2002-03 SCHEDULE

Nov. 30 -- at Cochranton Dec. 5 -- Commodore Perry* Dec. 10 -- at Hickory* Dec. 12 -- Oil City Dec. 14 -- at McDowell tourney Dec. 17 -- Grove City* Jan. 7 -- Greenville* Jan. 10-11 -- at Saegertown tourney Jan. 14 -- at Sharpsville* Jan. 18 -- at Clarion tourney Jan. 24-25 -- at Fred Bell tourney Jan. 28 -- at Reynolds* Jan. 30 -- Jamestown Feb. 4 -- at Sharon* Feb. 7 -- at Saegertown Feb. 14-15 -- at Section 3-AA tourney    #=MCAC match

By The Herald Sports Staff

Kevin Kubalic, a long-time coach in the Mercer program, was named to take over the reins of long-time mentor Keith DeGraaf, who retired after last season. But the Mustangs' season began with tragedy when Kubalic was killed in an industrial accident only a few days after practice began.

But while Kubalic is gone, he's definitely not forgotten.

"Kevin put in place a program that I'll be following," said Rick Whenry, Kubalic's fellow coach and close friend who was appointed to fill the post as head coach. "Kevin and I always talked about -- since the day he took over the new program -- some of the things he wanted to do. We never talked about a team; we always talked about building a program from the elementary level on up."

"That's what we'll continue doing -- getting numbers out and being competitive in the Mercer County Athletic Conference. One of the goals is to get someone to state and get a state place-winner. We haven't had a state place-winner since 1979. We're not going to lose our team spirit or unity, but we are going to work on individuals as well to prepare for the postseason."

The team will wear patches with Kubalic's initials "KJK" on their uniforms this season as tribute to the former Mercer High and Slippery Rock University star.

"We didn't just lose a coach, we lost a friend," was Whenry. "The kids are helping me immensely. They understand. This tragedy will build some character in these kids. They can continue it on in the future, because wrestling is just a small portion of what life's going to be. I don't think there's any better sport to do that.

"One of the things about a wrestling room is there is such high intensity, you don't have time to dwell on what happened even a second ago. You have to be moving forward."

The Mustangs will be moving forward with a solid lineup. Whenry said there are 20 matmen on the varsity and all weight classes should be filled. Leading the way are seniors Charlie Burk, Mike Kennell, Eric Gabany and Richard Grant, who Whenry will be counting on for leadership and a lot of victories.

The Mustangs will open with freshmen in the first two slots. Cory Bice will be at 103, with Jay McNulty or Max Kurpe at 112. At 119 will be junior letterman Anthony Burger or McNulty. Battling for the 125 post are Don Seidle, a freshman, and senior letterman Brad Cameron.

One of the 125-pounders could move in at 130. Sophomore letterman Steve Suhrie is at 135, followed by Burk, the Section 3 champion and a regional qualifier last season. Sophomore Rodney David is backing Burk at the weight. Sophomore letterman Dustin Kelly is at 145, with senior letterman Kennell at 152. Senior lettermen Gabany and Grant will be at 160 and 171, respectively. Sophomore letter-winner Travis Bell will be at 189, while the new 215-pound slot will be occupied by sophomore letterman Braden Bice, who won the Section 3 title at 189 last season.

Heavyweight will be Travis Schaa, a junior.

Others battling for positions are junior Dan Paxton at 171, and freshmen Bobby Nicholson and John Pesek at 152 or 160.

Biggest loss to graduation was Rick Trowbridge, section champ and a state qualifier at 135 last year.

One of the future plans of Whenry is to toughen the tournament schedule. The program also will host a junior high tournament on Dec. 21 to go along with their annual January elementary program.

Many veteran coaches return to help out in different levels of the program, including Jerry Gawne, Ed Kelly, Rob Swartz and Steve Hoover. Justin Gadsby, former Lakeview High star, is an assistant coach and will head up the junior high program, formerly run by Whenry.

"We also hope to get a lot of former Mercer wrestlers in to help out," said Whenry, "Guys like Eric McKay and Eric McCurdy and others."

Taking the head reins of the program will end the refereeing career of Whenry, at least for a time. Whenry, who has officiated at all postseason levels including state, has gone inactive.

"I was looking forward to getting back to state one more time," said Whenry. "Hopefully, I'll get down there and do some coaching instead."