High school conference previews

After looking over the rosters for each of the school's in The Tribune-Democrat's coverage area, I think I'm ready to take a crack at ranking the top teams in the Laurel Highlands, WestPAC and Heritage conferences. Or at least as ready as I'm going to be. I've never been one to do much in the way of prognosticating, so I could be way off on these, but this is just the way I see it at the beginning of the season. I plan to do rankings each week.

Heritage Conference

I don’t see many of these teams on a regular basis, but Blairsville looks like the favorite by a large margin. The others have some standout individuals, but some problem areas as well.

1. Blairsville – The Bobcats return only one regional qualifier from last season – Noah Tarr, who went 30-7 and finished fourth in District 6 Class AA – but they had 10 underclassmen win 10 or more matches a year ago. They also add three wrestlers – Andrew Doak, Scott Thompson and Channing Cavendar – that qualified for the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling tournament. All three saw action at the Blairsville Duals and Doak and Cavendar were unbeaten as the Bobcats went 5-0.

Ligonier Valley's Justin Patrick will look to improve on his
fourth-place finish in the state tournament last year and help
the Rams build on the 3-12 season they had last year.

2. Ligonier Valley – The Rams might have the two best wrestlers on any team in brothers Justin and Josh Patrick. Josh Patrick placed fourth in PIAA Class AA last season and his younger brother is on the same level. After that, there isn’t much experience in Tom Bridge’s lineup. Joey Puschnigg looked solid at the Conemaugh Township Holiday Tournament before he was sidelined by an injury.

3. United – Nathan Bevard has a big squad in his second season as coach, but not much experience. John Blankenship is the main Lion, as he went 32-4 last season and won the District 6 Class AA championship. Seth Knapic is also back after winning 19 matches a year ago.

4. Marion Center – The Stingers went 1-4 at the Blairsville Duals, which isn’t surprising considering they had just eight wrestlers in a lineup filled with relative newcomers. Marion Center’s top returnees are Brandon Heberling, who went 29-10 and place fourth in District 6 AA at 103 last year and Phil Crook, who finished 29-8 with a fifth-place finish. Crook was not in the lineup on Saturday, but I’m not sure why.

5. Northern Cambria – Joe Chunko takes over a Northern Cambria program that has 12 wrestlers on the roster. That’s the good news. The bad news is that there is just one senior and two juniors. Of the 10 sophomores he has, seven are listed as possibly wrestling 132 or 138. That’s going to make it difficult for the Colts to win many dual meets. The top returnees are Nolan Paronish (20-11) and Gus Yahner (24-11), both of whom are sophomores.

Photos are courtesy of Tami Knopsnyder. See more photos here.

Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference

The top four teams could be very good and matchups could determine which team comes out on top. After that, there seems to be a drop in terms of dual-meet power.

1. Bedford – The time to beat the Bisons might have been last season, and Westmont Hilltop took advantage of it, dethroning Brian Creps’ team. But it was hardly a rebuilding year for Bedford, which went 15-5, including 7-1 in the conference. The Bisons came on strong at the end of the season to win the District 5 Class AA title and finish in the top six in the state dual-meet tournament. Twelve starters return, including Ryan Easter, who went 36-5 and finished fifth in the state at 103 pounds last year. Garrett Thomas (27-10), Mike Brett (24-12) and Jacob Krupa (28-9) are the other 20-match winners returning. Five others won 10 or more matches. It should be another strong year for the Bisons.

2. Somerset – The Golden Eagles have 11 starters back from a team that went 17-6, including 6-2 in the conference. What was so impressive about that team was that five freshmen played key roles. Josh Darr leads the returnees after going 30-9 and winning a District 5 AA title last year. Somerset had six other regional qualifiers in Mike Laue, Landon Lohr, Michael Sutton, Jacob Nickelson, Jon Baer and Jake Hayman. Patrick Blough and Damian Jano also were 20-match winners.

Westmont Hilltop's Ryan Burnheimer will look to lead the
Hilltoppers to another LHAC championship.

3. Westmont Hilltop – The Hilltoppers have 13 returning lettermen from the squad that went 14-1 and won the conference title with an 8-0 mark, but that might not be enough to repeat. Coach Matt Beaujon lost a pair of state placewinners in Josh Polacek and Tanner Hough. Westmont does have two more in Ryan Burnheimer, who went 36-7 and finished sixth in PIAA Class AAA at 189, and Josh Duplin, who went 34-7 on his way to a fifth-place state finish at 285 pounds. The rest of the cupboard isn’t bare either, with Logan Blackburn, Mike Walsh, Tanner Patton and Don Shovestull all back after winning at least 20 matches last season.

4. Cambria Heights – The Highlanders opened some eyes last season when they went 12-6, including 4-4 in the league, and made the District 6 Class AA dual-meet tournament. They won’t catch anyone by surprise this season, not with 11 returning starters. Coach Mike Eckenrode’s squad is led by returning regional qualifiers Ryan Dupas (26-6), Brad Thomas (26-8) and Ross Inzana (26-12). Joe Davis and Tyler Crawford also won 20 matches apiece last season. One problem spot could be 106 pounds, as the Highlanders could be forfeiting that weight.

Two-time PIAA champion John Rizzo will look to help
Richland pin down more than the 12 wins the Rams had
last season.

