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Glendale Junior/Senior High School

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Glendale vikings

Glendale Junior/Senior High School

Glendale vikings

Glendale Junior/Senior High School

Game Summaries & Headlines.

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6.0 years ago @ 11:59AM

Vikings excited for 2017-18 season

FLINTON — The Glendale wrestling team returns nine letterwinners for the 2017-18 season and have a total of 20 kids on the roster, making it one of the larger groups the program has had in some time.

Unfortunately for the Vikings, they will be without letterwinners Isaac Krause and Cory Johnston for a chunk of the season after each suffered injuries in football.

Still, fourth-year head coach Billy Dubler has some big goals for his team.

“Our team goals are to finish in the top 12 and qualify for the District 6 Duals,” Dubler said. “We have some individuals on this team that want to go to Hershey and be state championship contenders. To do that we need to stay healthy. We lost two tremendous wrestlers already before the season started in returning regional qualifier Isaac Krause and 17-match winner Cory Johnston.

“But its nice to have a bigger roster this year. Having 20 kids out for the team is great and we hope that those kids come together and accomplish some of these goals.”

Joining Krause, who was 26-10 and a sixth-place finisher at districts, and Johnston as returning lettewinners are seniors Doug Beeny, Dalton Gondek and Mark Haigh, junior Brent Kuhn and sophomores Seth Dudurich, Dustin Hockenberry and Tristan Rutter.

Rutter was 24-13 last season and placed sixth at the District 6 Tournament, Dudurich picked up 19 wins and Kuhn had eight. Dubler expects big things from them as well as seniors Gondek and Garret Vereshack, who saw limited action a season ago.

“Tristan Rutter is a returning Southwest regional qualifier and is looking to take one more step to advance to Hershey,” Dubler said. “Seth Dudurich had 19 wins last year and wants to join his cousin Tristan in making the trip to IUP (regionals) this year.

“Guys like Garret Vereshack and Dalton Gondek have great opportunities to finish their career with a bang and notch at least 20 wins. Junior Brent Kuhn wants to continue to take the next step and be someone who will hit the 20-win mark.”

Also expected to make an impact are freshmen Brock McMillen, who is a decorated PJW champion, and Garret Misura.

“There are new faces that are young and new faces in the upper class and I’m super excited to see what they can do,” Dubler said. “An example of a young guy who is expected to make a splash is Brock McMillen. He is probably the best wrestler that Glendale has ever had and he hasn’t even started his high school career yet.

“He has 2 PJW state titles along with a resume that is a mile long of accomplishments. Pa Power has ranked him No. 3 statewide of incoming freshmen, which is very exiting for him and our program.

“Garret Misiura is another talented freshman who I think can turn some heads this season. He has been a state medalist on the youth level and he will continue to look for that same success on the high school level.”

With the returning talent and influx of young, but decorated wrestlers, Dubler has set the bar high.

“We are a young energetic team with hopes of surprising people this year,” he said. “We want to contend for an ICC championship and a district championship, but a lot of hard work will need to be put in to come close to these lofty goals.

“The guys are working very hard at this point and we are building from each practice.”

But Dubler said a lot hinges on weight control, injuries and academics.

“Our biggest weaknesses at this point are getting people to the right weight class where they can be very effective wrestlers and key injuries to Isaac and Cory,” Dubler said. “Next ... our grades. We have three to five wrestlers that are on the verge of being ineligible academically, so we must focus on being good students first.

“Lastly, inexperience at the varsity level is a concern. Nine out of our 14 starters are either freshmen or sophomores, so there is a slight fear of the unknown. But I feel we will be a really good team from what I see at practice.”

Misiura will get the start at 106, followed by McMillen at 113. Hockenberry will be a key backup in the lightweights.

There is no one currently at 120, but Rutter and Baine Seilhamer are both at 126 and 132.

Gondek is slated to start at 138 with senior Joel McClellan backing him up. Kuhn will go at 145 with freshman Cameron Fyock following at 152. Haigh is also in the mix.

Beeny will start the season at 160, while Krause could see time there later in the season depending on his recovery.

Senior Quentin Ulrich will man 170 with Vereshack going at 182. Dudurich looks to compete at 195 with sophomore Connor Smith backing him up.

The 220-pound weight class features freshman Logan Keith and sophomore Austin Fuller with Johnston waiting in the wings if he is able to return. Sophomore Kyle Jasper anchors the team at heavyweight.

Dubler’s assistants are Dan Dudurich, Ed Rutter, Kody Ness and Matt Yeckley, who was a fourth-place finisher at districts last season. He and Bradon Hughes are key losses to graduation.

“They both placed in the District 6 tournament and were two seniors that we could count on for leadership, and they will be missed,” Dubler said. “Fortunately Matt has joined our coaching staff in his free time while he is working on becoming a doctor at PSU.”

Junior high coaches are Brian Storm and Ryan Jacoby, while elementary coaches are led by Thad Francisco and Jesse Weld.

“Everyone is ready to get the season started and have as much fun as possible while trying to reach our goals,” Dubler said. “I’m very blessed to be part of this program and continue on this journey. I look forward to every practice and the positive development of these young athletes.

“I can’t say enough about the work ethic of our team,” Dubler said. “Everyone is pumped to get competition going and see what we can do.”

Glendale begins the season Dec. 15 at the Sheetz Tournament at Mount Aloysius.

Roster

Seniors

*Doug Beeny, *Dalton Gondek, *Mark Haigh, Joel McClellan, Quinten Ulrich, Garret Vereshack.

Juniors

*Isaac Krause, *Brent Kuhn.

Sophomores

*Seth Dudurich, Austin Fuller, *Dustin Hockenberry, Kyle Jasper, *Cory Johnston, *Tristan Rutter, Connor Smith.

Freshmen

Garret Misiura, Brock McMillen, Baine Seilhamer, Cameron Fyock, Logan Keith.

*Returning letterwinners

Schedule

December

15—at Sheetz Tournament (Mt. Aloysius), 11:30 a.m. 16—at Sheetz Tournament (Mt. Aloysius), 8:45 a.m. 19—at Everett. 21—Juniata Valley.

January

2—Moshannon Valley. 4—at Mount Union. 6—at Juniata Duals, 9 a.m. 9—Claysburg-Kimmel. 11—Curwensville. 16—at Bellwood-Antis. 18—at Northern Bedford. 20—at Claysburg-Kimmel Duals, 9 a.m. 24—at West Branch. 26—at Grove City Fred Bell Tournament, 4:30 p.m. 27—at Grove City Fred Bell Tournament, TBA. 30—Tussey Mountain.

Matches begin at 7 p.m. unless noted


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