Pope John Paul II 2016-2017 Wrestling Preview

Head Coach: Tom Hontz, first year.

Last year’s record: 0-9 PAC-10, 5-19 overall.

Wrestlers to watch: Mike Schreiner, Sr., 170; Brendan Rau, Sr., 195-220; Nick Yerger, Sr., 138-145; A.J. Natale, So., 182; Chris Salvo, So., 126; Ryan Vulakh, So., 132-138.

Outlook: Hontz returns to head a PAC wrestling team three years after retiring from a 23-year tenure at the helm of the Upper Perkiomen mat program. The onetime Quakertown standout’s time with the Indians was marked by nine PAC championships and three individual PIAA titlists he coached. … Chris Sheetz, a former wrestler (2005 PIAA state champion) and Hontz’s assistant at Upper Perkiomen, follows his old coach to PJP. … The Golden Panthers are waiting on a hearing by District 1 to determine if Vulakh, a transfer from North Penn, will be eligible to wrestle with the program this season. … “We do not have a lot of numbers this year and will probably forfeit 3-4 weight classes,” Hontz said, “but the individuals we do have will hopefully see growth and improvement from last season, as we begin our efforts to create a competitive team.”

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