Five years.
When Scott Lindsey took on the task of bringing wrestling back to Bishop McDevitt, he knew it would take that long to get the Crusaders back on the Mid-Penn map.
Lindsey says he is on schedule. But after putting together rankings the last few weeks, we think he is being a little modest. The Crusaders are relevant already.
It’s not easy starting, developing and maintaining a program in this sport. It’s not like football where you open up the doors to the locker room and watch kids herd in like cattle.
Wrestling demands a different type of dedication. It’s not for everybody. To be really good, it takes discipline. Not just in the two to three hours of practice, but in lifestyle.
The Crusaders are winning that battle, but you can’t look at their dual-meet record as an indication. You have to look at the numbers, the ones that can’t be measured in wins and losses.
3: The number of legit District 3-AA Championship qualifiers on the Crusaders roster. Tyshawn White (106), David Pipa (113) and Terrence White (120) are ranked and have a crack at making it to states. All three will be back next year.
5: Lindsey has put together a feeder program, and he will have five fresh faces in the lineup next season that have lost a total of four matches in the last two years. Jacque Jackson was the 160-pound PJW champion, while Jalin Hankerson (90) placed third and Cole Nye (132) was a PJW state qualifier.
13: The strength of a program can only be measured by depth in the junior-high ranks, and Lindsey has worked hard to bolster those numbers to respectability.
31: It’s the No. 1 reason teams stay on top — just ask Central Dauphin and Cumberland Valley — and Lindsey has developed a feeder elementary program that is 31 kids deep.
All this in less than four full seasons of work. Not bad for a school that hasn’t had wrestling since the late 70s.
“It takes a lot keeping kids involved year round,” said Lindsey, who wrestled for Central Dauphin head coach Jeff Sweigard. “Bishop McDevitt is a school that is fun to be in athletics. Kids want to be in three sports to stay involved and do more.
“Right now, most of our kids are five-month wrestlers. Football is the main sport, and kids don’t want to get hurt. But we have three studs and five kids coming up that wrestle year round.
“The parent support has been awesome, and we see the program going in the right direction.”
Lindsey is making all the right decisions.
A week ago, Bishop McDevitt opened the doors of its new facility for an open house. Lindsey was in attendance shaking hands, as was his three top wrestlers.
It was a prelude to the first match in the new gymnasium, which will take place Jan. 24 against Susquenita. New facility, new attitude, a program heading in the right direction.
“Last week really brought to light what is going on,” Lindsey said. “Many people thought we were an intramural sport, and it was like, ‘wow, it’s a sport and it is doing well.’
“We are right on schedule, and next year I think we will reap the rewards.”
BEWARE OF CV
That may seem odd when you look at the latest edition of the District 3-AAA power rankings in which the Eagles are positioned in 16th and appear to be hanging on for their postseason dual-meet lives.
That is a mirage.
The Eagles are getting better with each match and are starting to look similar to the group that made a run to states two years ago.
A harsh reality for some unsuspecting team in districts is that the Eagles are likely to finish the season a deceiving 9-4 and are a rough estimate to be positioned between eighth and 13th in the final rundown.
That means they will be a handful for one of the top teams in the district dual-meet scrum. In other words, a very bad first round draw.
“They’re young,” Heckard said of his team. “When a young group gets rolling and gets confident, they don’t realize they are in big matches and wrestle hard.
“I’m excited for these guys heading into the next couple matches. We have four matches left and the postseason, and I’m feeling very good about where we are at.”
ON TAP
It's a big week for Class AA wrestling in the Mid-Penn and across the district. Here is a look at the upcoming matches on the slate.
Monday ¶
Milton Hershey at Susquenita: Both teams are undefeated in the Capital Division.
Thursday
Milton Hershey at Northern: If the Spartans can get by the Blackhawks, they get a chance to unseat the division favorite.
Saturday
Boiling Springs at Bermudian Springs: It doesn’t get any better than this under the television lights. This is a likely preview to the District 3-AA championship.
ELLIOTT ON TWITTER: @jelliottpnco