BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports Report
For the past few seasons Canton wrestling has been the toast of the NTL, claiming several league and sectional titles in a row, along with making the PIAA Duals last season. And, despite saying good-bye to nine seniors from last year’s team, they don’t want it to end.
“We’ve got some new young faces that know the basics, but we just need to fine tune on some minor details that make a huge difference when you get against elite competition,” Canton coach Lyle Wesneski said. “I think that’s a good thing we’re doing right now, just refining our technique, we’re working on getting in shape. I always tell them, Rome wasn’t built in a day - it’s going to happen overnight. It’s going to take a few weeks to a month to get where you want to be in your peak shape, but that’s our goal, is to get there and be wrestling our best when it counts.”
Their big returnee is Hudson Ward, who went 42-12 a year ago.
“It’s good to be back in here with a bunch of young kids,” Ward said. “I’m looking forward to the season.”
Injuries kept him from making a run at states late last year, but he hopes having a more normal season will help keep him healthier.
“It’s different but I think it’s going to help me in the long run,” he said, noting how tough it was to fit an entire season in a month the past two years. “That was really tough on the body. Coach said you’ve only got so many matches in you before you start to burnout. This year, when it comes to the postseason, I don’t burnout.”
Last year Hudson did yeoman’s work for the Warriors in dual meets, moving all around to take on the best kids. He expects to do the same this year, moving between 152 and 172.
“It’s a little different, but it’s all the same,” he said about wrestling the 20-pound difference. “You’ve just go to go out there and wrestle hard, and just compete.”
Cohen Landis also returns, who went 28-18 a year ago, and made it all the way to the regional tournament.
He’ll be bumping up 20 pounds to start the year before moving back down after Christmas.
“I’ll probably be a little bit smaller at 145,” remarked Landis. “But, I’m a lot lengthier than a lot of the kids I wrestle, so it shouldn’t be horrible dropping down to 139 - I might have a little bit of an advantage there.”
Length will be key for the taller Landis regardless where he wrestles.
“I’ve just got to work on blocking my legs and just using it to my advantage,” he said.
Other key returnees are Michael Davis (38-7), Lyle Vermilya (31-16), Holden Ward (20-13), and Carson Rockwell (20-15). They all have strong motivations for this season.
“Lyle was mat short,” said coach Wesneski. “(Hudson) was a mat short, Michael should have been in Hershey, Holden got hurt. So those are things that fuel the fire all summer long. They put in a lot of work, and they’re good leaders out here. You don’t have to say it - they know what to do, they’ve been here for years, and they know what it takes to get to where they want to be.”
Wesneski also has a mat room full of wrestlers who have been waiting in the wings during the past couple of seasons, along with some freshmen looking to make their mark.
“We’ve got some good freshmen that came up from junior high,” he said, noting Leland Pepper, Dawson Burgess, and Tommy Preston.
“We got Eli Kilmer to come out on the football teams,” continued Wesneski. “He’s a 10th grader learning how to wrestle. We’ve got Blaine Wesneski, and Carter Inman. Carter Inman put in a ton of time this summer, working all summer. He worked all year long, so we’re hoping it pays dividends. Mason Harold came back out this year as a senior, so those are guys that were looking forward to stepping up here.”
As far as team goes Ward feels this year can be similar to football. They lost a lot of football, but next man up came in and did their job, leading to another strong season.
“The younger kids are going to have to step up and help the team out,” he said. “We’ll be alright. We’ll compete with everybody. We’re a scrappy team, we’re just hungry.”
Towanda returns practically their entire line-up, and Wyalusing is bullish on the season, but until something changes, Canton is the defending league champs, and they plan on fighting for that title.
“I told the kids last night, ‘pressure is a privilege’,” remarked Wesneski. “To have the bullseyes on our back and that should motivate them to work even harder. And we will work hard over here, and when those times come around in January, when Athens, Wyalusing, Troy, and Towanda come rolling in, we’ll be ready to go. We wrestle the best competition to be ready for those matches, and so, if we stay healthy, we’ll be ready.”
While there’s always an air of excitement around Canton wrestling, this year it’s coupled with the unknown, and that has made the build up for the season even stronger.
“It’ll be pretty cool to see how we do as a team compared to last year,” Landis said. “To see how far we can go as a team.”
ROSTER (Grades)
Levi Vermilya (9)
Lyle Vermilya (11)
Joe Luner (11)
Tommy Preston (9)
Carson Rockwell (10)
Cohen Landis (12)
Zack Colton (11)
Cayden Miller (12)
Holden Ward (11)
Hudson Ward (12)
Dawson Burgess (10)
Aydin Holcomb (11)
Blane Wesneski (9)
Leland Pepper (10)
Carter Inman (9)
Michael Davis (12)
David Irvin (9)
Mason Harold (12)
Eli Kilmer (10)
Ryland Sakers (12)
SCHEDULE
Dec. 7 vs Sayre, 7 p.m.
Dec. 12 at NEB, 7 p.m.
Dec. 15 at Altoona Tournament
Dec. 16 at Altoona Tournament
Dec. 20 at Wellsboro, 7 p.m.
Dec. 29 at Chambersburg Tournament
Dec. 30 at Chambersburg Tournament
Jan. 3 at Athens, 7 p.m.
Jan. 9 vs Wyalusing, 7 p.m.
Jan. 10 vs Williamson, 7 p.m.
Jan. 12 at IUP Tournament
Jan. 13 at IUP Tournament
Jan. 16 vs Troy, 7 p.m.
Jan. 17 at Sullivan County, 7 p.m.
Jan. 18 at NPL, 7 p.m.
Jan. 23 vs Montoursville, 7 p.m.
Jan. 24 vs Towanda, 7 p.m.
Jan. 26 at West Branch Tournament
Jan. 27 at West Branch Tournament
Feb. 17 at Sectionals
Feb. 23 at Districts
Feb. 24 at Districts
Mar 1 at Regionals
Mar 2 at Regionals
