2002-03 SCHEDULE

Nov. 30 -- at Philipsburg-Osceola tourney Dec. 7 -- at Jamestown Dec. 10 -- Grove City* Dec. 21 -- at Lewistown tourney Dec. 27-28 -- at Manheim tourney Jan. 3-4 -- at Tool City tourney Jan. 7 -- at Commodore Perry* Jan. 9 -- Sharpsville* Jan. 11 -- at Greenville* Jan. 14 -- at Sharon* Jan. 17-18 -- at Ultimate Duals (Brookville) Jan. 21 -- at Hickory* Jan. 28 -- Mercer* Feb. ? -- make-up match with Slippery Rock.*    #=MCAC match

By The Herald Sports Staff

The Reynolds High Raiders got off to a rousing start this year when they won the Mountaineer Tournament last weekend in Phillipsburg, Pa. Coach Brian Hills is hoping that will catapult them into another championship season.

"I think we have a pretty good group back," said Hills. "We have a good group of veterans and a real good group of freshmen. We only have four seniors.

"The injury bug has hit us like crazy this year, though. Hopefully, by January we'll have our starting lineup in there."

Senior captain Joel Davis is recovering from a broken leg, suffered during the football season, and has a slight shoulder injury. He wrestled last weekend, although his conditioning isn't up to par yet. And regional qualifier Dan Burns, a senior who transferred to Reynolds from Greenville, has a knee injury. He is putting off surgery and trying to rehab so he can compete sometime after the holidays.

"We're a little dinged up, but I think we'll be OK," said Hills. "This year we are a little lean on numbers, but our goals are still high. We want to be competitive throughout the state."

Last year the Raiders won the District 10 Class AA Dual-Meet championship after nailing down another Mercer County Athletic Conference crown. In the state duals, the Raiders lost to eventual state champion Wilson.

"I think the league is somewhat balanced," Hills said. "Hickory has a strong team; Mercer looks solid; Commodore Perry is very good. Greenville should be good."

Graduation took a toll on the Raiders. State place-winners Justin Hollobaugh and Jon Svirbly are gone as well as Tyler Middleton, Jesse Tumpak and Chris White. Talented Nick Hunt transferred to Sharpsville.

But the Raiders have a strong class of ninth-graders, led by 103-pounder Matt Dunn, a former Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling state champion, who won the Mountaineer tourney title. Dunn is backed by another pair of freshmen, Paul Kulka and Josh Burns.

Junior Jake Habel, a state qualifier who came into this season with a 57-21 overall record, will be at 112. He's being pushed by freshman Josh Tofani. Freshman Mason Stewart is at 119, with sophomore letterman Jason Brown, a district qualifier, at 125.

Nate Glaser, a junior, and sophomore Dan Lenkner are competing for the 130 slot, while Jordan Rearick, a junior who wrestled at Elderton last season, is at 135. He's being pushed by sophomore Jason Gainor.

Regional champion Owen Brickell, a senior co-captain with an overall mark of 57-16, is at 140, with junior Travis Battles, who placed fifth last season at state, is at 145. Battles, 56-18 for his career, is backed by David Chaney, a sophomore. Burns, when healthy, will probably fit in at 145 as there will be some shifting of Raiders in the weights.

Junior Bob Bralich is at 152, with Davis at 160. Davis, who started wrestling in the eighth grade, has made vast improvements and was 31-12 last season, just missing out on a trip to state with a fourth-place finish at regions. Backing Davis are sophomore Adam McDowell and junior Damien Brink.

Sophomore letterman Eric Campbell, a district qualifier, is at 171, backed by Ryan Foust, a sophomore. Junior 189-pounder Nick Sommerfeld, a section champ and state qualifer last season, came into the year with a 42-14 career mark and added to that with three pins at the Mountaineer tourney. He's pushed by sophomore Ian Brink.

Freshman Mike Edwards is at 215, with co-captain Mike Hills, son of coach Hills, rounding out the lineup at heavyweight. The district qualifier, who made it to regions the previous year, has a 45-36 career mark.

"We have a tough schedule again," said Hills. "We'll be wrestling again in the Ultimate Duals. It all depends on how the freshmen shape up. But I'm counting on them as veterans on this team - they were all placewinners in PJWs.

"And we hope to get some production out of the inexperienced kids, maybe winning 50 percent of their matches.

Note: Helping Hills coach the varsity are John Tofani, Casey Taylor and Ron Beckman. Junior high coaches are Bob Habel, Mike Sagulla and Keith Dawes. Among the coaches at the elementary level are Rick Stoyer, Paul Kulka, Frank D'Urso, Chris Rhoades, Nate Palm, Dave Zeronas, Matt Nestor and Scott Nottingham.