision.

I feel the Mountain League needs Central Mountain as much as Central Mountain needs the Mountain League.

It would be a shame to see a good relationship split because one side wasn't willing to work with the other over some concerns.

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