Milton Hershey head coach Jimmy Taylor knew he wasn't doing his team or his wrestlers any good under the current situation.
Something needed to change.
Since moving up to Class AAA, his team has gotten smacked around a bit by wrestlers from other schools. So instead of taking his lumps another season, he decided to boost the schedule in an effort to make his kids better.
Taylor signed up to compete in the Cumberland Valley Kick-Off to open the season and also added the New Oxford Invitational in late January. Both tournaments should help his team see better competition.
That will pay off in team competition and with nine returning starters, the Spartans are one of the favorites to sit atop the Mid-Penn Capital Division.
MILTON HERSHEY Spartans
Nine returning starters has head coach Jimmy Taylor excited and will have the Spartans competitive in every one of their matches this season. Twin brothers Oliver and Aliver Delgado — the two will jockey between 132 and 138 — and sophomore David Wells (106/113) lead this group of go-getters that were 20 strong in offseason workouts at Lower Dauphin and Hershey. That dedication could pay off down the stretch, as will a tougher schedule that features the Cumberland Valley Kick-Off Tournament and the New Oxford Invitational. If the Spartans can shake off a 17-day break over the holidays, they are the favorite to win the division crown.
CAMP HILL Lions
The Lions have not won a division title outright in 55-plus years of competition, but that could change this year because of shear numbers. Head coach Chad Gallaher is winning that battle with 10 returning starters and 26 athletes strong in his wrestling room. The crown jewel of the group is junior Alex Gallaher (138), a fourth-place finisher at districts last season, as well as senior Sam Horowitz (106), who returns from an ACL injury. Freshmen Tristan Hanshaw (120) and Brandon Tomeo (195) are ones to watch for a team that could surprise the rest of the division.
BISHOP MCDEVITT Crusaders
Head coach Scott Lindsey has been waiting for this: A chance for the Crusaders to compete in the division. Sure, his team lost Tyshawn White to Central Dauphin, but a pair of district placers, Terrance White (120/126), Tyshawn's brother, and David Pipa (120/126) head a talented crew. A strong freshman class led by transfer Zane Black (170), Jalen Hankerson (106), John Pipa (113) and Cole Nye (195) are also in play and fill a lineup that could be without a forfeit for the first time in four years. If the newcomers can make the transition to high school and survive a bolstered schedule that includes the Powerade and Escape the Rock tournament, the Crusaders can challenge the frontrunners.
NORTHERN Polar Bears
Garek Strouse and Andy Reed were 20-match winners lost to graduation, leaving holes in a lineup that only has five returning starters. Remaining is sophomore district qualifier Jonathan Ross (132/138) and Kyle Koser, who will team with a green group that includes sophomore newcomer Noah Smith, a 6-2, 265-pound mountain that has head coach Mark Murphy excited for the individual season. The dual meet campaign is a different story, as the Polar Bears feature 19 freshman and sophomores coming into the fold. Murphy's squad dominated the division a year ago, but it will be tough to duplicate the feat with this much youth.
TRINITY Shamrocks
The Shamrocks lost one of the best pound-for-pound wrestlers in the state in Ryan Diehl and another placer in Adam Geiger, but in no way does this program take a step back. There won't be the same star power, but head coach Chris Bentley will be able to fill the lineup for the first time and has a schedule that features 17 to 18 duals. Sophomore district qualifier Chase Drawbaugh (113/120) is back, as is junior Chris Kosinski (132/138) and junior Matt Gross (126). Freshman Colten Drawbaugh (132/138) and Mechanicsburg transfer Caleb Fake (senior, 170/182) anchor the newbies for an inexperienced team that is on the rise.
WEST PERRY Mustangs
Roger Austin retired from coaching, turning the reins of the program over to three-year assistant Shelly Wertz, who has the benefit of eight returning starters. Senior Ben Allwein (138) — he finished last season 27-6 — is the most notable, and he will joined by a pair of sophomores, Nate Hall (132) and Dalton Rowles (160/170), who has improved over the offseason. This team still needs to learn how to finish matches and not give up valuable bonus points in key spots. Wertz likes what he sees and if the Mustangs can learn from their lumps a year ago, reaching 10 wins is doable.
SUSQUENITA Blackhawks
Rusty Wallace Sr. has a tall order in front of him after losing standouts Brent Sterner, fourth in the state a year ago, Todd Mullen and Jay Bennett. The cupboard is pretty bare numbers wise, as there will be four forfeits in dual-meet competition, putting the Blackhawks 24 points behind at the first whistle. Still, a trio of seniors — John Daum (132), Kyle Kenny (16) and Josh Mann (170) — remain and should help a young group. Look for sophomore Allen Jacobs (126), who is returning from an ACL injury and junior Corey Sheibley (138) to improve from last season, but it will be tough to overcome those six-point holes.
EAST PENNSBORO Panthers
The Panthers graduated 12 seniors three years ago and has struggled to fill 10 spots in the lineup ever since. Head coach Todd Klucker will have three forfeits this season, but he has 14 wrestlers at the varsity level and a strong junior high group coming in. Until then, junior Alex Klucker (126) anchors this team and returns to make a another district run. Also look for freshman Matt Danner (132) to make some noise. Klucker has a revamped coaching staff, bringing on Red Land's Neil Bretz, Tom Sacoman and Zack Kepler and has instituted a strict work out regiment that has his team in shape and headed in the right direction for the future.