Area freshman wrestlers talented once again

Latest wrestling crop could approach success of last season’s group.

Mechanicsburg's Joe Ziegler wrestles Greeneview's Jason Thompson at 132 pounds during a meet Jan. 5 at Mechanicsburg. Staff Photo by Barbara J. Perenic

Barbara Perenic Mechanicsburg's Joe Ziegler wrestles Greeneview's Jason Thompson at 132 pounds during a meet Jan. 5 at Mechanicsburg. Staff Photo by Barbara J. Perenic

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By Kermit Rowe, Staff Writer 10:58 PM Wednesday, January 18, 2012

With each wrestling season brings a new freshman crop of high school wrestling talent to the area.

But rarely do you get a class that experienced the success of last season’s crop, which was highlighted by three state placers — Graham’s state champ Micah Jordan, Mechanicsburg’s third-placer Austin Reese and Kenton Ridge’s seventh-placer Preston Bowshier — not to mention four other district qualifiers.

Still, this year’s class looks like it might approach that kind of potential. At the midway point, enjoying impressive starts to their high school careers are Graham’s Eli Stickley (106, 17-8) and Eli Seipel (113, 20-6), Mechanicsburg’s Joe Ziegler (132, 19-3), Greeneview’s Andrew Hoskins (120, 22-4), Northwestern’s Devin Rogers (106, 27-2) and Northeastern’s Johnny Dean (120, 17-2).

Others like Northwestern’s Justin Weekley (113, 20-7) and Andrew Franzen (126, 23-6) and Kenton Ridge’s Tyler Sowards (138, 15-4) have also shown good potential.

“It sure helps to have them,” said veteran Mechanicsburg coach Brady Hiatt. “It helps the program to continue to not have those dips, having those freshmen coming in who are talented and are trained well.”

“It’s a compliment to the kids who have put in the work,” he continued, “and to the parents who drive them around so they can get that work and help keep the peewee and junior high programs going.”

Hiatt’s young gun this season, Ziegler, comes from good stock.

“Joe’s a hard-working kid,” he said. “Every day he does all you ask from him. That’s a formula for success. He still has his matches when he makes the freshman mistakes, but that’s what these early matches are for.

“You just sit down and go over the tape (of the matches) and hopefully correct the mistakes and learn from them,” Hiatt continued.

“It doesn’t hurt to grow up in a wrestling family, with his two older brothers wrestling (Nick and Zach).”

Greeneview veteran coach Mike Sizemore echoes Hiatt’s thoughts.

“His success is a direct connection to how hard he works in the off-season, and all the extra workouts he gets in during the season,” said Sizemore of Hoskins, the cousin of former Rams state qualifier Tim Hoskins. “Andrew has been a pleasant surprise and will continue to grow his talents, as well as the talents of the wrestlers around him over the next four years.”

Then there are Graham’s two Elis.

”My little 113-pounder (Seipel) has had a great year,” said Falcons coach Jeff Jordan. “He beat a state placer and state qualifier to get third at Top Gun (last weekend).

“Stickley is right on the verge of breaking out. He just needs to beat someone who on paper he shouldn’t beat. He doesn’t know how tough he is right now.”

Confidence counts, along with hard work, dedication and good youth coaching. These breed the talent we see once they hit the high school ranks.

“There are no substitutes,” said Jordan.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0364.

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