HS Wrestling: Grapplers gather for 2nd Schuylkill League Wrestling Media Day

Coaches and athletes mingle during the 2nd Schuylkill League Wrestling Media Day on Wednesday at the Fountain Springs Country Inn. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)

ASHLAND — Enthusiasm and excitement ran high Wednesday evening as more than 50 athletes and coaches came together for the 2nd Schuylkill League Wrestling Media Day.

Once again, the Fountain Springs Country Inn hosted the event.

Camaraderie between coaches and wrestlers from various teams was apparent as the group enjoyed a buffet meal — before the wrestlers need to start watching their weight in earnest.

The coaches arrived with rosters and schedules for their respective teams to promote their programs and the sport. Many interviews were held and every attendee had his or her photo taken to be used throughout the upcoming season.

“It’s awesome, especially wrestling. It really helps the sport grow,” said Blue Mountain senior Owen Woll, a regional runner-up and state qualifier last season. “It gives wrestlers an opportunity to get their face out there and get some good publicity. Getting to be around everybody else in the league, seeing everybody in the preseason is good, too.”

T102sportsnow.com was among several media outlets in attendance.

North Schuylkill coach Corey Fetterolf has been the driving force in turning the idea for a wrestling media day into a reality. The Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association has been holding a well-attended high school football media day annually since 2004.

“It’s awesome, being able to see all these different people from our county and our district come here, getting together, having good food, good fellowship, just meeting and getting to know each other,” said Tri-Valley junior Noah Hanlon, a regional sixth-place finisher a year ago. “We have a lot of talent on our team this year. I think we can make it pretty far. We’re looking forward to District Duals, we’re looking forward to districts. We’re just getting prepared, getting ready to go out there and take it to them.”

The second Schuylkill League Basketball Media Day for boys and girls will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday at Schuylkill Haven’s Sports Performance Center.

The first official day of winter practice is Friday, with the first day of legal competition set for Nov. 28. League action will begin Dec. 10. The Schuylkill League Wrestling Championships are scheduled for Jan. 17 at Pottsville’s Martz Hall.

The league has one new head coach: Brandon Costenbader at Schuylkill Haven. Costenbader, who works in law enforcement, has been with the Hurricanes’ program for about a decade, working with the younger wrestlers and helping at the varsity level. Former Blue Mountain standout Barron Line will coach the Haven junior high, with Brian Costenbader coaching the elementary kids.

“We went under a lot of change in the offseason,” Brandon Costenbader said. “It’s my first time as the head coach of the high school program. I’ve got a completely revamped coaching staff. We’re a very young team. … There’s going to be some growing pains for sure, especially early in the season. I look for a lot of growth as the season goes on. That’s going to be my measuring stick. It’s where we start versus where we finish.”

Most changes this season are minor after the upheaval in the sport locally and in general last winter. Some of those changes now in their second year: the departure of Jim Thorpe and Lehighton to the Colonial League, the introduction of the three-point takedown and new rules for back points; and a realignment of the 10-team Schuylkill League. Panther Valley moved to Division I to join holdovers Blue Mountain, North Schuylkill, Pottsville and Tamaqua. Mahanoy Area, Pine Grove, Schuylkill Haven, Tri-Valley and Williams Valley comprise Division II.

Marian wrestlers, previously in a co-op agreement with Panther Valley, are in a co-op with Mahanoy Area for the two-year cycle that ends this school year. With that change, both Panther Valley and Mahanoy Area can remain Class AA teams.

On the girls’ side, Panther Valley senior Brenda Banks returns looking to win her fourth straight state championship. She captured PIAA gold last season with four first-period pins at states. She finished the season 36-1 and enters her senior season 73-2.

In addition, North Schuylkill has added an official girls’ program and has 13 girls on its preseason roster.

Others on track to become 100-win wrestlers this season include Pottsville’s Terrell McFarland (96-16); Mahanoy Area’s Kyler Quick (94-44); Tri-Valley’s Jaxson Bruso (81-47) and Owen Wolfgang (79-40); Williams Valley’s Camron Green (77-38); and North Schuylkill’s Cadyn McGraw (70-55) and Gaige Mentusky (69-44). A few others could make it, too, with big seasons that end in Hershey.

Woll (113-31) looks to climb up the Blue Mountain wins ladder, return to states and earn a medal.

North Schuylkill won both the Schuylkill League Division I dual-meet and tournament championships last season. Pine Grove topped Tri-Valley 35-34 to earn the Division II crown.