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General McLane

Coach (season/record): Ryan Cook (9th/103-42)

2011-12 overall record: 15-3

2011-12 region record: 8-1

Top wrestler lost: Tim Wheeling, D.J. Myers.

Top wrestlers returning: Joe Wheeling, Keller Watkins, Deane Twitchell, Ken Stoll, Parker McDermott, Tyler Hendricks, Cody Lentz, Alex Thayer, Chris Laird, Jake Baker, Nick Soboleski

Assistant coaches: Hunter Harrison, Kevin Welsh, Curt Hendricks, Evan Dahl, Tim Mulholland, C.J. Barbaro, Paul Hayes

Outlook: The Lancers lost 2011-12 PIAA seventh-place finisher Tim Wheeling, but plenty of firepower returns. Hendricks (59-36 career) was a state qualifier last season and Watkins (28-13) came up one win short of a trip to Hershey. Joe Wheeling (62-16) has posted back-to-back outstanding seasons in his first two years and looks to break through as a junior. McLane has a nice mix of experience — five returning wrestlers with at least 41 career wins — and newcomers, including another solid incoming freshman group led by former PJW seventh-place finisher Hunter Hendricks and former PJW qualifiers Dylan Myers, Kyle Sult and Briggs Twitchell. Senior Ossie Bowers was at Fort LeBoeuf the past three seasons and could become a force at either 145 or 152, and talented junior Mike Sutton, a transfer from Somerset who has 61 career wins. Cook also expects a big contribution from sophomore Ian Mallory, a former PJW third-place finisher. McLane has more than enough talent and depth to contend for a District 10 Class AAA team title and make some serious noise in the postseason.

Schedule

December

7 Fort LeBoeuf 6

13 Central Tech 6

14-15 at King of the Mountain Tournament (Mill Hall)

18 at Strong Vincent

20 McDowell 6

January

2 at Meadville

4-5 at Tool City Tournament (Meadville)

9 Cathedral Prep 6

12 Titusville

16 at Warren

19 at Clearfield Duals

23 East 6

25-26 at Fred Bell Tournament (Grove City)

February

6 at Oil City

Grove City

No information submitted by school

Schedule

December

11 at Franklin 6

13 at West Middlesex 6

14-15 at Jamestown (N.Y.) Tournament

18 at Greenville 6

20 at Slippery Rock 6

28-29 at Southmoreland Tournament

January

3 Lakeview 6

4-5 at Niagara (N.Y.) Tournament

9 at Sharpsville 6

16 Mercer 6

23 at Sharon 6

25-26 Fred Bell Tournament

29 Reynolds 6

February

2 Hickory 6

Tuesday: Strong Vincent and Northwestern

– John Dudley

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

McDowell

Coach (season/record): Shane McChesney (4th/40-9)

2011-12 overall record: 17-2

2011-12 region record: 10-0

Top wrestlers lost: Steve Spearman, Khlique Harris

Top wrestlers returning: Paul Deitz, Benji Yates, Coleman Cousins, Nick Gibson, Noah Burkhart, Shawn Spearman, Cody Nolan, Tyree Spearman, Scott Augustine

Assistant coach: Tom Lenox

Outlook: McDowell enjoyed a historic season in 2011-12 with two PIAA finalists, including two-time champion Steve Spearman, and a second-place finish at the PIAA Class AAA team dual meet championships. Although Spearman and Harris are huge losses, there is some outstanding talent returning and enough overall depth to prevent much of a drop-off, if any. Yates (25-13), Deitz (29-11), Cousins (26-10), Gibson (23-4), Burkhart (14-8), Nolan (34-8), Tyree Spearman (31-9) and Augustine (35-9) all were important contributors last season, and they’ll be joined by the next wave of talented freshmen from the program’s junior ranks, led by multiple-time PJW place-winner Charles Lenox, who could slide in at 106 pounds, and talented middleweight Ryan Dailey, a projected 152-pounder. Gibson and Augustine each were state qualifiers last season, and the returnees all got a taste of Hershey during the Trojans’ team run, experience that could help position McDowell for another big season.

Schedule

December

7 at DuBois 7

11 Reynolds 7

12 at Oil City 7

14-15 at King of the Mountain Tournament (Central Mountain)

18 Titusville 7

20 at General McLane

28-29 at Powerade Tournament (Canon-McMillan)

January

2 Strong Vincent 7

4-5 at Tool City Tournament (Meadville)

9 Central Tech 7

14 East 7

16 at Meadville 7

23 Cathedral Prep 7

25 Franklin Regional 1:30

February

6 at Warren 7

Cochranton

Coach (season/record): John Svirbly (7th/41-44)

2011-12 overall record: 9-6

2011-12 region record: 7-2

Top wrestler lost: Matt Bryer

Top wrestlers returning: Cam Cyphert, Ryan Northcott, Caleb Peterson, Austin Andrews, R.J. Boozer

Assistant coaches: Rick Hogue, Jason Nesbitt, Matt Hogue, Chris Hogue

Outlook: Cyphert was sixth at 220 pounds at last year’s PIAA Class AA individual championships and is one of four outstanding seniors who will lead the way this season for the Cardinals. Cyphert (career record: 99-31), Andrews (82-31), Peterson (72-34, regional qualifier), Northcott (46-25) join Boozer (56-27, regional qualifier), a junior, to give Cochranton a nucleus that Svirbly believes should contend for a top-three finish at the District 10 AA team dual championships and challenge for a regional title. Freshman Nate Kline, a former PJW place-winner, is expected to enter the lineup at 120 pounds and give Svirbly another quality starter.

