Tad Harbert takes over Kennard-Dale wrestling

The Kennard-Dale Rams have a new head wrestling coach.

Tad Harbert takes over the program following the departure of Mike Balestrini. The Rams are coming off back-to-back YAIAA Division II titles. Balestrini also was head coach of the program during Chance Marsteller’s record career – Marsteller held a 166-0 career record and won four state titles from 2011-2014.

Harbert comes to York County from the Pittsburgh area. Hs said he was with Greater Latrobe High School the past 15 years, working as head coach of the program for the final four.

Greater Latrobe finished state runner-up in Class 3A during the 2014 season, Harbert said.

Harbert said he moved to York County because his wife got a job teaching Spanish at Dallastown High School. He said he was hired at Kennard-Dale at the beginning of the school year when there was a head coaching vacancy at the program.

Harbert said he’d like to have 22 kids on his roster and the Rams are “still short on a couple weight classes.”

Harbert added he’s aware of the recent wrestling history at Kennard-Dale and is excited for the season.

“I like the direction the program has been going in,” he said. “We’d like to three-peat (as YAIAA Division II champions) this year.”