Plenty of experience, high expectations on tap for Centre County’s wrestling teams

By Nate Cobler

Updated November 27, 2019 7:20 PM

A new wrestling season means new opportunities for teams and individual wrestlers.

In the past two seasons, Centre County’s high school teams have combined to bring 15 PIAA medals back to the area. Five of those have been silver medals, with four coming in a memorable 2017-18 season.

There were a total of nine medal-winners last season, and six of them are returning this year. Those returning include St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy’s Amonn Ohl, Zack Witmer, Caleb Dowling, Keegan Rothrock and Tyler Stoltzfus, and Penns Valley’s Malachi DuVall.

Also making a return to the mat is Bald Eagle Area’s Gage McClenahan, who had to miss his entire junior season last year after suffering a knee injury in the Eagles’ football season. McClenahan was one of those silver medalists two seasons ago.

This season also marks the second consecutive year of Philipsburg-Osceola and BEA competing in the Class 2A ranks, where they showed last year they can hang.

Here’s a look at each of the county’s teams:

Bald Eagle Area

Coach Ron Guenot is in his fourth season at the helm of the Eagles and has seen nothing but success in his term.

He had two silver medalists in his second year of coaching, but had to go without one of his best wrestlers in McClenahan last year.

This year, McClenahan is back and Guenot couldn’t be happier to have him.

“We are looking forward to having Gage McClenahan and his leadership back in the room,” Guenot said. “We have a nice mix of returning letterwinners and underclassmen coming up from the junior high.”

In all, BEA has 11 returning letterwinners — six of them seniors. As for that mix of underclassmen, the Eagles have junior Cooper Gilham and sophomores Noah Foltz and Chandler Burns.

The Eagles might also have a female athlete competing for them at some point this season in Grace Stem. The sophomore came up just short in placing in the girls’ freestyle portion of the U.S. Marine Corps/USA Wrestling Junior and Cadet Championships in Fargo, North Dakota, this summer. She also placed fifth at the prestigious Super 32 Tournament last month.

“As always at Bald Eagle, we have high expectations for the upcoming season,” Guenot said. “As is the case with every season, our success will depend on the hard work and improvement of each and every member of our team. I hope we can make this season memorable and fun for all, and continue to provide a lot of inspiration to our elementary, junior high and varsity wrestlers.”

Bald Eagle Area’s Gage McClenahan makes a return to the mat this season after having to miss last year recovering from a knee injury suffered during the football season. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com

Bellefonte

The Red Raiders are set up to make the most noise of county teams in dual competition this season.

They return PIAA medalist Ethan Richner and state qualifiers Lane Aikey and Ethan Rossman. Bellefonte also got the addition of state qualifier Jude Swisher, who was with State College last season.

“This group of student-athletes has been fun and exciting to work with so far,” coach Mike Maney said. “There is a strong group of leadership that has become contagious in the practice room. I think this could be a very special group.”

Maney feels that the offseason work that Richner, Rossman, Aikey and Swisher have done may help them get to the top of the podium at the end of the year. Maney also feels that Alex Coppolo and Aidan O’Shea can play key roles in Bellefonte’s season.

“Coppolo has been a team captain for the team for the past few years,” Maney said. “He is looking to take a jump and make the PIAA State Tournament. O’Shea has spent a good amount of time in the weight room this offseason. He has grown into the 106 weight class.”

Bellefonte’s Ethan Richner was the lone PIAA medalist for the Red Raiders last season. He returns this year for another shot at gold. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com

Penns Valley

The Rams will have some work to do this season after losing several key seniors from last season’s 12-3 squad.

They do have PIAA medalist Malachi DuVall back along with Clayton Royer. Those two will likely be the leaders on the team, as they combined for 67 wins last year. However, if Andrew Sharer can stay healthy, that will only add to the team as he came out the gates pinning people like crazy before getting hurt.

Look for Hayden Yearick, Cole Felker and Nate Long to build upon their varsity experience after starting as freshmen last season. The trio combined to have 34 victories with Yearick leading the way with 14. Long was just returning to the sport last season after not competing since the sixth grade.

“We lost five seniors from last year that had remarkable careers at Penns Valley,” coach Joel Brinker said. “This year, we return 10 wrestlers that have competed at the varsity level, and six others that will be looking to begin their varsity careers. We are excited to see all the wrestlers continue to develop and help each other obtain their personal goals.”

Penns Valley’s Malachi DuVall returns to the Rams after placing seventh in the PIAA Championships last year. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com

Philipsburg-Osceola

The Mounties are poised to make run for District 6 Class 2A team title this season.

They have several experienced wrestlers returning. Those wrestlers include state qualifiers Chase Chapman and Hunter Weitoish, and regional qualifiers Austin Foster, Nick Bryan and Tyler Anderson.

In all, P-O has five seniors who will be leading the pack. However, there are several underclassmen that will make some noise in the Mounties’ lineup, which include Nick Coudriet and Parker Moore.

“We are excited for the 2019-20 season to get underway and the opportunities that we are blessed with to compete,” Mounties coach Brad Pataky said.

Philipsburg-Osceola’s Chase Chapman, right, is one of two state qualifiers that the Mounties had last year. Chapman returns along with Hunter Weitoish, who was the other qualifier. Tami Knopsnyder For the CDT, file

St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy

The Wolves have been making a habit of winning district and regional titles as a team of just seven to eight wrestlers.

It doesn’t look like it will be an exception this year either.

St. Joseph’s returns all of its PIAA medalists in Amonn Ohl, Zack Witmer, Caleb Dowling, Keegan Rothrock and Tyler Stoltzfus. However, they lost 195-pound runner-up Kolby Franklin, who decided to go the route of prep wrestling and transferred to Wyoming Seminary.

Dowling, Rothrock and Stoltzfus all recently just signed national letters of intent to continue wrestling on the Division I level at West Virginia, Brown and Lock Haven, respectively.

As it is every year for such a small squad, depth is a concern. For coach Pat Flynn, it doesn’t change how he thinks about how his team can do.

“We expect to repeat as district and regional champs, and place top three in the states,” he said.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy’s Caleb Dowling is one of five returning PIAA medalists for the Wolves this season. He finished third last season. Abby Drey Centre Daily Times, file

State College

The Little Lions will look to bounce back from a 5-10 season. They will also look to make up for two key losses in Cole Urbas and Jude Swisher.

Urbas, who was a three-time PIAA medalist, graduated and is now wrestling at the University of Pennsylvania. Swisher moved with his family to the Bellefonte Area School District in the summer and is being home-schooled, but will compete for the Red Raiders.

Look for Owen Woolcott, Tate McLaughlin, Bailey Weaverling and Ty Price to lead the way for State College after qualifying for the PIAA Northwest Class 3A Regional tournament last year. Woolcott finished second and remains as the lone state qualifier to return.

The Little Lions at times had to forfeit at some weight classes last season, but should have every weight class filled this year — and they have some depth, too.

“We are very excited for the upcoming season,” coach Ryan Cummins said. “Our wrestlers have invested a lot of time in the off season. We expect to have a great year.”

State College’s Owen Woolcott is the lone state qualifier returning for the Little Lions. The others Cole Urbas and Jude Swisher, graduated and moved out of the school district, respectively. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com