5. Richland – The Rams seem to be on the upswing after a 12-11 mark last year that included a 2-6 record in the LHAC. John Rizzo is almost an automatic six points for coach Tom Smith, whether it’s a pin or if the opposition forfeits to the two-time PIAA Class AA champion at 285 pounds. Rizzo is at 220 this season, which gives Smith some flexibility to use sophomore Matt Moose at 285. Seven other Rams had double-digit win totals last season.

6. Johnstown – The Trojans struggled to a 5-18 record last season, including a 0-8 record in the conference. But there could be reason for optimism under first-year head coach Bill Bassett. There’s talent on hand in the former of Gervon Simon (31-7, D6-AAA runner-up), Malcolm Harris (27-5) and William Leeth (26-9) and numbers, with 19 wrestlers on the roster. There are only two other returning starters, but having a full lineup will win some matches.

7. Central Cambria – The Red Devils have a big roster – 25 on the preseason questionnaire submitted by coach Bob Nikolishen – but still forfeited two weights at the Blairsville Duals. Central Cambria has two state placewinners in Ben Rager (37-3, fifth place) and Tony Risaliti (35-3, seventh place). After that, there is plenty of inexperience. Cameron Long and Brodi Snyder each had double-digit win totals last year.

8. Penn Cambria – Todd Niebauer has built a consistent contender in Cresson, but this could be a rough year. He only has 12 wrestlers on the roster and, for the first time in nearly a decade, not one of them is named “Link.” That’s because the three older brothers are in the UPJ wrestling room while the youngest, Nolan, is too light to wrestle 106 as a freshman. Instead, Niebauer will rely on seniors Nick Szala (39-8, state qualifier) and Jon Stoy (45 career wins) to help guide a young team. Henry Schlosser, Seth McLendon and Aaron Hogue each had double-digit win totals a year ago.

9. Forest Hills – Jake Strayer’s first season as head coach resulted in an 8-7 record. Matching that mark could be difficult with a roster that has no 106-, 113- or 120-pounders on it. There also are no 220- or 285-pounders listed, meaning the Rangers will be quite shorthanded. But there is talent on hand, as R.J. Brydon returns after winning 30 matches and placing seventh in PIAA Class AA last season. Cody Law just missed out on a trip to the state tournament while Kenny Corle and Zack Pinkas each won 16 matches.

WestPAC

This might be the most difficult conference to predict. Berlin gets the nod because it won the title last year and didn’t lose much, but any of the top four could win here.

1. Berlin Brothersvalley – Coach Jason Cornell has quietly rebuilt the program at Berlin and the future could be even better with some very good wrestlers still in the junior high program. For now, the Mountaineers will try to defend the WestPAC title they won by going 13-10, 5-1 in the conference, last season. With 10 returning starters, that’s a very real possibility. Jacob Craig is the only returning regional qualifier after winning 30 matches and placing third in District 5 Class AA. Berlin’s success last year was a result of its depth, with seven other returnees that had double-digit win totals. Bryce Fochtman could be an impact freshman.

Nick Roberts knows all about championships, having won
a pair of PIAA titles. Now, he'll try to help the Cougars earn
a conference title.

2. North Star – The Cougars went 12-8 last season and could be better this season, with nine wrestlers returning that won at least 10 matches. First and foremost among those is Nick Roberts, who won his second PIAA Class AA title after going 31-2. Tayte Mostoller (21-12), Lance Shawley (24-13) and Tanner Revak (14-14) also were regional qualifiers. Freshman Tevin Mostoller should be a solid addition to the lineup.

3. Meyersdale – Chadd Sines’ team went 10-4 and 5-1 in the WestPAC last season, with the lone conference loss coming to Berlin. The lower end of the lineup should be very strong, with 20-match winners and regional qualifiers Billy Charlton (22-6), Collin Day (20-8, 2010 regional qualifier) and Stephen McKenzie (29-9) giving the Red Raiders a chance to pile up points. They might need it however, as Meyersdale does not have a 170- or 285-pounder on its roster. Seth Deist is another returning regional qualifier while also Gavin Berkley and Andrew Lenhart bring 10-plus victories to the lineup. Billy Dunbar won 17 matches for rival Berlin Brothersvalley last year.

Cory Berchick is one of the Coneamugh Township standouts
that will have the Indians in the hunt for a WestPAC title.

4. Conemaugh Township – The Indians have taken big strides under Jarod Feathers and should build on last season’s 10-13 record. Tanner Cahill (32-7) and Cory Berchick (32-6) lead the way after qualifying for regionals last season. They’re joined on the team this year by younger brothers Taylor and Casey, respectively, two freshmen who are looking to strengthen a lineup that also includes five other wrestlers that won at least 15 matches.

5. Portage – The Mustangs went 6-13 in Adam Whetstone’s first season. Improvement this year will depend heavily on the six freshmen in the lineup. Chase Fox is the top returnee after going 18-10 a year ago as a freshman. Randy Wisen won 16 matches and Donnie Watters won 11.

6. Shade – Adam Bourdess takes over for Ryan Hill, who will remain as an assistant coach this season, and it could be a rough first year. The Panthers will once again by led by Wolf Otten, the school’s first-ever district champion, who went 32-2 last year. Phil Aikey also returns after winning 20 matches as a freshman. Joe Pakstis, a 19-match winner a year ago, will be a rare senior 103-pounder. Jon Reynolds won 15 times last year while Austin Grosik and Jim Kostick each won 11 matches. The big problem for Shade in trying to replicate last year’s 17-11 mark is the fact that there are only 11 wrestlers on the roster.