Hickory
Coach (seasons/record): Carl Wombacker (32nd/569-246-7)
2011-12 overall record: 8-6
2011-12 region record: 5-4
Top wrestler lost: Nate Stidham
Top wrestlers returning: Joe Hines, Justin Walter
Assistant coaches: Drew Perman, Tim Jones, Nick Clepper, Fabio Boccuzzi
Outlook: Hickory sent out one of the district’s youngest lineups last season with six freshmen starters, three of whom qualified for districts. The Hornets will be on the young side again, but Hines (39-11 last season, 99-39 career) and Walter (30-16 and a regional qualifier as a freshman last season) provide some horsepower for a lineup that will miss the presence of Stidham, a 126-match winner. Freshman John Sims, a former PJW state qualifier, should slide into the lineup at 138 pounds, and Wombacker expects the Hornets to show improvement as the season goes on and the younger starters gain seasoning.
Schedule
December
7-8 Hickory Tournament
11 Sharon 7
15 at Pymatuning Valley Tournament
28-29 at Southmoreland Tournament
January
3 at Franklin 7
5 at Region 1 Dual Meet Tournament (West Middlesex)
11-12 at Slippery Rock Invitational
16 Lakeview 7
25-26 at Fred Bell Tournament (Grove City)
February
2 at Grove City 7
Union City
Coach (season/record): Jeff Hiner (4th/41-41 — 1st season at Union City)
2011-12 overall record: 9-4
2011-12 region record: 5-3
Top wrestlers lost: Tyler Lindsley, Patrick Burns, Jarred Brooks.
Top wrestlers returning: Tim Vargo, Jeff Burger, Josh Reinke, Storm McDonald.
Assistant coach: Frank Cutshall
Outlook: Hiner steps into the void created by the death of legendary head coach Ed Margie, who died in August. At Cambridge Springs the previous three years, Hiner helped turn that program around and will have three top-end starters to work with at Union City in Vargo, Burger and Reinke, all of whom could contend for PIAA medals in March. Newcomers Nate Jones (106) and Josh Burgess (132/138) should contribute right away. The Bears have dedicated the season to Margie, and Hiner believes there is enough talent and leadership for Union City to position itself to compete for one of the three PIAA Class AA state team spots available in the expanded District 10 qualifying field.
Schedule
December
7-8 at Hickory Tournament
12 at Iroquois 7:30
13 Saegertown 7:30
18 at North East 7:30
20 Eisenhower 7:30
January
4 at Youngsville 7:30
11-12 at Falconer, N.Y., Tournament
16 at Corry 7:30
18-19 at North East Tournament
22 Cambridge Springs 7:30
23 at Harbor Creek 7:30
25 Fort LeBoeuf 7:30
29 Oil City 7:30
30 at Girard 7:30
February
5 at Maplewood 7:30
6 Seneca 7:30
Saturday: McDowell and Cochranton
– John Dudley
