16/17 Season Preview

2016-2016 Southern Garrett Wrestling

Tomorrow, the Southern Ram wrestlers take the mat in the opening match of the season in a 7pm battle at home against the Allegany Campers from Cumberland.  We enter the season with the intention of building on last year's successes and are working hard to accomplish even more this year.  We graduated only 4 seniors last season and we have a number of very eager wrestlers looking to step right into their shoes.  Replacing a two-time state champion like Devan Hamrick, or a great team leader like Corey Horner is difficult, but the hard-working young men on this season's team are up for the challenge.

Everyday, the 35 or so wrestlers on our team fight for a starting spot and with the wealth of talent we have, this fight will continue throughout the season.  The line-up is bound to change throughout the season, but here is the breakdown of the light, middle and upper weight classes:

106-126  We could almost fill the practice room with only the kids in the lower weights.  Returning state qualifiers Brison Dixon (SR) and Jake Sweitzer (JR) anchor this group of lightweights.  These two co-captains will be joined by returning wrestlers Zach Burgess (JR) and Evan Paugh (SO) and newcomers Chris Wheeler (SO), Michael Moon (SO), Will Meagher (FR), Zane Jones (FR), Joey McComas (FR), Tyler Landis (FR), Kyle Horvath (FR) and Jacob W Sweitzer (FR).  Our depth and experience (both at high school and in the mat club) at these lower weights will give us a big advantage in dual meets.

132-160  Our middle weights are equally as tough and equally as deep.  Led by senior co-captain and state qualifier Jimmy Schwab, this group will pick up right where the lightweights left off - winning matches and helping with our team's success.  Joining Schwab is another state qualifier in Nate Tasker and returning starters Jace Guy (SO) and Alec Horner (JR).  Also fighting for spots in the middle weights are Erik Fike (SR), Brandon Mersing (JR), Brad Davis (JR), Mikey Greene (JR), Luke O'Brien (JR), Michael Duggan (JR), Cole Baker (FR) and Declan McCann (FR).  The depth here is amazing and the wrestle-offs have been enjoyable to watch.

170-285  The numbers up here are a little bit less, but the toughness is not.  This group of upper weights is led by co-captain Joe Embleton (JR) who had a great season last year and is set to tear things up again this year.  Our returning starters joining Embleton are Patrick Duggan (SR), Scotty Tichnell (JR), Hunter Park (SO) and Cole Sweitzer (SO).  Also in the mix are Gunnar Ward (SR), Michael Hollingsworth (JR), Nathan Sweitzer (SO), Bryson Alexander (FR) and Trenton Tasker (FR).

This is only half our team warming up before the Red/White scrimmage

Seniors
Jimmy Schwab
Brison Dixon
Erik Fike
Patrick Duggan
Gunnar Ward

Juniors
Zach Burgess
Jake E Sweitzer
Brandon Mersing
Mikey Greene
Brad Davis
Alec Horner
Michael Hollingsworth
Michael Duggan
Luke O'Brien
Joe Embleton
Scotty Tichnell

Sophomores
Michael Moon
Chris Wheeler
Evan Paugh
Nate Tasker
Jace Guy
Nathan Sweitzer
Hunter Park
Cole Sweitzer

Freshmen
Will Meagher
Zane Jones
Joey McComas
Tyler Landis
Kyle Horvath
Jake W Sweitzer
Cole Baker
Declan McCann
Bryson Alexander
Trenton Tasker

Our Schedule

Dec. 6              Allegany                                             Home              7pm   
Dec. 8              JV Invitational                                    Home              6pm
Dec 9/10        Grindstone Duals                              Winters Mill   4pm
Dec 14             Keyser (JV Only)                                Keyser                        6pm
Dec 16/17      Musselman Duals                              Musselman     4pm
Dec 21             JV Invitational                                    Home              6pm
Dec 22             Urbana                                               Home              6pm
Dec. 28           Oakdale/Keyser                                Home              1pm
Jan. 4               Northern                                            Away               7pm
Jan. 6/7          Fort Hill Super Duals                       Fort Hill          6pm
Jan. 10             Brunswick                                          Away               1:30pm
Jan. 11             Frankfort (w/Northern)                  Northern        6pm
Jan. 17             Catoctin                                              Away               5pm   
Jan. 18             Fort Hill/Keyser                                Fort Hill          6pm
Jan. 24              Northern                                            Home              7pm
Jan. 28              Williamsport/Hyndman                 Home              1pm
Feb. 2              Mountain Ridge                                 Away               7pm

Feb. 8               Regional Duals                                    TBA

Feb. 11             State Duals                                         TBA                 1:00pm
Feb. 18             Bi-County Tournament                     Northern        10:00am         
Feb. 25             Regional Tournament                        Middletown    10:00am
Mar. 4/5         State Tournament                              PG SportsComplex