Central Tech
Coach (season/record): Kevin Pastewka (7th/28-72)
2011-12 overall record: 8-6
2011-12 region record: 4-6
Top wrestlers lost: Nick Karnes, Ernesto Laureano
Top wrestlers returning: Andrew Welton, Santos Guerra, Paul Mancuso
Assistant coach: Matt Wakefield
Outlook: Welton was a regional runner-up who went 28-4 at 220 pounds last season. He’ll move up to 285 this year for a run at a state title. He goes into his final season with an 86-29 career record, one win shy of his brother Joe, a two-time PIAA qualifier for the Falcons in 2004-05. The Falcons have other solid returnees in Guerra, a returning District 10 runner-up who has a 46-40 career record and is expected to be back at 182 pounds, and Mancuso, a projected 138-pounder who is 56-43. Newcomer Jose Lopez has shown promise and could slide into the lineup at 120.
Schedule
December
18 Warren 6
28 Cranberry 6
January
16 Oil City 6
23 at Meadville 6
February
6 Titusville 6
Reynolds
Coach (season/record): Casey Taylor (2nd/19-4)
2011-12 overall record: 19-4
2011-12 region record: 9-0
Top wrestlers lost: Dylan D’Urso, Blake Heim
Top wrestlers returning: Austin Matthews, Jamar Henry, Mason McCollum, Michael Bartolo, Austin Moffett, Alex DiGregorio, Neal Engstrom, Levi Stoyer, Logan Rickert
Assistant coaches: Joe Reichard, Michael Hills, Mark Bartolo
Outlook: After 11 seasons as an assistant under Brian Hills, Casey Taylor took over the program last year and led Reynolds to another outstanding season. The Raiders finished as runners-up in the team race at the PIAA Class AA individual championships and returned to the PIAA AA team tournament. In his second season, Taylor will be without standouts D’Urso, a PIAA runner-up, and Heim, who was third. Together the two won 84 matches last season. But plenty of talent returns, led by Matthews, who was 48-2 last season en route to a second-place PIAA finish at 138 pounds. He bumps up to 152 this season. As usual, the Raiders will have a balanced lineup with plenty of wrestlers who gained experience last season. Newcomers Gene Ringer (285) and Seth Hogue (106) should step in and provide help right away. As usual, the expectations will be high both inside the program and on the outside.
Schedule
December
7-8 at Walsh Ironman Tournament
11 at McDowell 6:30
15 at King of the Mountain Tournament
18 at Cathedral Prep 7
20 at Lakeview 7
January
2 Fort LeBoeuf 7
5 Region 1 Duals at West Middlesex
16 Sharon 7
19 at Brookville Ultimate Duals
23 Franklin 7:30
29 at Grove City 7
Monday: General McLane and Grove City
– John Dudley
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