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Saturday, March 1, 2008
Half Full of Half Empty?
Greater Reading, PA
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By: Anastasia Leiphart, VYPE
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Photo(s) By: Rob Mancini
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Although the Kutztown wrestling team began with a team of 12 and now have only 6, the Cougars wrestling program is definately half full.
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“Even though the numbers are low, the wrestlers we have are solid.”
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Brad Losito, Kutztown’s Wrestling Coach, had his work cut out for him. He started the season with 12 athletes; but by mid-season, only 6 remained. “It was like ‘Survivor,’ ” Losito jokes, “Every other day we’d walk in and someone else was gone!”
The loss of half of the team would probably destroy most teams; however Coach Lositio and Assistant Coach Shawn Katz used the small number of athletes to individualize training. Using positive affirmations to keep motivations alive, the coaches realized that they have six “…kids whom never give up,” Katz explains. The benefit of having a team with a positive outlook is especially helpful when the team is small in number.
Part of the optimistic view of the situation was training as if each athlete had a personal coach. Getting on the mat themselves allowed the coaches to address specific training needs in addition to adding diversity. Due to a history dating back to the athletes’ early years in wrestling, the coaches’ attention nurtured close personal connections to the athletes.
High, individual attention paid off this year when junior Jeremy Weinman won the 152lb class county championship. Even more exciting is that Weinman won the championship by defeating the reigning champ, Nathan Gross, from the largest squad in the county, Brandywine Heights, a Berks County sports “David and Goliath.”
Even though the numbers are low, “the wrestlers we have are solid,” says Athletic Director, Mick O’Neil. The team consists of sophomores Kyle Christianson, and Sean Emerich, and juniors Brian Staller, Todd Siegel, Jeremy Weinman, and Jason Follweiler. The guys frequently encounter O’Neil in the hallways, where he congratulates them on their matches.
Plans for recruiting a larger group of wrestlers in years to come is on the drawing board. The coaches would like to attract the attention of younger athletes in order to excite them about jr. high wrestling and funnel them into high school team. In addition, the coaches are thankful for the support of the parents, who recently attended a school board meeting to save the team from being cut.
Losito recounts the school board’s decision; “As long as our numbers stay up…” the team will stay active. Gaining more players is certainly not out of the question, especially when 4-5 current jr. high wrestlers are moving up to the high school next year and most of this year’s team will be returning. However, the team is actively recruiting other students who are interested in wrestling.
It seems that this team is poised for greatness. After all, they produced a county champion out of a team of six. The level of competition they will bring to the mat next year, with a more experienced, larger squad, is sure to be an exciting sequel!
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