Wrestling Insider: Rare rebuilding year for many programs

Clark County powers Tecumseh, Northeastern struggling this season.

Tecumseh's Cody Snyder (left) wrestles Northwestern's Zach Weekley at 170 pounds at the Clark County Clash wrestling meet Jan. 7 at Shawnee High School. Staff Photo by Barbara J. Perenic

Barbara Perenic Tecumseh's Cody Snyder (left) wrestles Northwestern's Zach Weekley at 170 pounds at the Clark County Clash wrestling meet Jan. 7 at Shawnee High School. Staff Photo by Barbara J. Perenic

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By Kermit Rowe, Staff Writer 11:31 PM Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Nearly every wrestling program faces it at one time or another, regardless of how successful it has been.

It is the dreaded “rebuilding year.”

And this year, traditional powers like Tecumseh and Northeastern are struggling, as are Shawnee and Greeneview.

“It’s going on at a lot different places,” said Tecumseh’s Scott Herbert, who in his 21st year as the dean of area wrestling coaches. “I think the numbers for the stronger smaller schools are down.

“You are seeing a lot of younger kids who specialize, but not seeing a lot of those two- or three-sport athletes,” he continued. “You know, the kind who come in as freshmen and learn how to wrestle and are pretty good by the time they get to be juniors and seniors. Most of my freshmen wrestled in middle school.”

The Arrows, traditionally at or near the top in Clark County, are starting eight freshmen this year — which Herbert said can be good or bad. Good if they stick with it, bad if they give up on the demanding sport too soon.

And Tecumseh has a unique problem.

“The pay to play affects us, certainly,” he said. “For some reason, in wrestling, they don’t want to be jayvee and wait for their turn. When I wrestled, you didn’t expect to start as a freshman. You paid your dues and was varsity as a sophomore or junior. But now they do.”

The Jets have traditionally been the deepest team in the Ohio Heritage Conference, and have many a league title to show for it. But this year, they are lacking experience and depth, with only four seniors and a junior on the roster. They lost seven seniors to graduation.

“This group is very young and has much room for growth,” said Northeastern coach Ed Rhoades. “Although I must admit, I feel that the county as a whole is in a rebuilding mode. Northwestern has the jump on all of us, and Springfield will begin their rebuild next year.

“I was surprised to be competitive this year considering what we had lost.”

Rebuilding poses a mental challenge.

“The hard part for them has been the adjustment from the team aspect to more of an individual aspect,” said Rhoades. “It has actually been harder on the coach than the kids. It has made me change methods and expectations on more than one occasion.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0364.

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