Schedule

December

8 at Greenville Duals

11 at Greenville 6

15 at Cambridge Springs Duals

20 Northwestern 6

27 at Redbank Valley Tournament

January

4-5 at Tool City Tournament

8 at Conneaut Lake 6

22 Sharpsville 6

25-26 at Fred Bell Tournament (Grove City)

29 Lakeview 6

February

6 Fairview 6

Sunday: Central Tech and Reynolds

– John Dudley

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

Greenville

Coach (season/record): John Reynolds (10th/143-42)

2011-12 overall record: 21-3

2011-12 region record: 9-0

Top wrestlers lost: Cody Copeland, Tyler Landfried, Randy Perkins, Tyler Gentile

Top wrestlers returning: Jase Paxton, Joey Safner, Derek Watt, Jacob Brown, Jacob Riffe, Blake Horne, Justin Reynolds, Braden Gladysz.

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Titusville

Coach (season/record): Mo Burns (15th/NA)

2011-12 overall record: 12-6

2011-12 region record: 7-3

Top wrestlers lost: Cody Brunst, Nate Warner, Zach Donovan

Top wrestlers returning: Ehrin Lee, Xavier Rose, Kaleb Chase, Derrick Bish, Dalton Burns

Assistant coaches: Joe Anderson, Tom Hancock, Brian Baldwin.

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Cathedral Prep

Coach (season, record): Mike Hahsey and Paul Cousins (3rd, 25-7)

2011-12 overall record: 11-6

2011-12 region record: 6-2

Top wrestlers lost: Garrett Chase (PIAA 8th-place finisher at 152 pounds), Daniel Yori (PIAA qualifier at 132).

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District 10 Class AA wrestling teams have dealt with the frustration of having their seasons ended by powerhouses Fort LeBoeuf and Reynolds over the past few years. Now, one team will get a reprieve. At the PIAA meeting Friday morning, the state team wrestling brackets were expanded to 20 teams in Class AA. The expansion gave District 10 three spots for the next two years.

The District 10 Committee will likely review the new spot in either their August or October meeting. D-10 will likely add a third-place match to the team wrestling tournament to determine its final PIAA playoff team. This past winter, Saegertown and Greenville would have met for that spot.

–Tom Reisenweber

Next up is wrestling. Each region is balanced with only one classification.

Region 1 – AA
Franklin
Grove City
Hickory
Lakeview
Mercer
Reynolds
Sharon
Sharpsville
Slippery Rock
West Middlesex

Region 2 – AA
Cambridge Springs
Cochraton
Commodore Perry
Conneaut
Fairview
Girard
Greenville
Jamestown
Maplewood
Northwestern

Region 3 – AA
Corry
Eisenhower
Fort LeBoeuf
Harbor Creek
Iroquois
North East
Saegertown
Seneca
Union City
Youngsville

Region 4 – AAA
Cathedral Prep
Central Tech
East
General McLane
Oil City
McDowell
Meadville
Strong Vincent
Titusville
Warren

– Tom Reisenweber

McDowell senior wrestler Steve Spearman lost a close match against 168-0 John Meeks, a four-time Iowa state champion, Sunday at the 38th annual Dapper Dan Classic in Pittsburgh.

Spearman, a two-time state champion,  lost 3-2 in a bout that went to ultimate tiebreaker. Meeks won on an escape with 5 seconds to go.

Greenville’s Cody Copeland and Grove City’s Wes Phipps, both unbeaten state champions from District 10, also wrestled against nationally ranked opponents in Sunday’s Dapper Dan and both tasted defeat.

Here are flowrestling.org links to video of all three matches.

Steve Spearman vs. John Meeks

Cody Copeland vs. Brian Realbuto

Wes Phipps vs. Jordan Rogers

During the past two weekends, District 10′s top athletes in the pool and on the mat competed in their respective PIAA championships.

Area swimmers, divers and wrestlers represented the district  well, as D-10 performers claimed seven swimming titles, one diving gold medal, three wrestling championships and many medals for top-eight finishes.

Who will be the stars of the years to come? Swimming and wrestling fans might have gotten a preview of tomorrow’s standouts last weekend.

Youth wrestlers from throughout northwestern Pennsylvania competed in the Area VI tournament in Meadville and the Area VIII tournament in Corry this past weekend. The top two wrestlers from each weight class advanced to the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling Championships Friday in Hershey. Check out results from the two area meets.

Meanwhile, Erie’s Eastside Y team competed in the Western PA YMCA District Championships at the Laurel Highlands YMCA. The meet is a mix of high school underclassmen and younger swimmers. The top six swimmers in each event earned medals and the top 12 qualified for the YMCA State Championships Saturday and Sunday at Penn State University’s McCoy Natatorium.

If D-10 swimming fans check out the results, they might recognize a few athletes’ names from the high school season. Among the medalists in individual events at the meet were Mercyhurst Prep’s Griffin Schaetzle, Ryan Campbell, Molly Phillips and Emma Weisenfluh, Fairview’s Stephanie Loesch, Ian Miller and James Shuttleworth, Cathedral Prep’s Zach Miller, Luke Merski and Anthony Squeglia, McDowell’s Danielle Snyder and Strong Vincent’s Amy Adams.

Wilmington freshman Lauren Barber, who starred at the D-10 and PIAA meets, won two titles for the New Castle YMCA. Here are the complete results from the Western PA YMCA District Championships.

– Jeff Kirik

The basketball and wrestling polls wrapped up for the season this week but there will be swimming next week. Alex Svetz of North East won the final wrestling poll, while Matt Sandberg (Warren) and Natalie Hager (Franklin) won the final basketball polls.

Click below for the poll results.
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