2002-2003 Season Preview

Wilson Area High School's 2002-03 version of the varsity wrestling team was given both direction and a challenge by their coaching staff on the first day of practice: FIND YOUR OWN IDENTITY!  This charge was given in light of the fact that it would be natural for this year's team to try to compare themselves and attempt to live up to the accomplishments of last season's record breaking performance. Consider what the 2001-02 team did: 

  • Was ranked the 9th best team in the country

  • Broke the record for most points in a AA state tournament... by 20 1/2 points... and missed the ALL-TIME record by 5 1/2 points!

  • Was 3rd at the Beast of the East tournament behind Blair Academy & St. Edward, OH

  • Won the state dual meet title... by an AVERAGE score of 46-7 in the three matches at Hershey

  • Beat our Colonial League opponents by an average score of 58-7.

  • Placed seven wrestlers at states... including three STATE CHAMPIONS

  • Scored a record number of team points in our own Wilson Invitational Tournament

  • Had an incredible seven wrestlers win 40 or more bouts

But last year is just that... LAST YEAR! However, there is some very good news for this year's team and it's spelled S-E-N-I-O-R-S! The senior class has some excellent talent. The class of 2003 is led by returning state runner up Tony Curto who was 41-8 in his first full year of varsity competition. On the same level with Tony is David Iobst who finished 7th at Hershey but could have easily placed higher since he had dominated the eventual runner up at team states. David also placed 6th at the Beast of the East tournament. Ed Labatch is a 2-time regional and a state qualifier and is on track to become the next wrestler in Wilson history to win 100 matches in a career. A 3-year letter winner coming into this season, Ed owns an 81-38 career record. He could see No. 100 sometime in January.

But that's not all! ALSO returning are other senior veterans such as: Beast of the East runner up Rob Struening; 2-year letter winner Erick Vaughn; and 2nd team all-Colonial League heavyweight Ken Wickham. In addition, we welcome the return of Eric Donaldson who was a starter for two years before taking last year off.

Add to the senior class some outstanding juniors led by Joe Kushnerick (41-15 career), Zach Misero (JV District XI runner up), and identical twins Brad and Brian Nicholas (BOTH of them 3rd at the JV district tournament... naturally) and you have some genuine reasons to be optimistic. Add into this mix sophomore Jon Hoagland (Jr. High district champ) and freshmen Russell Souders and Wilson may still be a force with which to reckon. 

And we'll need them all! Back on the schedule besides our Colonial League opponents is "cross street rival" and nationally ranked Easton. After beating Nazareth the past two years, the Blue Eagles will most certainly be out for revenge. New on the schedule are New Jersey powers Phillipsburg and Kittatinny right after the Christmas holiday. We will also be at the Beast of the East tournament at the University of Delaware which is the #1 high school tournament in the nation. We are once again entered in the Bethlehem Holiday Classic which is incredibly competitive as well. Our own Wilson Invitational on November 30th kicks off our season in grandiose style. Make no mistake, the Warriors will be tested and we are confident that these "trials by fire" will test the mettle and prepare us for the post season in February and March.