Ches-Mont National Division
Avon Grove Red Devils
Head coach: Frank McCue
Last season: 0-5 division, 7-15 overall
Key wrestlers: Kevin Edwards, Sr., 182; Brayden Peck, Sr., 195; Josh Walls, Sr., 220; Jordan Howard, Jr., 113.
Outlook: Edwards ended his junior season with a Cinderella run to a sixth-place state medal, and for the second straight year, bumped up four weight classes. He has 95 career wins and is within striking distance of Edgar Garcia’s school record of 132. Peck and Walls each took major leaps last year as juniors, reaching regionals, and joined with Edwards, that trio will be very productive up top. Howard showed big improvement last winter as well, finishing sixth in the district. Avon Grove also welcomes a transfer from Caravel Academy (DE), Nick Barnhart (138), who took fourth in the Delaware state tournament last season.
Coatesville Red Raiders
Head coach: Bear Stephens
Last season: 2-3 division, 10-8 overall
Key wrestlers: Chase Stephens, Sr., 152; Sean McBride, Sr., 182; Brent Windle, Sr., 145; Alex Raimondo, Jr., 195; Ryan Dellicompagni, Jr., 138.
Outlook: Coatesville has a good trio of seniors that should win a lot of matches throughout the league and district. Stephens is a returning seventh-place state medalist and has 113 wins and 77 pins in his career. McBride has 81 wins and is a returning regional qualifier, while Windle took sixth in his second trip to regionals last winter. Raimondo showed great improvement as a sophomore and will be an athletic big man, and Dellicompagni gives some stability to an otherwise young first half of the lineup.
Downingtown East Cougars
Head coach: Joe Horvath
Last season: 5-0 division, 21-3 overall
Key wrestlers: Lukas Richie, Soph., 113; Brendan McGinley, Sr., 285; Josh Wileczek, Jr., 195; Connor Birzes, Sr., 145; Brett Horne, Jr., 132.
Outlook: The Cougars have won five consecutive National Division titles and 26 straight division dual meets, but two years of big graduations leaves them with an uphill battle to add on to those streaks. Without some of the star power of recent years, seniors McGinley and Birzes bring the experience of a team that qualified for team states last winter. Richie is the most-accomplished grappler on the roster, winning 40 matches as a freshman, just one shy of reaching states. Spencer Uggla (132) and Kyle Mittelstadt (120) should add sparks as a freshmen.
Downingtown West Whippets
Head coach: Brad Breese
Last season: 4-1 division, 13-4 overall
Key wrestlers: Cole Zapf, Sr, 182; Doug Zapf, Jr., 106; Alex Murta, Sr., 138; Nick Lilley, Jr., 132; Gio Angelini, Sr., 160.
Outlook: It’s been eight seasons since the Whippets won the National Division, but that streak is in serious jeopardy this winter. Only three starters graduated, leaving a group of talented wrestlers ready to take the next step. The Zapf brothers qualified for states last season and are in position to return. Doug Zapf is finally a full-sized 106-pounder when he drops, making him one of the favorites in the district. Murta and Lilley were regional qualifiers and they, combined with Gavin Hale (145), Max Hale (152), Angelini and Joe Shafer (170), give West a strong core in the middle of the lineup leading up to Cole Zapf, who’s as athletic as anyone in the district at 182.
West Chester East Vikings
Head coach: John Gallo
Last season: 3-2 division, 12-6 overall
Key wrestlers: Andrew DiBernardo, Soph., 170; Tommy Luke, Jr., 132; Corey Celenza, Soph., 113; Mike Manieri, Sr., 182.
Outlook: The Vikings will take a step back after two steps forward last season, when they finished third in the division. Only one senior, Manieri, is on a roster that saw eight starters graduate. DiBernardo has the most young potential as East looks to get its first state qualifier since 2007. He was a regional semifinalist a year ago and can be a big scorer from an upper weight. Luke was a fellow regional qualifier, but only Manieri reached districts, otherwise.
West Chester Henderson Warriors
Head coach: Rob Beighley
Last season: 1-4 division, 10-7
Key wrestlers: Jake Reid, Sr., 120; Weston Frame, Sr., 160; Ray Martin, Jr., 152; Matt Phayre, Jr., 138; Killian Delaney, Fr., 106.
