NTL WRESTLING: NEB BOYS, GIRLS LOOK FOR BIG IMPROVEMENTS THIS SEASON (2024-12-01)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Both Northeast Bradford wrestling programs are excited for the 2024-2025 campaign with both continuing to grow.

“We’re getting back to having fun,” said NEB coach Curt Cole. “I think we’ve been having a lot of run since the season started. Our numbers are up a little bit, depending on what we do with some of the ninth graders, we might have a full roster, and that’s the first time ever for me, so I’m pretty having with that. The kids seemed to be pretty pumped with it, and everybody’s working hard for the most part.”

As for the girls, Cole is excited to see how things are taking off in the NTL with Towanda joining them, Athens, and Wellsboro with programs.

“I know Towanda has got a whole boat load of them, so it’ll be cool to see,” Cole said. “I think it’s real good for the NTL, I see it growing, and I think that’s a good thing.”

The Lady Panthers return state medalist Anaiah Kolesar, who went 28-5 a year ago and came home with a fourth place finish at the inaugural PIAA Championships.

“I’m mostly excited for reconnecting with my teammates,” Kolesar said. “I worked on technique up at United, where I learned hand fighting. I started getting a lot better at that.”

Getting up on the state podium was a big boost for the junior.

“It kind of boosted my confidence a lot, but most of the confidence I find is in God,” she said.

She plans on opening the season 124, then moving down to 118 for the postseason, with a main goal of reaching a state final.

“She worked quite a bit over the summer,” said Cole. “I think the Desmond Duals she wrestled a real tough, quality New York opponent, and handled the match. I think that was huge for her mindset.”

They also return Ava Lambert (10-9) and Cora Franklin (8-9) from last year, along with McKenzie Clark, whose season ended early due to an injury.

“We have everybody back plus one or two more,” Cole said. “They’re all pretty tough, and they all mesh well, so that’s a good thing.”

For the boys they return two district qualifiers in Mason Alexander (20-12) and Hunter Comstock (18-14). 

Alexander, in particular, came up just short of regionals, taking eighth at districts, so that’s big motivating factor for him.

“It got me thinking about how much work I have to put in to keep going forward,” said Alexander. “I definitely worked on neutral and bottom. That one extra point is going to be a lot, and with the new rule change, neutral is going to be pretty good.”

Alexander is hoping to drop down to 107 after Christmas, where the junior hopes he’ll have an advantage against the younger kids.

“Since I’m older than most people that will give me a little bit more knowledge,” he said

Cole has seen a change in Alexander over the off season.

“He’s worked all summer long trying to tweak a few things,” he said. “I think he’s done a pretty good job with that, he’s buckled down with his goals.”

Comstock had a strong end to the season a year ago, and hopes to use that as a jumping off point for this season.

“I want to be able to make it further than I did last year,” he said. “I want to make it to regionals, or even states.”

He really worked on his offense in the off season.

“Not stopping my feet, just really staying on them and not getting tired,” Comstock explained. 

His goal is to drop down to 121 for the postseason.

“It’s going to be make it a lot harder to maintain my weight, but as long as maintain it I should make it a long ways,” said Comstock. “I think I’ll be a little bit bigger than them.”

Cole believes Comstock can get down by the postseason.

“He kept his weight where he needed it to be all summer,” he said. “He got certified where we think he should be if we need it, and he’s looking good, too.”

Another key returnee is Kale Howland, who went 13-15 a year ago as a freshman wrestling in the tough middle weights.

With the added numbers Cole feels this team could be the first team to make district duals since the mid-2010’s.

“It’s a real possibility,” he said. “Things can fall in place for us to maybe go .500 to make district duals, so that’s definitely one of our team goals.”

BOYS’ ROSTER

Mason Alexander (11)

Maddex Rooker (9)

Hunter Comstock (11)

Tucker Hughes (9)

Kelton Raymond (11)

Alex Gomez (10)

Russell Martin (11)

Kale Howland (10)

Camron Rinebold (11)

Edward Soper (9)

Zeryk Thurston (9)

Carsen Perkins (11)

Connor Eastabrook (11)

Ben Ellis (11)

GIRLS’ ROSTER

Dariela Reyes Ramirez (9)

Anaiah Kolesar (11)

Mackenzie Clark (10)

Riley Lamson (9)

Ava Lambert (11)

Cora Franklin (12)

BOYS’ SCHEDULE

Dec. 5 vs Montrose, 7 p.m.

Dec. 10 at NPL, 7 p.m.

Dec. 12 vs Wyalusing, 7 p.m.

Dec. 14 at Hughesville Spartan Duals

Dec. 17 at Athens, 7 p.m.

Dec. 19 vs Troy, 7 p.m.

Dec. 27 at Jim Thorpe Tournament

Dec. 28 at Jim Thorpe Tournament

Jan. 4 at South Williamsport Tournament, 10 a.m.

Jan. 7 vs Towanda, 7 p.m.

Jan. 9 at Williamson, 7 p.m.

Jan. 16 at Canton, 7 p.m.

Jan. 21 at Wellsboro, 7 p.m.

Jan. 22 vs Central Columbia, 7 p.m.

Jan. 24 at Thomas Automotive

Jah. 25 at Thomas Automotive

GIRLS’ SCHEDULE

Dec. 7 at Jarvis Memorial (Athens)

Dec. 14 at Honesdale

Dec. 21 at Hanover

Jan. 4 at Montgomery

Jan. 21 at Wellsboro, 7 p.m.

Jan. 22 vs Central Columbia, 6 p.m.

Feb. 1 at Williamsport, 9 a.m.

Feb. 4 vs Sugar Valley Rural Charter, 6 p.m.

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