Lebanon County wrestling: What to know, wrestlers to watch in the 2022-23 season
The winter high school season officially started last Friday, and the action is heating up in the courts and on the mats.
Here's a team-by-team look at Lebanon County's wrestling squads.
Annville-Cleona
2022: 9-11 overall, 4-2 in L-L Section 3
Key returnees: Liam Pulaski (Jr.), Cael Harter (Jr.), Josh Lindsay (Sr.), Ayden Heilmen (Sr.), Phoenix Music (Sr.), Jahmar Gonzalez-Allie (Sr.), Oliver Carey (Jr.), Damien Miller (Jr.)
Key losses: Gavin Funck, Ethan Missimer
Coach: Mike Miller (15th season as head coach)
The breakdown: A little light in numbers and experience, the Little Dutchmen wrestlers will be looking to gain experience quickly to be competitive in L-L Section 3. Cael Harter is the lone returning District 3 qualifier for Annville-Cleona, having qualified at 132 pounds last year for coach Mike Miller’s team.
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Cedar Crest
2022: 2-11 overall, 1-6 in L-L Section 2
Key returnees: Jason Brooks (Sr.), Lucas Gerrett (Jr.)
Key losses: Trayvon Zerbe, Bryce Houser
Coach: Cameron Eisenhauer (2nd season)
The breakdown: The Falcons' rebuild is underway with head coach Cameron Eisenhauer back in the fold for his second season. With a roster of 17 wrestlers, only four of which are seniors, Cedar Crest is starting to regain some momentum. Keep an eye on Jason Brooks as the senior has steadily improved each year in his career.
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Elco
2022: 18-8 overall, 4-2 L-L Section 3, District 3 Class 2A qualifier
Key returnees: Zane Trostle (So.), Steven Rosado, Mitch Frederick, Sammie Bechtel, Eli Krow, Kyle Miller
Key losses: Eddie Bean
Coach: Ben Moser (2nd season)
The breakdown: The Raiders bring back a young team after a rather successful first season under head coach Ben Moser. The Elco lineup a season ago was freshman-heavy which made for some growing pains.
Zane Trostle leads the six returning District 3 tournament qualifiers for the Raiders after also qualifying for the Southeast Regional tournament at 113 pounds a year ago. Fellow classmates Steven Rosado and Kyle Miller also eclipsed the 30-win threshold as freshman a year ago and will be counted on for Elco.
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Lebanon
2022: 2-18 overall, 0-7 L-L Section 2
Key returnees: Griffin Gonzalez (Sr.), Riley Houck (Sr.), Eddiean Naphtali (Jr.), Alexander Eberly (So.)
Key losses: Thomas Hershey, Angel Martinez, Tyler Wertley
Coach: Vaughn Black (10th season)
The breakdown: The Cedars have been trending in the right direction in recent memory. That is not expected to be any different this season as Lebanon returns to the mats with a nearly full lineup. In a team sport that relies heavily on the individual, the Cedars return four starters from last year, including senior and three-time Lancaster-Lebanon League champion, Griffin Gonzalez.
Northern Lebanon
2022: 18-7 overall, 6-0 L-L Section 3, District 3 Class 2A 4th place
Key returnees: Hayden Adams (So.), Clayton Erb (Sr.), Will Hillegas (Jr.), Owen Lehman (Sr.), Connor Leonard (Sr.), Aaron Seidel (So.), Julian Zaragoza (Jr.)
Key losses: Owen Breidegan, Kayden Clark, Cooper Gill
Coach: Rusty Wallace (17th season)
The breakdown: Another year, another section title for head coach Rusty Wallace and the Vikings. Last season, Northern Lebanon captured their 10th section title in a row and don’t look for that run to be ended this season. With seven key contributors returning to the lineup, including sophomore and returning PIAA champ Aaron Seidel, the Vikings will be favored to win the L-L Section 3 crown again. Along with Seidel, Julian Zaragoza, Owen Lehman, Conor Leonard and Clayton Erb all qualified for the regional tournament and all return for Northern Lebanon.
Palmyra
2022: 9-16 overall, 4-3 Mid-Penn Keystone
Key returnees: Josh Smith (Jr.), Nate Foltz (Sr.), Mason Bucks (Jr.), Kadin Jones (Jr.)
Key losses: Jonathan Eisenhooth, Jase Jones
Coach: Jonathan Regets (1st season)
The breakdown: The Cougars welcome first-year coach Jonathan Regets to the varsity program, but he does not bring unfamiliarity to the program having served as the middle school coach the prior three seasons. Having seen success at the middle school level in recent years, Regets believes that the perception of Palmyra wrestling is going to change and that starts this year. It starts with a trio of returning juniors in Josh Smith, Mason Bucks and Kadin Jones along with returning senior Nate Foltz.
This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: PIAA wrestling: Lebanon County team guide to 2022-23 season