Outlook: The Warriors had a down year last winter but graduated just three starters. Reid took fifth in the region as junior, a win away from states. He’s now 13 wins shy of 100 and is the pacesetter for the team. Phayre, Frame and Martin give Henderson its strength in the middle. Sophomore Luke Phayre (113) will benefit from the top-rated freshman in the league, Killian Delaney, joining the fray. Delaney placed second in the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling state championships last winter.
American Division
Great Valley Patriots
Head coach: Mike Semar
Last season: 2-4 division, 13-11 overall
Key wrestlers: Ethan Seeley, Soph., 182; Luke Wilson, Jr., 138; Jared Zupito, Sr., 132; Jack Semar, Soph., 145.
Outlook: The Patriots continue their progression process with a team that has only three seniors slated to start. Zupito had 19 wins as a junior and is the lone senior with a winning record. Emmet Lynch (195) returns for his senior year after three years at Archbishop Carroll. Seeley won 18 bouts as a freshman and reached districts. Of the 14 projected starters, seven are either freshmen or sophomores, so the learning curve will still be rather steep in Mike Semar’s third year at the helm.
Kennett Blue Demons
Head coach: Tyrone Johnson
Last season: 2-4 division, 6-11 overall
Key wrestlers: Drew Massetti, Sr., 132; Logan Reigel, Jr., 120; Gerhardt Reiter, Jr., 126; Bryan Castaneda, Jr., 220
Outlook: The aforementioned quartet won 109 matches for Kennett last year, but only Massetti made it to regionals. He finished fifth there, one shy of Hershey, and he has 85 career victories under his belt. Massetti, Reigel and Reiter give Kennett one of the strongest lightweight trios in the league. The Blue Demons are very young, outside of Castaneda, in the second half of their lineup. Seniors Jake Anderson (138) and Dale Burns (145) will have to shoulder some of the load. Castaneda won 23 bouts last year and took fifth in the district.
Octorara Braves
Head coach: Mark Durante
Last season: 0-6 division, 4-13 overall
Key wrestlers: Scott Burridge, Sr., 160; Seth Hoopes, Soph., 113; Liam Babauta, Jr., 120; Noah Hoopes, Sr., 145; Ryan Sharpless, Sr., 170.
Outlook: The Braves always seem to be fighting the numbers battle, but may not have that issue this season. They also have a solid core that can keep them competitive in the division. Burridge made his first trip to regionals last winter and has 68 career wins. Seth Hoopes led the team with 32 wins last year and also reached regionals, while older brother, Noah Hoopes, won 20 matches after winning just 10 his first two seasons. Babauta, Sharpless and Caden Dalton (152) add experience to the lineup.
Oxford Hornets
Head coach: Scott Gold
Last season: 4-2 division, 14-4 overall
Key wrestlers: David Cox, Sr., 170; Brandon Sheffield, Soph., 138; Zach Davis, Sr., 220; Tim Davis, Sr., 182; Harry Marr, Sr., 132.
Outlook: There’s excitement around this proud wrestling program once again, and it starts with Cox and Sheffield. Cox stayed healthy all season for the first time last year, and he ended up coming within a win of placing at states. Sheffield finished fifth in the region, a win shy of joining Cox in Hershey. The duo should be very much in the mix once again this winter. Zach Davis was a regional qualifier, and Tim Davis, Will Johnson (152) and Marr give the lineup experience to go with underclassmen newcomers.
Unionville Indians
Head coach: Bill Taylor
Last season: 5-1 division, 12-5 overall
Key wrestlers: Jake Taylor, Sr., 138; Mike Maguire, Sr., 220; Spencer Larson, Sr., 152; Joey Caldwell, Soph., 152.
Outlook: Unionville brings a good core back, starting with Jake Taylor. The senior has 90 career wins to his name and reached regionals the past two seasons. As always, he will have to fight through a deep weight to reach Hershey for the first time. Maguire and Larson won 25 and 24 bouts a season ago, respectively, and Caldwell and fellow sophomore Elijah Lyons have youthful skill. The Indians will also benefit from the addition of freshman Tyler Mousaw (160) and Dominic Chaclas (113), who moved back into the area from Connecticut.
