YAIAA wrestling preview: Marsteller, Sponseller back for more
Six YAIAA wrestlers finished in the top five of their weight classes during last March's PIAA championships.
Five are back.
Of course the lone champion of that bunch, Kennard-Dale's Chance Marsteller, heads that list. Since March, Marsteller's schedule has been hectic. It included a commitment to Penn State, a tournament in Puerto Rico, a de-commitment from PSU and a verbal to Oklahoma State.
Next up? Likely a move up to at least 170 pounds, said Marsteller's coach, Mike Balestrini.
Marsteller won his first state championship as a freshman at 152 pounds. The last two came at 160. Likely to wrestle at that spot for the Rams is Pat Scarborough, a 30-win sectional champ last season. Scarborough and Marsteller are the lone seniors at Kennard-Dale, where numbers are light despite the heft of talent. With a 1-9 team record in YAIAA Division I dual meets last season, Balestrini estimated three to four individual matches would be lost because of forfeits. This season, he has about 16 to 18 wrestlers and said the elementary school and junior high numbers are up -- about 60 to 70 elementary participants -- which can be correlated with Marsteller's success.
"It's been pretty steady the last few years and it helps having him around," Balestrini said. "He goes down to the elementary school once a week. "
In addition to Marsteller, whose state title came in Class AAA, Bermudian Springs' Tristan Sponseller made it to the 170-pound PIAA final in Class AA. Hanover's Ian Brown won the 132-pound third-place match.
They are back, too, and Sponseller will likely wrestle up to 182 pounds this season. The Eagles senior, who lost a 5-2 decision to Brandywine Heights' Pete Renda to take silver, bypassed football this fall to concentrate on wrestling.
Two Class AAA wrestlers, who placed fifth at states, are also back: Central York lightweight Dylan Chatterton (106) and Dallastown's Rodney Sunday (126). Mason Bentzel, an 145-pound senior who placed seventh in the state, enters this season one win shy of 100 for his career.
But who's gone?
Two longtime coaches, Biglerville’s Bob Gano and New Oxford’s Dave Conaway, called an end to their careers. Find out who’s in their places and how the YAIAA is shaping up with this season preview:
DIVISION I
Spring Grove
Coach: Tony Miller (17th season, 246-60)
Last season: 25-3, 10-0, YAIAA Division I champion, Section V team champion, District 3 third-place, PIAA team qualifier
Top grapplers: Mason Bentzel (145, Sr., 42-6, placed seventh in state), Zack Clingan (120, Sr., 40-8, PIAA qualifier), Dakota Laughman (132, Sr., 34-8, fifth in districts), Levi Witmer (106, Jr., 20-9, Alec Zorbaugh (120, Sr., 24-15), Mike Hartman (138, Sr., 34-10).
South Western
Coach: Brad Zeigler (3rd season, 22-8)
Last season: 10-3, 9-1
Top grapplers: Owen Wherley (120, So., 30-5), Derek Wilson (113, So., 26-9), Cole Sterrett (126, Sr., 20-11), Branden Huff (132, Sr., 12-11), Gage Thomas (152, So., 15-12), Gunner Holtz (182, Sr., 12-12), Logan Bowman (195, Sr., 9-6).
Dallastown
Coach: John Childress (1st season)
Last season: 8-2, 8-2
Top grapplers: Rodney Sunday (126, Sr., 21-5, 101-21 career record), Wesley Hoover (138, Sr., 21-7), Nick Shields (113, Jr., 16-8), Bailey Druck (160, Jr., 12-16).
West York
Coach: Brian Gross (7th season, 28-52)
Last season: 10-9, 6-4
Top grapplers: Noah Townsley (126, Jr., 24-4), Garrett Stauffer (145, Jr., 22-5), Kyle Narber (182, Sr., 21-7), Hunter Scheivert (220, Jr., 15-14), Ryan Narber (138, So., 14-13), Sam Sterner (120, So., 14-13), Allen Stauffer (126, So., 13-8).
Dover
Coach: Brad Brosius (2nd season)
Last season: 9-8, 6-4
Top grapplers: Brandon Rodriguez (106, So., 20-11), Zach Pelkey (120, Sr., 5-6), Calvin Anderson (126, Jr., 17-15), Nate Stauffer (126, Jr., 3-12), Derrick Wagaman (145, Sr., 7-11), Logan Ambrose (145, Sr., 18-11), Sebastian Teeple (152, Sr., 7-14), Brian Lehman (170, Sr., 7-11), Dan Bisking (195, Sr., 14-13), Cameron Beckman (220, Sr., 17-12).
New Oxford
Coach: Matt McFarland (1st season)
Last season: 5-5, 5-5
Top grapplers: Zurich Storm (113, Fr., Wilson tournament champion, PJW state champion, 22-1 in Jr. High), Lake Laughman (120, Sr., 24-8, district qualifier), Nolan Poust (152, So., 20-10, district qualifier), Charlie Hoffman (182, Sr., 17-6, district qualifier), Slade Storm (145, Sr., 17-10, district qualifier), Brock Hartman (285, So., 17-13, district qualifier), Guy Nitchman (170, Jr., 13-12), Shane Hoff (160, Sr., 15-12).
Northeastern
Coach: Mike Muraco (3rd season)
Last season: 5-10, 4-6
Top grapplers: Eric Gimbi (182, Sr.), Anthony Leese (285, Sr.), Draven Amspacher (125, So.), Anthony Caraballo (132, Sr.), Peter Gordineer (170, Jr.), Abe Holmes (126, Sr.).
