Area wrestlers prep for return to Hershey

by CHUCK SOUDERS

Posted on December 3, 2008

Line Mountain and Mount Carmel have each taken turns at the PIAA state team wrestling championships the past two seasons, and both teams should have enough talent this season to make runs again. But the Eagles and Red Tornadoes are likely to be joined in that quest, as well as for other postseason honors, by a Shamokin team which is both laden with veterans, yet still young.

And Line Mountain's Jon Fausey, who has come so close to winning a state title twice, will have his final chance this season, and could be joined by several other area wrestlers in vying for state titles in Hershey in March.

In short, it could be another very good season for area wrestling teams.

Line Mountain made a trip to the state team tournament two seasons ago and dropped two close matches, and Mount Carmel earned a trip last season, and posted a 2-2 record there, led by its pair of multiple state placewinners, James Haynes and Josh Malick.

But the Red Tornadoes, in losing Haynes, Malick, and fellow key contributors Jordan Politza, Randy Elliott and Josh Hornberger to graduation, must replace approximately 400 career wins that group produced.

Line Mountain, led by Fausey, who is the area's top returning decorated wrestler, with a 104-15 career record and a second and third, respectively, in the last two state individual tournaments, lost state 119-pound champion Tyler Erdman to graduation, but does have a lineup sprinkled with veterans.

Shamokin has three returning state qualifiers in senior Matt Marcheski, junior Derek Shingara and sophomore Brandon Pesarchick, in addition to two other wrestlers, Nick Domanski and Josh Lahr, who missed a trip to the state tournament by one loss at the regional tournament.

The Indians, who were 14-4 last season, including a win over the top-ranked team in District 4, Canton, at the district duals, also have four other returning starters and two other wrestlers who gained considerable varsity experience.

"We're looking forward to competing in the Heartland Conference this year," says Shamokin head coach Todd Hockenbroch. "We've also picked up some good dual meets. We are focusing on winning state titles. If we work to be the best in the state, conference championships will happen. We are getting our weights down to where they need to be. Our conditioning level is behind but it will be where it needs to be come the season opener at the Bloomsburg Invitational Tournament. It is a long season and we are looking forward to it.

"Our guys are starting to understand that last year was last year and it is time to turn the page and begin a new chapter."

In addition to Fausey, Line Mountain has four returning starters who were at least sectional placewinners, and the Eagles will also be helped by senior Ryan Burns, who had to sit out last season after transferring from Shamokin. Burns was a two-time district placewinner in his first two seasons when with the Indians.

"Many of our wrestlers put in a very good offseason and are looking to have a successful season," says Line Mountain coach Mike Martz. "We expect to field a competitive dual meet team if we can manage to stay healthy. We should field a full lineup, but have very little depth. We also expect to have a relatively good tournament team. Our schedule should help our guys for the postseason.

"We again are competing in the King of the Mountain and Top Hat tournaments with many state-caliber AA and AAA programs competing."

Martz said he expects Juniata to be the favorite in the Tri-Valley League.

Although Mount Carmel lost a wellstone of talent, the Red Tornadoes' cupboard is not bare. Kyle Higgins, Shane Wondoloski, Nick Dusendschine and Dylan Hornberger all won at least 23 bouts last season, and the Tornadoes will be further bolstered by the return of Sean McCollum, who sat out last season with a shoulder injury after going 25-9 as a freshman. Mount Carmel also has a solid group of veterans in the middle weights.

Southern Columbia will continue the rebuilding of its program, led by 112-pounder Brian Watkins, who was 27-8 and a sixth-place district finisher as a freshman last season, and two other district qualifiers, Matt Miller and Logan Mensinger.

Second-year coach Cassidy Shults says the Tigers, who were 3-18 last season, will benefit from their strong work ethic, but will still be hampered by relative inexperience.

Inexperience will also be the year's theme at North Schuylkill. The Spartans have just one senior on the roster, Zach Cress, but do have six other letterwinners sprinkled through the lineup.

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