MERCERSBURG WRESTLING
Location: Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
Conference: Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Rick Hendrickson (5th year, 13th year overall)
Assistant Coaches: Ron Tebben, Chris Thoren, Jason Bershatsky
1997 Record: 22-6
1997 Postseason: 5th, Pennsylvania Independent Schools State Tournament
15th, National Prep Tournament
OUTLOOK:
The numbers all point to a highly successful season for the Blue Storm.
9 returning starters. 11 returning letterwinners. 6 wrestlers who won 30
matches or more. 5 returnees who will move up from competent junior
varsity action. 5 returning state champions and state placewinners. 6
returning conference champions. 2 returning National Prep placewinners and
7 National Prep Tournament qualifiers. Three seniors who are being
actively recruited for college careers. And, some impact newcomers who fit
into the right weight classes.
But numbers don1t tell the whole story, according to Coach Rick
Hendrickson. 3We have a good deal of experience, but only four seniors.
We also have several kids who are coming off good seasons last year, but
they have grown into different weight classes. And, as usual, any
significant injuries will hurt us,2 states the coach about the upcoming
year, in typically cautious fashion.
LIKELY LINEUP:
Mercersburg1s strength has traditionally been its lightweights, and this
year will be no different. Josh Grahe, a freshman with a strong junior
league background, will set the pace for Mercersburg at 103 pounds. He
will be followed in the lineup by state placewinner Bob Rarig and two-time
state champion and National Prep placewinner Eric Sheffield. Brad Codrea,
a former conference champion, will also contribute in the lighter weights.
Next comes 30 match winner Flynn Corson and Jeremy Berry, who won the
state title and placed 6th at National Preps as a freshman. Newcomers Matt
Pagett, Cara Fraver, and Byron Chiu will fill in the lightweights.
Anchoring the middle weights is Patrick Lykins, a two-time state
placewinner, who will likely be the first senior in the lineup; followed
by Andy Vanderlinde, who placed fourth and third in the Florida Class 5A
state tournament the last two years. Tim Laddbush, who finished fourth at
the state tournament his first two years, finishes the middle weights. In
addition, Luke Swetland, Aaron Chiu and Justin Trenta move up after two
years of successful junior varsity competition, as does Patrick Thompson.
The upper weights are stronger than in the last four years, with Tyrone
Neal, a three time Maryland state champion, anchoring that section of the
lineup. He is joined by sophomore Josh Pipic, who won the Tri-State
Reserve Tournament championship last season. Experience should also serve
well at the top, as Jaime Pradera returns to defend his conference title
and improve upon his state tournament finish, when he fell just one match
short of placing. Trevor Budny completes the lineup, having improved to 14
victories as a sophomore after just five wins as a freshman. Other
possible contributors in the upper weights are Gian Alonso, Yoon Chung,
Ryan Fay, and Patrick Smith.
ROSTER:
Wrestler Grade Weight Home Notes/Past Achievements
Alonso, Gian 10 152-160 Miami, FL New
Berry, Jeremy 10 135-140 St. Marys, WV State champ, 6th @Nationals
Budny, Trevor 11 275 Rydal, PA Returning letterman
Chiu, Aaron 11 145-152 Hagerstown, MD 5-2 junior varsity
Chiu, Byron 9 125-130 Hagerstown, MD New
Chung, Yoon 12 152-160 Seoul, Korea New
Codrea, Brad 12 119-125 Allentown, PA Conference champ
Corson, Flynn 11 125-130 Blue Bell, PA Conference champ, 30 wins
Fay, Ryan 9 152-160 Glenshaw, PA Experienced junior wrestler
Fraver, Cara 11 119-125 Waynesboro, PA New
Grahe, Josh 9 103-112 Williamsport, MD Experienced junior wrestler
Laddbush, Tim 11 145-152 Greencastle, PA 4th, 4th state tournament
Lykins, Patrick 12 135-140 Gainesville, GA 2nd, 3rd state tournament
Neal, Tyrone 12 160-171 Edgewater, MD 3x Maryland state champion
Pagett, Matt 9 112-119 Tega Cay, SC New
Pipic, Josh 10 160-171 Powell, OH Junior Varsity area champ
Pradera, Jaime 11 189-275 Vizcaya, Spain Conference champ
Rarig, Bob 11 119-125 Orrtanna, PA 5th state tournament
Sheffield, Eric 11 119-125 Mercersburg, PA 2x state champ, 8th,4th natl1s
Smith, Patrick 9 160-171 Charleston, WV New
Swetland, Luke 11 130-135 Bogota, Colombia 4-4 junior varsity
Thompson, Patrick 10 145-152 Mercersburg, PA 3-5 junior varsity
Trenta, Justin 11 152-160 Herndon, VA 10-2 junior varsity
Vanderlinde, Andy 12 140-145 Jacksonville, FL 3rd, 4th Florida state tourney
SCHEDULE:
NOVEMBER
22 Sat Williamsport, Wilson Scrimmage HOME
DECEMBER
3 Wed South Hagerstown, JB Scrimmage HOME
6 Sat Catoctin Duals @ Catoctin-Thurmont, MD
10 Wed Martinsburg, RMA @ RMA-Front Royal, VA
13 Sat Mercersburg Invitational (21st Annual) HOME
17 Wed Bowling Brook, The Academy HOME
20 Sat Loyola, Gilman, Gonzaga @ Loyola-Baltimore, MD
JANUARY
10 Sat Mercersburg Duals HOME
14 Wed St. Stephens/St. Agnes, Riverdale Baptist @ St. Stephens/St. Agnes
17 Sat Church Farm Tournament @ Paeoli, PA
21 Wed Keyser, Grafton @ Keyser, WV
24 Sat Valley Forge Invitational Tournament Valley Forge, PA
28 Wed M.A.C. Individual Tournament @ St. James
30 Fri Catoctin, South Hagerstown @ South Hagerstoown
31 Sat. Valley Forge, Haverford, TBA @ Valley Forge
FEBRUARY
4 Wed M.A.C. Team Tournament @ Maret
7 Fri. Hedgesville, Frankfort, Wilson @Hedgesville, WV
14 Sat Hill, Germantown Academy HOME
20-21 Fr-Sa Pennsylvania Independent Schools @ Westtown School
State Tournament
27-28 Fr-Sa National Prep Tournament @ Lehigh University
Junior Varsity Tournaments/Matches
Mercersburg Invitational Tournament Dec. 13
Frankfort JV Tourney Jan. 10
Church Farm JV Tournament Jan. 17
Tri State Reserve Championship Tournament Feb. 14
Dual Meets vs. Timber Ridge, MSD TBA
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