Central York
Coach: Chris Yentzer (2nd season)
Last season: 7-14, 4-6
Top grapplers: Dylan Chatterton (106, So., 31-4), Sam Butler (120, Sr., 30-7), Xavier Musti (126, So., 23-13), Matt Houcks (106, So., 12-10), Richard Blaine (132, Sr., 12-15), Isaiah Dickson (145, So., 9-16).
Red Lion
Coach: Chris Schell (2nd season)
Last season: 3-16, 2-8
Top grapplers: Austin Holloway (145, Sr., 18-11), Jared Schell (195, So., 15-15), Ryan Sprenkle (120, Sr., 11-16), Jesse Stermer (120, Jr., 9-15), Cody Stern (138, Jr., 9-21).
Kennard-Dale
Coach: Mike Balestrini (7th season)
Last season: 4-15, 1-9
Top grapplers: Chance Marsteller (170, Sr., 40-0, 125-0 career record, three-time PIAA champion), Pat Scarborough (160, Sr., 30-5, sectional champ), Mike Bracey (113, So., 24-6), Nathan DeBoard (132, Jr., 20-11), Troy Jones (120, So., 17-14), Elliot Stauffer (170, Jr.).
Susquehannock
Coach: Brad Keeney (2nd season)
Last season: 0-19, 0-10
Top grapplers: Zach Holloway (145, Sr., 18-9), Adam Dell (285, Sr., 18-10), Tyler White (182, Sr., 15-10), Ray Wenger (170, Jr., 11-10), Colin Riley (132, Jr., 9-5).
DIVISION II
Bermudian Springs
Coach: Dave McCollum (37th season, 475-187-3)
Last season: 26-7, 8-0, YAIAA Division II champion, District 3 Class AA runner-up, top six in PIAA team tournament
Top grapplers: Tristan Sponseller (182, Sr., 47-4, PIAA runner-up, 140-12 career record), Colton Dull (170, Jr., 40-6, regional qualifier), Briton Shelton (160, Jr., 43-10, eighth at PIAAs), Ted Marines (145, Sr., 31-14, district qualifier), Dalton Becker (120, Sr., 33-15, regional qualifier), Sam McCollum (220, Jr., 25-11), Austin Jackson (138, Sr., 30-14, sixth at regionals), Jared Spahr (160, Sr., 25-21, district qualifier), Brady Linebaugh (285, So., 18-6), Baylee Oberlander (106, So., 21-13, district qualifier), Noah Hakes (285, Jr., 4-10, district qualifier).
Biglerville
Coach: Nate Becker (1st season)
Last season: 24-3, 7-1
Top grapplers: Jasper Hankey (138, Sr., 39-7, PIAA qualifier), Nate Newberry (113, So., 34-10, placed sixth at regionals), Scott Cooper (126, So., 33-13, sixth at regionals), Brady Mentzer (106, Jr., 28-10), Dustin Grubbs (152, Sr., 28-14), Brock Asper (113, Jr., 16-9), Nate Mentzer (220, Jr., 18-16).
Eastern York
Coach: Dan Garner (8th season)
Last season: 9-8, 6-2
Top grapplers: Johnny Vidal (106, So., 15-12), Lee Dice (285, Jr., 11-7), Lucas Barshinger (195, Jr.), Dakota Mackley (138, So.).
York Suburban
Coach: Brian Gentzyel (3rd season, 21-30)
Last season: 14-12, 5-3
Top grapplers: Dustin Knaub, (126, So., 18-11), Liam McWilliams (145, Jr., 14-16), Will Peters (182, Jr., 11-13), Ch'aim Smith (220, Sr., 24-9).
Hanover
Coach: Kurt Brenner (1st season)
Last season: 7-13, 3-5
Top grapplers: Ian Brown (138, Sr., 40-3), Caleb Garland (120, So., 27-10), Tyler Shafer (145, Sr., 28-9), Alexander Watson (106, Sr., 12-4), Logan Hamm (195, Sr., 7-15).
Fairfield
Last season: 5-18, 3-5
Top grapplers: Nick Mort (160, Sr., 39-6), Brett Harris (285, Sr., 26-7), Wayne Wivell (132, Sr., 25-7), David Stone (132, Sr., 16-9).
York County Tech
Coach: Mike DiLiberti (3rd season, 17-30)
Last season: 10-15, 2-6
Top grapplers: Brandon Nikolaus (145, Sr., 13-8), Kyle Bly (145, Sr., 12-11) Travis Keiser (126, Fr.), Frank Abel (145, Fr.).
Littlestown
Coach: Kerry Ferguson (5th season, 43-77)
Last season: 3-15, 1-7
Top grapplers: Zach MacCleod (285, Jr., 11-11), Ian McClure (138, Jr., 10-11), Brandon Mullican (120, Jr.), Jeremy Gazmen (145, Jr.), Adam Smith (152, Jr.).
Delone Catholic
Coach: Frank Sneeringer (2nd season)
Last season: 2-11, 1-7
Top grapplers: Josh Sneeringer (160, Jr., 12-12, district qualifier), Joe Post (195, Sr., 9-11, district qualifier), Alex Little (132, Jr., 8-7), Lucas Shull (152, Jr., 8-11, district qualifier).