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WVC wrestling season preview capsules

A pessimist could look back at the 2015-16 wrestling season and say the level of competition in the sport is down in the Wyoming Valley Conference because of a record-low number of state qualifiers and just one state medalist from the conference in last March.An optimist looks at last year&#8217;s individual wrestling postseason and says that there&#8217;s a lot of upside because there were also 10 wrestlers who were one or two wins away from qualifying for the PIAA Championships and are back for another shot.So what&#8217;s the reality of the situation as wrestlers gear up for another shot at glory?&#8220;Individually we have some very talented wrestlers in our district, but I just don&#8217;t think we have the depth as a district as District 11, District 4 or the WPIAL,&#8221; said Dallas coach Mike Richards, who has the longest current tenure now in his 10th season. &#8220;I do think in certain circumstances with certain kids we&#8217;re closing the gap, but it&#8217;s not as fast as some of would like it to be.&#8221;Richards couldn&#8217;t be more right. But the WVC has been in the middle of a youth movement over the last few years with several wrestlers on the brink of getting over the hump.This season looks awfully similar to the start of the season just two years ago. Entering the offseason after the 2014 state tournament, only one wrestler returned the next season as a state medalist just like this season. The conference then showed its talent by qualifying a record 15 state qualifiers to the 2015 PIAA Championships.Another positive sign for all of District 2 wrestling is that 18 wrestlers last season hit the 100-win milestone in what&#8217;s believed to be a record number. There are 20 from the district starting the season within 35 wins or less of getting to the century mark.Around Division 1Tunkhannock claimed its third straight division title last year, but the first time it won Division 1 by itself, having shared the previous two championships, including one in Division 2. But the Tigers will need help if they&#8217;re going to grab another title.Hazleton Area is getting rave reviews from coaches and experts around the district. The Cougars return four seniors to the lineup who have carried them in the past. The team has been close to championships in the last three years, but the closest they came was a shared title with Tunkhannock and Coughlin in 2015.Speaking of Coughlin, injuries ravaged the club last year. Now healthy, the Crusaders are out to prove that 2015 was no fluke. Dallas is also a force in the division with many solid individuals in the lineup, but it doesn&#8217;t have the depth of Coughlin and Hazleton Area. The Crusaders and Cougars have the most depth of any team in the division. The dual between the two is currently slated for Jan. 25, the last dual of the regular season for both teams.Around Division 2This division was the most exciting it has been in years when Meyers, Lake-Lehman and Hanover Area all taking each other to the limit.Meyers eventually claimed the divisional crown, but Lake-Lehman topped Hanover Area in the District 2 Class 2A Duals final.Another slobberknocker between the trio is expected once again this season with any of the three coming out on top. Berwick, a new addition to the division, could make things interesting, but the Bulldogs, along with other divisional foes Wyoming Area and Nanticoke are likely a year away from really affecting the outcome.Returning State QualifiersJimmy Hoffman, Senior, Hazleton Area: He&#8217;s a returning second-place finisher at states and the reigning Times Leader Wrestler of the Year.Chris Lasecki, Senior, Hazleton Area: A two-time state qualifier, Lasecki has battled some injuries over the last few seasons, but has still managed to be wrestling at the final tournament of the season.Colin Pasone, Senior, Meyers: He&#8217;s qualified for states two years in a row and is a three-time District 2 champion.R.J. Driscoll, Senior, Lake-Lehman: A state participant as a sophomore, Driscoll missed last year&#8217;s postseason with an injury. He&#8217;s back now ready to prove his case as one of the best in the state.Returning regional placewinnersA total of 10 athletes from the conference earned medals at the Northeast Regional tournaments and were just one or two wins from advancing to the PIAA Championships. The list consists of David Krokowski, Wyoming Valley West; Tommy Traver, Tunkhannock; Josh Brown, Coughlin; Carson Kinney, Hazleton Area; Bobby Long and Bob Lipski, Lake-Lehman; Kendrick Beyer and Adam Buczynski, Wyoming Area; Jeremy Bergold, Meyers and Noah Rakowski, Hanover Area.That list doesn&#8217;t even include Hanover Area&#8217;s Jeff Bennett, the reigning District 2 Class 2A Outstanding Wrestler.Back PointsThe change that made the WVC smaller occurred in the offseason when it was announced that GAR and Coughlin would merge. Outside of a two-year period, the Grenadiers have struggled with numbers over the last nine seasons. They have managed to produce several district champions, regional champs and state qualifiers in that span, but the merger will help both teams. A difference for the GAR grapplers who are now with Coughlin is that they are now in Class 3A as opposed to being in 2A with GAR.The biggest change affecting the conference comes in classification with Berwick dropping down to Class 2A from 3A. The Bulldogs have spent the last eight seasons in 3A. Prior to those seasons, the team was dominant in Class 2A claiming District 2 Duals and team titles in 2007 and 2008. They have also moved from Division 1 in the conference to Division 2 with the rest of the Class 2A squads. The change is welcome for the team, which has struggled the last three seasons combining for just three league wins in that time, and going winless is seven divisional duals last season.In another change for District 2, the committee decided to re-work a tidbit pertaining to the District 2 Duals Tournament. The top four teams from each division in the WVC and Lackawanna League in each classification will now qualify for the event. In previous years, it was the top three from each division and a wild card, which could have come from any division.Coaching CarouselFour teams have new mentors this season, but all are familiar with their current programs.Darren Testa returns to Crestwood after a brief hiatus taking over for Gary Siegel. Rich Gavlick, a Hanover Area product, takes the reins at his alma mater replacing Anthony Mercadante, who went to his alma mater, Meyers, filling the shoes of Ron Swingle.At Wyoming Area, Jason Prokopchak is back with the program after graduating in the 1990s. He takes over for Steve Mytych Sr.<style>
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<div class="neCaption">Hazleton Area&#8217;s Jimmy Hoffman grabbed silver at states last season. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_Hoffman3.jpg</photo0><caption0>Hazleton Area&#8217;s Jimmy Hoffman grabbed silver at states last season. </caption0><photoCredit0>Times Leader file photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Dave RosengrantFor Times Leader</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta>KEY DATESDec. 16-17: Excalibur by Friends of Wyoming Seminary Tournament at Wilkes University; Dec. 28-29: Tunkhannock Kiwanis Tournament; Jan. 6-7: Wyoming Valley Conference Tournament at Lake-Lehman; Feb. 1: First round District 2 Duals Championships at TBA; Feb. 4: District 2 Duals Championships finals at TBA; Feb. 9-10-11: PIAA Duals Championships at Giant Center, Hershey; Feb. 24-25: District 2 Individual Championships at Kingston Armory; March 3-4: Northeast Regional Tournament, Class 2A at Williamsport H.S., Class 3A at Liberty H.S., Bethlehem; March 9-10-11: PIAA Championships at Giant Center, Hershey</factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Times Leader sports at 570-829-7143 or on Twitter @tlsports</shirttailMeta></div>

WVC HS WRESTLING PREVIEW: New season brings a lot of questions, but also hope