West Chester Rustin Golden Knights
Head coach: Brad Harkins
Last season: 6-0 division, 12-4 overall
Key wrestlers: Brett Kaliner, Sr., 132; Dan Labus, Jr., 152; Jon Reardon, Sr., 126; Andrew Lamberjack, Sr., 182; Tyler Kaliner, Soph., 138
Outlook: The Golden Knights will have to figure some things out at the top and bottom of their lineup, but in the middle they may be the best in the area. Brett Kaliner is a year removed from a trip to Hershey and he and Labus have been to regionals the last two years. Brett Kaliner has 104 career wins and Reardon could join him in the century club this winter with 74 under his belt. Tyler Kaliner and Colin Hurley (160) have the ability to score points, and Brian Kent (170) and Lamberjack were 20-match winners last year and add stability towards the bottom of the lineup where a couple state qualifiers graduated. Rustin is the favorite in the American Division.
Other teams
Church Farm Griffins
Head coach: Art Smith
Last season: 5-1 Bicentennial League, 9-4 overall
Key wrestlers: Sebastian Corrales, Soph., 132; Noel Gilgeous, Soph., 195; Joel Gilgeous, Soph. 182; Emmanuel Lawal, Fr., 220; Shane Carter, Sr., 152.
Outlook: Corrales became the first Griffin to qualify for the state tournament since 2011, doing it as a freshman, at that. He won 27 bouts as well as league and district titles. Corrales was only the second in school history to reach Hershey and he’ll try to become the first repeat qualifier. The rest of the squad is looking to catch up to Corrales’ lead, but there is some youth with potential. The Gilgeous brothers and Lawal will grow into their upper weights some, and Noel was a league champion last winter. Carter reached regionals as a junior and is the leader of the team.
Conestoga Pioneers
Head coach: Tom Elicker
Last season: 6-2 Central League, 12-6 overall
Key wrestlers: Eric Hutchinson, Sr., 145; Kade LaMarre, Sr., 220; Evan Walker, Sr., 138; Ezra Toll, Fr., 106
Outlook: After going 10-17 his first two seasons, LaMarre burst onto the scene as a junior, reaching the regional finals and qualifying for states. Hutchinson has 79 career wins and has always found himself in tough district brackets with the Pioneer Athletic Conference kids, but he has the experience and talent to make a run in his last hurrah. Toll had success in middle school and could be one of the better 106-pound freshmen ‘Stoga has had in awhile.
Malvern Prep Friars
Head coach: Nate Lautar
Last season: 5-0 Inter-Ac, 13-1 overall
Key wrestlers: Mike Beard, Jr., 182; Ryan Karoly, Jr., 170; Seth Janney, Sr., 285; Shane Hanson-Ashworth, Soph., 113; PJ Crane, Jr., 138
Outlook: Malvern was ranked No. 7 in the country by USA Today in the preseason as it continues its ascension to a national power. Beard and Karoly are returning prep national champs, and are ranked No. 1 and No. 3 in the country, respectively, by flowrestling. Karoly transferred from Blair Academy and Micah Visuwan (132), a state qualifier as a freshman, came in from Pennridge. Janney was a prep national champ as well and Hanson-Ashworth was a runner-up. Crane finished fourth and Nick Florschutz, a Coatesville native, took seventh as a freshman. West Chester native Dalton Harkins (106) followed his brother’s footsteps to Malvern and will bolster a very strong start of the lineup, which also has Coatesville product, Henry Hague (126). There are not many holes in the lineup and the Friars look to improve on their third-place finish at nationals last winter.
Phelps School Lions
Head coach: Ira Miles
Key wrestler: Khasim Mumin, Soph., 195
Outlook: Phelps is in a major year of development with many new wrestlers in the program. Mumin, a product of the Beat the Streets program, is the top grappler on a squad that dealt with more losses than gains in the offseason. Nationally-ranked Zane Black transferred to Cumberland Valley for his senior season and Jameel Coles, a national prep qualifier as a freshman, decided not to wrestle.
Westtown Quakers
Head coach: Jay Farrow
Last season: 5-2 Friends School League, 11-7 overall
Key wrestlers: Alex Taylor, Jr., 152; Ethan Gadra, Jr., 126; Max Starr, Sr., 160; Tim Carr, Jr., 170
Outlook: The Moose have eight prep state medalists back in their lineup, and that should help them gear up for a run to retake the Friends School League. Gadra and Taylor finished fourth at prep states, while Starr took fifth and Matt Rhile (170) finished seventh. Pierce Eldredge (132), Zander Kramer (170), Carr and Carter Dear (145) placed eighth. There is a bit of a logjam in those middle-upperweights, but Westtown will have flexibility in dual meets because of it.
