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NTL WRESTLING: NEB LOOKS TO CONTINUE REBUILD INTO THIS SEASON (2022-12-02)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
The Northeast Bradford wrestling program continues to slowly build, and this year they hope to take another step forward.

After going winless with three wrestlers during the pandemic season they garnered two dual meet wins a year ago, and have seen their roster get up to 13 kids, close enough to have a full line-up.

“That’s big for us because I think the last time we saw those numbers was 2017,” said coach Curt Cole. “So, it’s been a few years. A lot of inexperience, but they’re hard workers.”

They got a dual meet win over Sayre last year, and also beat Elk Lake during their duals tournament.

With that under their belts Cole is hoping for a little bit better.

“I know it doesn’t sound like much, but I’m hoping to win at least three of the NTL matches,” he said. “If we can do, if we can just improve each week I think that will be a big help for us.”

They have four returnees with heavyweight Kamden Ricci leading the way. The senior 285-pounder went 11-14 a year ago in a weight class that is stacked in District IV, and the NTL.

“Hopefully he steps up,” said Cole. “He’s been working hard.”

Ricci is hoping to get to districts this season after coming up just short at sectionals, and he’s been working on his fundamentals to do that.

“I’m working on the under hook,” he said. “I’m really cranking on that, and the sit out.”

Being under a nearly 300-pound wrestler isn’t fun.

“It’s really important to get out from underneath there because you’ve got your own weight, and the guy you’re wrestling on you,” Ricci said. “It’s just a lot of pressure down on you, and it’s really bad to be down there.”

Being the lone senior, he’s heartened to see how the team’s numbers have gone up in the last two years.

“We got a pretty large team this year,” he said.

Also returning are Kolton Keir (8-15), Nate Billings (2-18), and Lucas Lambert (1-6).

One wrestler to keep an eye on is freshman Mason Alexander, who is hoping to nail down the 107-pound spot.

“I’m nervous,” Alexander said about the move up to varsity. “But I think all the kids that I wrestled last year, they’re moving up too.”

He also knows he’ll be taking on some older kids, a challenge he’s waiting for.

“It’s going to be really tough, but I think if I just wrestle smart - not so more hard, but wrestle more smart - I think I can handle it,” said Alexander.

Alexander went 1-2 at the Keystone State Championships last March at 97-pounds. He’s hoping to build on that performance by winning a sectional title, and earning a spot at districts.

“I’m trying to get a little better position than I am used too,” Alexander said about what he’s focusing on early this season

He’s one of nine newcomers on the team this year, six of them freshmen.

“We’re doing real, down to earth basics,” Cole said about the early going. “We’ve been doing a lot wrestling oriented conditioning, too.”

This summer they had former 2-time NCAA Division-I All-American Chance Marsteller in their gym for a camp. Marsteller went 166-0 in his Pennsylvania high school career, and Cole has seen that payoff this year, if not in skill but also in enthusiasm.

“Normally, if I ask half these guys who an international wrestler was, or a collegiate wrestler they wouldn’t have a clue,” explained Cole. “But ever since Chance came, now I ask them who certain guys are, they know who they are now, so they’re paying a little more attention to that stuff.”

The wrestlers themselves are hoping to continue that excitement, because they know the better they do, the more their program will grow.

“I think once people see how well wrestling can do I think they’re going to want to be a part of that,” remarked Alexander.

ROSTER (Grade)

Mason Alexander (9)

Kolton Keir (10)

Hunter Comstock (9)

Russell Martin (9)

James Pannett (10)

Nate Billings (11)

Nation Evans (11)

Tristen Corter (10)

Lucas Lambert (10)