2002-03 SCHEDULE

Dec. 7 -- at Seneca Dec. 10 -- Cranberry Dec. 17 -- Franklin Dec. 19 -- at Lakeview Dec. 20-21 -- at Central Mountain tourney Dec. 27-28 -- at Redbank Valley tourney Jan. 3-4 -- at Meadville Tool City tourney Jan. 7 -- at Mercer* Jan. 9 -- Grove City* Jan. 11 -- Reynolds* Jan. 16 -- Hickory* Jan. 21 -- at Sharpsville* Jan. 24-25 -- at Grove City Fred Bell tourney Jan. 28 -- at Slippery Rock* Feb. 4 -- at Commodore Perry* Feb. 6 -- Sharon.*    #=MCAC contest

By The Herald Sports Staff

This will be a "Star Trek" season for the Greenville High wrestling program. The Trojans, like the fictional crew of the Starship Enterprise, are prepared to "boldly go where no man has gone before."

Well, at least where no Class AA school has ever gone before!

With 599 victories already logged away in the schools' fabled program, the first win of the year will put the Trojans at the 600-victory plateau. No other AA school in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ever has won 600 matches.

"We're excited about that," said veteran coach Jim Miller, who would like to see his squad reach the magic number in the season opener Saturday at Seneca.

"We're young and inexperienced this year," said Miller, "But we have 28 out for the varsity, one of our larger groups over the last several years, which is really exciting. We have a nice freshman class and some sophomores moving up from the junior high. And we have a couple of studs."

Those "studs" Miller referred two are regional qualifiers Andrew Jones, a junior, and senior Chris Peterson. "Andrew has his goals set to take one more step (to state) and he believes he can do something once he gets down there," said Miller. "And Chris is another very motivated young man who missed going to state by one match last year (fourth at regions). He is within reach of 100 wins (now at 75) and is working really hard."

The Trojans also lost some key wrestlers to graduation, especially Mike Stephens and Luke Liszka. Stephens, whose season was cut short by a knee injury, is currently attending Thiel College and plans to attend the U.S. Military Academy and wrestle next season.

The Trojans also lost regional qualifier Dan Burns, who would have been a senior this year at Greenville, but transferred to Reynolds.

This year, the Trojans are young in the lower weights. At 103, sophomore Caleb Douglas and freshman Paul Hallowell are vying for the post, while sophomore letterman Jay Young and freshmen Casey Nobel, Chris Stephens and Brent Rose are competing at 112. Jones will fill the 119 weight, with freshmen Brandon Stephens and Anthony Webber vying with senior Jonas Drivere at 125.

Sophomore Dave Fry and sophomore letterman Zack Shipton are fighting for the 130 starting role, while Peterson will start the year at 135. He's backed there by David Kuhn, a junior.

Junior letterman Mike Henegan will be at 140, with senior letterman Ed Magee pushed by freshman Jared Zuschlag and sophomore Brian King at 145. Senior Brian Swartzbeck, who injured his wrist last year after lettering the previous season, should be at 152 along with junior letterman Cody Noble.

Either sophomore Tom Roberts, Swartzbeck or Noble be at 160, with senior letter-winner John Kremm at 171. Senior letterman Brad Patton has the edge at 189, where sophomore Mark Benson and senior Larry McCoy are also competing. Junior Steve Wothelspoon will be at 215, while junior letterman Tim Heim will be at 275.

Assisting Miller with the varsity coaching are Gary Vargo, Denny Stephens, Craig Thurber and volunteers Tim Blatt, Mike Stephens and Ben Miller. Junior high coaches are Mark Russell, Brian Holzshu, Dave Cornelius, John Anderle and Dave Jones. John Forbes and Mike Battles head up the elementary program with several volunteers.

"Led by Peterson and Jones, we have a group back with experience," said Miller. "We're hoping they step up to the plate and make the difference. We have a nice complement of sophomores and freshmen who will go where the seniors lead them. We're a solid group, but we're not tested yet.

"It's a good group to work with, but we've got some challenges ahead. Perry has a lot of kids back, Lakeview is solid, and Hickory is strong and then there's Reynolds. We feel good about this team. We ended with four matches after some trouble in midseason. The tradition is still real strong here."

That tradition that leads to win No. 600 soon!