As the old saying goes: You win some, you lose some.
And that’s a good way to sum up how the wrestling dual season went last year for the seven teams in the LocalNews1 coverage area, with those losses occurring slightly more frequently than the wins.
Even the mighty Chambersburg Trojans’ long streak of winning seasons, dating back to the mid-2010s, came to an end with last year’s 7-8 campaign.
But there are plenty of reasons to believe that our local squads are ready for a bounceback season this winter. That sentiment rings especially true in Chambersburg, where the Trojans bring back six regional qualifiers who lifted coach Matt Mentzer’s group to a team championship at the Section 3 Tournament.
Waynesboro is aiming to make some noise with a strong group of returners that include a 30-match winner, while the girls program is eager to see how it can perform in its second season with a roster that features two section medalists.
Greencastle-Antrim’s program is as healthy as it has been in years, while North Hagerstown would love to build on last winter’s 10-win season.
Below is a team-by-team preview of the seven teams in the Local.News coverage area:
Chambersburg Trojans
Coach: Matt Mentzer
Division: Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division
Last season: 7-8
Top projected returners: Frank Barrientos (Jr., 19-14, 16 falls), Ben Hoover (Jr., 17-12, 5 falls), Logan Mickey (Sr., 9-11, 1 fall), Gabe Nolan (Soph., 8-11, 3 falls), Ashton Romberger (Sr., 25-11, 14 falls), Cody Seabolt (Jr., 11-11, 5 falls), Zach Sherman (Sr., 31-10, 12 falls), Jaccob Stoner (Jr., 20-14, 18 falls), Isaiah Tasker (Jr., 10-15, 2 falls)
Notable: Chambersburg is the defending section team champion … The Trojans will need to fill a major hole in the lineup at 215 pounds following the graduation of Aiden Hight, who went 36-4 last season on his way to section and region titles, and a third-place finish at the PIAA Class 3A Championships … Chambersburg brings back six regional qualifiers, most notably Sherman, a three-time region qualifier who was a section champ at 121 pounds last season … Romberger was the section runner-up at 133 pounds last winter … Chambersburg will also field a girls team for the first time in school history.
Opener: Saturday, Nov. 30, at home for Chambersburg Quad
Waynesboro Indians
Coach: Daniel Craig
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial Division
Last season: 8-12 (boys), 1-1 (girls)
Top projected returners: Jayden Rooney (Sr., 31-7, 15 falls), Anthony Ausherman (Soph., 5-1, 2 falls), Steven Howard (Jr., 14-15, 4 falls), Calvin Myers (Sr., 21-15, 16 falls), Jazmin Acosta (Soph, 3-6, 2 falls), Lexus Mouer (Jr., 3-4, 1 fall), Keeley Pryor (Jr., 3-9), Annabelle Tracey (Jr., 13-5, 12 falls), Allison Shockey (Soph., 6-8), Kenadee Shockey (Sr., 12-5, 12 falls)
Notable: Craig, an assistant coach for the Tribe last season, takes over Waynesboro’s program this winter … Rooney, who wrestled at 139 pounds last season, is a three-time regional qualifier who possesses a career record of 89-33 with 46 falls … Waynesboro moves on from a strong senior class that combined for 80 wins last winter … Tracey is aiming for a big season after winning the girls section title at 136 pounds last winter … The Shockey girls both made the awards stand at sections last season, with Kenadee finishing as the runner-up at 190 pounds … Smetzer will be looking to recapture the magic that got her to the state tournament as a freshman.
Opener: Thursday, Dec. 5, at Chambersburg
Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils
Coach: Brandon Crouse
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial Division
Last season: 7-14
Top projected returners: Ayden Amsley (Sr., 12-11, 10 falls), Aidan Crouse (Soph., 15-7, 10 falls), Landon Hinkle (Jr., 13-10, 9 falls), Nathan Painter (Jr., 10-12, 7 falls), Chance Zimmerman (Soph., 11-11, 3 falls)
Notable: Don’t be deceived by the losing record, last season was a major step forward the Blue Devils program, which had won just eight dual meets since the 2017-18 season.
Opener: Thursday, Dec. 12, at home vs. Shippensburg
Fairfield Knights
Coach: Jeff Hickok
Division: YAIAA III
Last season: 0-6
Top projected returners: Lincoln Kearchner (Jr.)
Notable: Kearchner was a one-man wrecking crew for Fairfield last season, often serving as the only wrestler in the Knights lineup. Kearchner is 24-24 in two years wearing a Fairfield singlet, compiling 15 falls and two major decisions, and has competed at the district and regional tournaments.
Opener: Thursday, Dec. 5, at home vs. York Tech
North Hagerstown Hubs
Coach: Greg Slick
Region: MPSSAA 4A-3A West
Last season: 10-21
Top projected returners: Brady Bruette (Soph.)
Notable: Bruette, who posted a 25-12 record at 138 pounds, is North Hagerstown’s lone returning region qualifier … The Hubs will be operating without the services of graduated state qualifiers Luke Frazee and Garcia Ndosa-Kadiobo, two wrestlers who combined for more than 60 wins last winter.
Opener: Friday, Dec. 6, at North Hagerstown Duals
South Hagerstown Rebels
Coach: Dave Kenderdine
Region: MPSSAA 4A-3A West
Last season: 1-15
Top projected returners: Wyatt Roberts, Grace Reynolds (Sr.), Sophia Rivera (Soph.)
Notable: South Hagerstown’s squad returns one region qualifier, Roberts, who was 11-8 at 106 pounds last winter … On the girls side, the Rebels bring back a region champion in Reynolds, who captured the title at 110 pounds, as well as a region qualifier at 125 pounds in Rivera.
Opener: Thursday, Dec. 5, tri-meet at Brunswick
Smithsburg Leopards
Coach: Joe Dietrich
Region: MPSSAA 2A-1A West
Last season: 1-20
Top projected returners: Kaden Dietrich (Jr.), Bella Cox (Jr.), Emmaleigh Mentzer (Soph.), Rileigh Romberger (Soph.)
Notable: Romberger made waves in girls wrestling last season, grappling to a 23-4 record and runner-up finishes at 115 pounds at the region and state meets … Mentzer was 10-8 at 110 pounds last winter, finishing as region runner-up before racking up three wins at the state tournament … Cox, the third-place finisher in the region at 125 pounds, wrestled to a 13-10 record and was a state qualifier … Joe Dietrich is in his 47th year as head coach for the Leopards … Kaden Dietrich wrestled to a 21-12 record last season and is Smithsburg’s lone returning West Region boys qualifier.
Opener: Thursday, Dec. 5, tri-meet at Brunswick
