from the desk of

 D10 Guru

NOTE : This writer is a well known and highly respected figure in District 10 wrestling who prefers to keep his identity private

7/5/09

District 10 AAA 2009-10 Preview

New faces at 103 should battle for D10 supremacy, if not regional medals in 2010.  The McDowell kids’ program revamped by Tom Lenox, is now producing veteran light weights sure to impress.  Logan Hammer is one of those guys, yet he placed third best in his own club last season, following his stellar PJW runner-up finish.  Let’s just say some tough Trojan will contend here, but size is a question mark.  General McLane’s talented Ozzie Bowers may be the early favorite.  If coach Cook can mold this dynamo into a disciplined performer, he will be hard to beat, plus he has D10 champTim Wheeler as a stable mate.  Beau Coletta gives Erie Prep a good lead off man as well.  All of these freshmen will challenge T.J. Brandt of Altoona for the three tickets to Hershey.

Kaleb Loht (Indian Valley) is the top returnee, but J.R.Wert is a stud freshman battling among the cradle of lightweights known as Bellefonte.  These may be the Northwest regional finalists at 112.  Wheeler hits one of them, while a Preppie (Adam Sallot or Chris Capotis) faces the other one.  Either the top or bottom half of the bracket will be made more difficult by the presence of T.J. Stanton of Dubois, the D9 favorite.

119 is all Shelton Mack.  New Meadville coach, Barry Anderson will likely ride this senior to the doorstep of state gold.  He will again be pushed by junior, Austin Gillihan of Corry, who may have finally gained the power to go with his superior skills.  Prep senior, John Agnello is a dark horse in this race with his great leverage and unorthodox style.  Before anyone starts thinking D10 sweep, keep in mind that young Tommy Traxler just missed knocking off Mack in last year’s finals and he also toils in that cradle of lightweights called Bellefonte.  His learning curve can race to a higher level.

Mitchell Port is my pick for state gold.  Period.  His strongest challenge may come from within the 125 regional bracket.  Kody Young of Punxsutawny is tired of breezing through regular seasons, only to slip up in the post season.  He is due.  It should be an epic battle, but Port is from the cradle, so he will be battle tested.  What about D10?  Kevin Kerr of Corry and Prep’s Kris Hess should compete for the last qualifying spot.

McDowell sends a stud to challenge Central Mountain’s Jordan Rich at 130.  Sound Familiar?  This time it’s Freshman Cody Nolan.  The “baby bull” is one tough cookie.  He will have his hands full though with speedy Kasey Davis of Meadville.  Last year’s northwest regional was not his finest hour, but if he is 100% this time around, Davis will challenge for the top spot.  D10’s strongest competitor may yet be Daniel Yori of Erie Prep.  This sophomore is physical and he will open some eyes with his pinning prowess.

Erik Galloway of State College will be a strong contender for a medal in Hershey, but he may have to be content with following Steve Spearman of McDowell to the podium.  Super Steve may not lose a match this season and he won’t make the Trojan faithful wait  long for their elusive first state champ.  Amani Bosko of Warren and Garrett Chase of Erie Prep are in the mix for D10, as is tough Zach Britton of Bradford out of D9.  But they are human.

140 is the last class before DOA (Dylan or Andrew).  Returning regional champ, Tyler Parsons is happy to be here.  Last season was his chance to dust off his portfolio and knock off the rust of semi retirement.  During that run, his D10 foes showed him no special respect.  McLane’s Zac Baumgartner has closed the gap on the Preppie and so has a few others.  The biggest test may come from Kalique Harris, a great athlete and a foil for Super Steve in the McDowell practice room.  Senior Jake Rendulic of Conneaut Lake makes this a loaded class up north.  Also benefiting from this DOA slot is Central Mountain’s Dylan Caprio and he may have won a regional title himself, if not for a lethal cradle early in his final bout.  Caprio may return to the finals, but Scott Bosack of State College should prove to be a difficult hurdle two weeks in a row. 

145 belongs to an Alton.  I don’t know which twin will be here, but does it really matter?  The other two qualifying spots are up for grabs between McDowell’s Dylan Matz and Zach Towers of Meadville.  Both boys will be back for another go next year too, but this will be the final chapter for Jay Stockhausen, an Iroquois transfer who will end his mat matters with General McLane.  Jay has had a storied career in the juniors, but his health and motivation have held him back.  Coach Cook could solve this puzzle and watch out.

Another Alton owns 152.  Expect big things from D10 in the form of Corry’s Jake Kondrlik and Dave Heynoski of Erie Prep.  These two will wage war.  Nick Limano of Meadville will be in the mix as well.  Derek Danver of Clearfield came on strong last season and he will be a formidable opponent coming out of D9.

Speaking of formidable out of D9, how about Mark Havers at 160?  The Bradford tree stump is a shooter’s nightmare.  Colton Spade of Lewistown should be a strong candidate out of D6, but Havers is the real deal and a state champ in waiting.  D10 should feature Beau Norton of Corry, the best wrestler that no one saw at the regional tournament.  This guy can scrap and if he returns strong from his injury, he should reach Hershey.  Standing in his way will be Grant Chase.  Bigger and stronger, Chase can be a force for Erie Prep.

Jermaine Easter should repeat as D10 champ and probably Northwest champ.  If Cody Dolan throws his hat in the 171lb. ring for Central Mountain, this gets more interesting.  Dolan may be a bit rusty at this point.  Prep’s Easter should be pushed by another “rusty” warrior in Nash Walters of Corry, who sat out last season.  Nash is a dangerous foe, but another hungry competitor comes from Conneaut Lake in Dennis Diodati.  Surprising Brad Grieb made a strong showing for Bellefonte in Altoona and he returns.

Two regional finalists square off at 189, when Michael Pollard of Corry and K.J. Walters of Altoona meet.  Pollard should lead a D10 group containing Doug Myers of McLane, Joel Kerr of Titusville and Markel Keys of Erie Prep. 

Sean Sadowski of St. Marys from D9 should bang with Bald Eagle’s Jon Gingerich in the Northwest finals at 215.  Don’t count out Peabody’s Londelle Cox out of D8.  Strong Vincent’s Aaron Bell may top the list representing  D10.  Tyson Searer may grab a qualifying spot for Lewistown in this bracket.

285 in D10 will be a dogfight between Caleb Baker of General McLane and Kevin Thompson of Meadville.  Prep’s Anthony Szymczak will also be in the mix.  There is no confusion about who the favorite is:  Zac Corl.  Central Mountain’s big man is on another level and maybe even on a state title mission.