For teams starting a new season, the Colonial Division of the Mid-Penn Conference offers a wide range of options.
This is PennLive’s sneak peek at the Colonial Division’s landscape, as we polled coaches to find out how each team and its players are expected to perform, as well as the coaches’ choice for preseason MVP.
A survey of coaches in the Colonial Division was compiled to establish the preseason team rankings.
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7. Buchanan, James
Last year: February 13
Jeremy Minor, Sr. (114), Austin Miller, Sr. (189), and Alex Brake, Jr. (145) are important wrestlers.
The Buzz: After a season with just two victories, James Buchanan hopes to turn things around. After recording 20 wins as a sophomore, Brake is back.
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6. Antrim-Greencastle
Brandon Crouse is the coach.
Last year: July 14
Important wrestlers: Chance Zimmerman, So. (121/127), Landon Hinkle, Jr. (152), and Aidan Crouse, So. (127/133).
The Blue Devils are bringing back the majority of their youthful roster. Last season, Crouse (15 wins) and Hinkle (15 wins) were just outside of making it to the districts. During his rookie year, Zimmerman won 11 fights.
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Shippensburg on November 14, 2024, at PennLive’s wrestling media day.
Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)
5. Shippensburg
John Barrick is the coach.
Last year: 4–10
Important wrestlers: Isaiah Alcanatara, Sr. (145), Wyatt Holderbaum, So. (285), Abe Luffy, So. (107), Brayden Horne Jr. (160/172), Ayden Estep, Sr. (139), and Trajan Anderson, Fr.
The Buzz: According to Barrick, the Hounds are a youthful team that put in a lot of work during the off-season, and Ship’s program stats have increased. After a season with 15 victories, Estep, Ship’s most seasoned grappler, is back. As a freshman, Luffy recorded 19 victories and almost missed qualifying for the district.
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4. Waynesboro
Casey Glunt, coach
8–12 last year
Key wrestlers include Steven Howard, Jr. (121), Logan Smith, So. (189), Anthony Ausherman, So. (215), Brady Myers, Fr. (139), Jayden Rooney, Sr. (145), and Calvin Myers, Sr. (152).
The Buzz: With a strong corps of wrestlers to work with, Gult succeeds longtime Waynesboro coach David Swink. Over the past two seasons, Rooney has won 31 and 32 fights, and he still needs 11 more to reach the century milestone. Last season, Myers (21 victories) qualified regionally. After missing his rookie season due to injuries, Smith is back.
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Big Spring’s Keegan Barrick on November 14, 2024, during PennLive’s wrestling media day.
Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)
3. The Big Spring
Chris Barrick is the coach.
Last year: 11–8
Important wrestlers include Blake Gutshall, Fr. (285), Christian Best, Fr. (121/127), Lennon Osbaugh, Sr. (133), and Keegan Barrick, So. (121). Nicholas Souders, Jr. (160), Cameron Jones, Sr. (127), Cord Hetrick, Jr. (152), Andrew McCrea, Fr. (172), Josiah Hippensteel, Fr. (145), and Benjamin Fenicle, Jr. (215).
The Buzz: The Bulldogs have a strong combination of freshmen and seasoned grapplers.Barrick is 3-1 this season after winning 40 fights and qualifying for the state tournament as a freshman. He also earned three pins at the Rough Rider Invitational on November 30. Souders was a regional qualifier and a 28-bout winner.
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West Perry on November 14, 2024, during PennLive’s wrestling media day.
Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)
2. Perry, West
Coach: Zachary Kell
19-6 last year
Important wrestlers include Hayden Quaker, Jr. (107), Jackson Rush, Sr. (127), Quade Boden, Sr. (215), Tucker Seidel, Sr. (189), and Ty Morrison, Sr. (160).
The Buzz: Despite being a 3A wrestling school currently, the Mustangs still have a strong lineup that includes a number of freshmen in addition to their seniors. Rush (47 victories) was the state medalist and the regional gold winner. Seidel was a state qualifier and a Messiah University recruit who had won 45 fights. Morrison, who committed to the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown, finished fourth on the state podium with 49 victories.
On November 14, 2024, Boiling Springs PennLive will host a wrestling media day.
Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)
1. Springs that boil
Kyle Dayhoff is the coach.
17-5 last year
Important wrestlers: Ian Longenberger, Jr. (145), Drew Scherer, Jr. (133), Luke Magnani, Sr. (127), and Alex Mentzer, Jr. (121).
The Buzz: Dayhoff takes over as head coach of a squad that its coaches have selected as the Colonial Division’s best team. Like many teams, the Bubblers are made up of both new players and seasoned players. As usual, the distinction will be in the opportunity to earn bonus points. Magnani (32 wins, 95 lifetime), Scherer (36 wins), and Longenberger (36 wins) can all reach the 100-win milestone. Both Scherer and Magnani qualified for the state.
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On November 14, 2024, at PennLive’s wrestling media day, West Perry defeated Jackson Rush.
Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)
MVP of the Colonial Division Preseason
West Perry and Jackson Rush
Rush finished his junior campaign with 47 victories, including a silver medal at sectionals, a gold medal at regionals, and a seventh-place finish at states in the 127-pound weight class. He now starts his senior season with a 119-29 record.
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