NTL WRESTLING: NEB WRESTLING FIGHTS THROUGH TOUGH SEASON (2021-03-19)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Northeast Bradford had just three wrestlers this year as the Covid-19 restrictions kept several kids from coming out. From the beginning that changed the season for the Panthers.

“With just three wrestlers we don’t look at dual comparisons as much as individual and heads up stats,” said coach Curt Cole. 

However, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a successful season.

“Two of the three boys had winning records while the third was competitive, and even avenged a loss at sectionals from a previous dual meet,” said Cole. “One of the three will be making All-Academic, and also received a sportsmanship award at sectionals.”

Senior Kenric Ricci (11-6) and junior Jack Shumway (13-9) both ended the season with above .500 records, with Shumway nearly getting to districts as he fell in the North Section consolation final.

“Most of our duals we would win two of the three bouts,” said Cole. “In the ones we didn’t win we had a lot of grit and fight. With the way the season was, due to Covid we had a few kids not come out that we hoped for. That hurt us in a couple small duals meets that surprisingly we could have won. For what we had to work with I was content with how the season went.”

A tough North Section Tournament kept Shumway and Ricci from getting down to districts.

“It’s always frustrating when the ending is now how you wanted it to play out,” said Cole. “But we get two of the three back, with a few junior high moving up next year, and hopefully a couple kids that didn’t come out this year will rejoin.”

For Cole, this year was all about getting, and staying, on the mat, not so much about what happens there.

“I remind myself all the time that coaching wrestling is not always about the wins and losses,” Cole said. “But it is about how you impacted, and molded your athletes into what they become when they leave your favorite sport behind. Hopefully, it’s a respected, hard working individual.”