CURWENSVILLE – The 2010-11 dual-meet season will be a challenging one for a Curwensville Area High School squad that has seven lettermen, including District 9 Class AA champion Jake Keller, but still is young and low on the number of wrestlers in the practice room.
The Golden Tide has only three seniors and, barring any late additions, will have to forfeit at three weights, possibly four.
That’s if everyone remains healthy.
Injuries and illness created havoc with the lineup last season, when coach Duane Wriglesworth never once got to send out the regulars he had projected when practice started.
The Golden Tide, which had six regulars sidelined by torn ligaments at one time, finished 5-15, the first losing record in Wriglesworth’s five years.
Surpassing that mark will be one goal, but the Golden Tide will be hard-pressed to pull out a .500 season.
While forecasting significant improvement from his veterans, Wriglesworth is realistic about the situation, compounded when the District 9 Class A champion Curwensville football team made a run to the state quarterfinals. Those wrestlers missed three weeks of practice.
“We’re gonna try to secure a winning season and advance more kids to the regionals than last year, when we had two,” he said. “I’m going to be positive with the kids we’ve got. They are working hard, and we’ll do everything we can to help them meet their individual goals.”
Keller, who worked hard overcoming a broken leg to get back in action in late January, is the lone returnee who had a winning record last season.
He wound up 15-4 at 119 pounds, with two of the losses in the Northwest Region Tournament.
The junior, certified at 130, sports a 44-9 career record and will be one of the team leaders.
“Jake has taken on a leadership role in the room,” Wriglesworth said. “He managed a successful end from a tragic beginning last year, and his determination and drive to overcome adversity has only strengthened his unshakable resolution.”
Senior 119-pounder Greg Koptchak, a three-year letterman, has a career mark of 37-32, but he also missed a large part of last season because of a broken wrist and finished 6-7 at 112.
Kyle Kyler, a two-year veteran who was 11-14 at 152 and 160, and inexperienced Lewis Rhine are the only other seniors.
“Kyle is coming off a successful football playoff experience and has brought a positive attitude into the practice room,” Wriglesworth said.
Kyler, junior returnee Chad Desmett and sophomore Jake Kavelak will fill the 171 and 189 slots, but the Golden Tide has nobody for 215 and heavyweight.
The Golden Tide also is thin in the lightweights with no 103-pounder and freshman 112-pounder Tyler Mays and Koptchak the only wrestlers at their weights.
The other lettermen are junior 125-pounder Alex Holt, soph 135-pounder Nathan Wriglesworth and soph 145-pounder Hunter McCracken.
Wriglesworth’s first five teams were a combined 36-36 in regular season dual meets and 37-40 counting the District 9 Class Team Duals.
Curwensville opens with a home match against Brockway Thursday and journeys to Millersville Friday for the two-day Penn Manor Tournament.
In addition to eight other dual meets, the Golden Tide also will compete in the Fred Bell Tournament at Grove City as well as the Coudersport Duals and Clearfield Duals.
The roster, with asterisk denoting letterwinners:
Seniors – Greg Koptchak*, 119; Kyle Kyler*, 171; Lewis Rhine, 145.
Juniors – Jason Baker, 140; Chad Desmett*, 171; Alex Holt, 125*; Jake Keller*, 130.
Sophomore – Jake Kavelak, 171; Hunter McCracken*, 145; Austin Pollick, 145; Brandon Sass, 125; Nathan Wriglesworth*, 135.
Freshman – Tyler Mays 112; Trey McKenzie, 125.
The schedule, with home matches to get under way at approximately 7:30 p.m. or immediately following the junior high meets that will start at 6 o’clock:
December
3 – Brockway
17-18 – Penn Manor Tournament at Millersville
23 – at West Branch.
January
8 – at Coudersport Duals
13 – at Redbank Valley
18 – Moshannon Valley
20 – at Ridgway (7 p.m.)
22 – at Clearfield Duals
27 – Brookville
28-29 – Fred Bell Tournament at Grove City.
February
1 – at Clearfield
3 – Keystone
10 – Clarion
25-26 – District 9 Class AA Tournament at Clarion University.
March
4-5 – Northwest Region Class AA Tournament at Sharon Area High School
10-12 – PIAA Class AA Tournament at Hershey Giant Center