Bald Eagle Area Wrestling Preview

by Guy Cipriano

Posted on December 6, 2008

Friday, Dec. 05, 2008
Bald Eagle Area Eagles

BALD EAGLE AREA WRESTLING PREVIEW

Head coach:Steve Millward, first season



Bald Eagle Area's returning wrestling letterwinners include, front row, from left, Brad Meyer, Kyle Granite, Justin Giedroc, Trevor Foresman. Back row, Coleman Hoffman, Jon Gingrich, Brandon Coakley, Rusty Fetzer and John Decker.
Assistants:Mike Chiston, Jonas Corl, Ed Hockenberry, John Lutz, Joe Preslovich, Jade Thompson Last year:12-9, 2-3 Big 7

Key losses:Randy Breon, 152, 21-15; Cory Gates, 125, 21-14; Caleb Hoffman, 160, 29-10; Tim Watson, Hwt, 31-7, District 6 champion, PIAA qualifier; Quentin Wright, 171, 39-0, District 6 champion, Northwest Regional champion, Two-Time PIAA champion

Returning letterwinners: Brandon Coakley, Jr., 160-171, 2-8; John Decker, Sr., 145-152, 9-20; Rusty Fetzer, Sr., 152-160, 11-22; Trevor Foresman, Sr., 125-130, 0-5; Justin Giedroc, So., 103, 12-17; Jon Gingrich, Jr., 215, 24-12; Kyle Granite, So., 119-125, 11-18; Coleman Hoffman, So., 130-140, 13-20; Brad Meyer, Sr., 130, 1-15; A.J. Robinson, Sr., 171-189, 23-11, Northwest Regional fourth place

Newcomers:Mark Bonsell, Jr., Hwt; Dan Dunkleberger, Jr., 112- 119; Chris Gribble, Jr., 145-160; Cody Hicks, So., 171; Cody Mann, Sr., Hwt; Ian Neely, Jr., 130-140; Shane Robinson, Sr., 189-215; Jason Sherry, So., 103; Nick Taylor, So., 145-152; Kurtis Viehdorfer, Sr., 189-Hwt

The skinny:Questions, questions, questions.

They seem to be coming from everywhere when discussing this year's Bald Eagle Area team.

Even coach Steve Millward isn't quite sure what roams the "Hole."

"It has been a learning period for this group of wrestlers and coaches," Millward said. "The last time I coached these kids they were in sixth grade. Practices are going well and the kids seem to be responding to me and I'm catering to them. I'm happy with where we are as the season creeps up."

Besides the return of Millward, an assistant under Dick Rhoades, the Eagles are adjusting to life without two-time PIAA Class AAA champion Quentin Wright. In fact, BEA doesn't return a state qualifier, a rarity for a program whose fans can drive to Hershey with one-eye closed.

The Eagles only return two wrestlers who ended 2007-08 with winning records. Senior A.J. Robinson went 23-11 and came within one win of qualifying for the state tournament at 189 while junior Jon Gingrich went 24-12 and qualified for the Northwest Regional at 215.

BEA's lineup below Robinson and Gingrich includes many enigmas.

Sophomores Justin Giedroc, Kyle Granite and Coleman Hoffman were thrown into the lineup last year and experienced early-season freshmen struggles. By February, the trio proved they could handle the rigors of varsity wrestling, with Giedroc and Hoffman ending their seasons at the Northwest Regional. Both wrestlers won bouts in Altoona and all of their regional losses came by decision.

Seniors John Decker, Rusty Fetzer and Brad Meyer bring experience to the middleweights. The rest of the lineup will be filled with varsity newcomers.

"I think we're very thin," Millward said. "We only have 20 kids in the room so we don't have a lot of depth at each weight class. But the kids are quick learners and the talent that was already there is getting better."

Millward, who teaches alternative education at BEA, occasionally attended dual meets as a spectator during his time away from coaching. The district hired Millward as head coach in May and he still makes daily discoveries about his wrestlers.

"I went in and worked out with the team a few times last year," Millward said. "I also saw the kids in school because I work here, but it was a different relationship all together. I wasn't around them too much. The kids are still new to me."

A late start might help Millward and his wrestlers.

The Eagles don't begin their season until the Mountain League Tournament on Dec. 13. The dual meet season begins three days later at Bellefonte.

"I'm anxious to see how well we do in our first competition," Millward said. "I will have a better reading on this team then." — By Guy Cipriano

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