Replacing graduated wrestlers always a challenge
Graduation has left area Class AAA schools looking for new wrestlers to step up.
Belle Vernon lost two of its best wrestlers the program has seen in Brock Godzin and Zach Hartman to graduation, but senior and West Virginia University recruit Scott Joll returns.
Joll, a senior, won WPIAL gold and placed fifth in the state tournament at 170 pounds.
Godzin, who qualified for states at 152, is currently wrestling for the Mountaineers, and Hartman, who was second in the state at 160, is competing for Bucknell University.
In addition to Joll, the Leopards have senior Logan Seliga (at 126 last year), junior Mason Nickelson (182) and sophomore Chad Metikosh (220) returning. Metikosh, Nickelson and Seliga qualified for the WPIAL tournament.
Belle Vernon had a tough time fielding a full lineup last season, but despite the forfeits, coach Mike Doppelheuer’s squad qualified for the WPIAL Class AAA Team Tournament with a fourth-place finish out of Section 2-AAA.
The Leopards return to Section 2-AAA (2A) with Albert Gallatin, Connellsville, McKeesport, West Mifflin and Thomas Jefferson. Teams in sub-section 2B are Baldwin, Bethel Park, Mount Lebanon, Peters Township, Ringgold and Upper Saint Clair.
Waynesburg Central lost a number of quality wrestlers, but longtime head coach Joe Throckmorton always has the Raiders in the mix when the postseason tournaments roll around.
The Raiders’ Jackson Henson (138), Caleb Morris (126) and Kyle Homet (170) graduated and Wyatt Henson (120) moved to Missouri after his father, Sammie, was let go as head coach at West Virginia University.
Wyatt Henson placed fifth in the state tournament, Morris was seventh, and Jackson Henson and Homet also qualified. Morris is wrestling at WVU and Homet is competing at Gardner-Webb University.
Seniors Colby Morris (145) and Trey Howard (152) give Waynesburg a strong 1-2 punch in the middle of the lineup, while sophomores Hunter Shriver (106), Luca Augustine (132), Darnell Johnson (182) and Ryan Howard (Hvy) return.
The Raiders have enrollment numbers to compete in Class AA but choose to wrestle up in Class AAA. Waynesburg qualified for the WPIAL Class AAA Team Tournament last year and advanced to the consolation match before falling to Seneca Valley for a chance to wrestle in the state team tournament.
The Raiders are in Section 4-AAA (4B) with Moon, Montour, Chartiers Valley and Trinity. Competing is Sub-Section 4A are Ambridge, Canon-McMillan, New Castle, South Fayette and West Allegheny.
Ringgold lost WPIAL qualifier Bo Haines to graduation. Haines advanced through the section tournament at 195.