By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

HEAD COACH

Dave Wrobel

22nd year

Career Record: 205-134 in duals, 38 state qualifiers, 19 state place-winners, one state champion.

THE TEAM

Coaching Staff: Derek Wrobel, Marco Berquist, Conner Nemec, Dominic Stuber.

2021-22 Record: 3-7 dual meets, 6th (of 20) at Chagrin Valley Conference Tournament, four district qualifiers and two state qualifiers.

Returning Lettermen (6): JP Wrobel, jr.; Drake Rennecker, jr.; Gavin McIntyre, jr.; Corey Barnauskas, soph.; Drew Pfost, soph.; Brenton Mason, soph.

Lettermen Lost (3): Mason Daniels, Ethan Strahan, Evan Daniels.

SEASON OUTLOOK

The Red Devils lose a state qualifier (Mason Daniels) and a state alternate (Ethan Strahan), but they also return two-time state qualifier JP Wrobel and district qualifier Drake Rennecker, along with a two-time lettermen in Gavin McIntyre.

Overall, though, the Red Devils are young and inexperienced.

Head coach Dave Wrobel is optimistic, though, because his high-school roster has soon a boost in numbers and the middle-school roster has doubled.

“The youth numbers have increased dramatically,” he said.

Wrobel described his team this year as “young and inexperienced, but we have some athleticism.”

To find success this season, Wrobel looks for JP Wrobel and Rennecker to take the next step, with McIntyre continuing to progress on his upward trajectory.

Wrobel also hopes to see Nolan Huntington and Kade Rottger “fit into the lineup at the right weight class and contribute right way.

“We also hope our ‘returners to the sport’ are able to knock the rust off and pick up where they left off in the youth,” Wrobel said.

WEIGHT CLASSES

106/113 pounds: Kyler Guy, soph.

“He was a solid youth wrestler, but has not wrestled for a few years,” Wrobel said.

120/126 pounds: Kade Rotter, fresh.

“Kade was a middle school OAC state qualifier,” Wrobel said.

126/132 pounds: JP Wrobel, jr.

“JP is a two-time state qualifier with a 69-10 career record.”

132/138 pounds: Ayden Long, soph.

At the 138 and 144 weight classes, Wrobel said he is hopeful that he can get some players to spread out.

“We have a logjam, so hopefully we can get someone down to 132 and someone up to 150 and 157. Otherwise, we are going to have five to seven wrestlers competing for two spots in the lineup.”

138/144 pounds: Drake Rennecker, jr.

“Drake has the most experience and is a former district qualifier and two-time lettermen. He has 35 career wins through two seasons and has put in a lot of time in the off-season.”

138/144 pounds: Tristan Addis, jr.

“Tristan had some success at the youth level and is extremely athletic, playing three varsity sports.”

138/144 pounds: Corey Barnauskas, soph.; Nolan Huntington, fresh.

“Nolan has some experience wrestling at the youth and middle-school level, wher ehe won a few matches at the junior high state tournament.”

144/150 pounds: Drew Post, soph.

144/150 pounds: Jackson Rattray, soph.

150/157 pounds: Zac Knipper, soph.

150/157 pounds: Kaleb Rotter, jr.

165/175 pounds: Brenton Mason, soph.; Brodie MacLearie, fresh.

“Brenton and Brodie will compete for the 175 spot until one of them is able to make 165.”

190 pounds: Bryce Bennett, soph.

“Bryce is a multi-sport athlete coming off the football season. He wrestled a few years in the youth.”

215 pounds: Gavin McIntyre, jr.

“Gavin is the most experienced, with two years of varsity experience and winning a dozen matches along the way.”

285 pounds: Blake Baumgardner, jr.

WHAT MAKES THIS TEAM SPECIAL

“It is a tight-knit group that is young and will have the opportunity to grow together,” Wrobel said. “As of right now, we have no seniors so they will have the opportunity to learn and compete at the varsity level, with the goal of improving along the way. We do have some talented wrestlers, too, so it will be a nice mixture of athletes and wrestlers.

UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH

Nolan Hunginton, fresh.; Kade Rotter, fresh.; Brody MacLearie, fresh.; Tristan Addis, soph.; Bryce Bennett, soph.; Kyler Guy, soph.

“The freshmen wrestled through middle school, with the sophomores have not wrestled since youth. Kade and Nolan are both middle school state qualifiers, with Nolan winning two matches at OAC state,” Wrobel said.

TEAM MOTTO

Focus on you getting better and if everyone does that, then the team will be just fine.

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

“We lack depth to our lineup, as well as experience,” Wrobel said. “Also, we will struggle to fill the entire lineup.”

LEAGUE OUTLOOK

“Overall in the CVC, Perry looks to be the cream oaf the crop,” Wrobel said. “However, in the Valley Division, we should be able to compete with the likes of Orange, Beachwood, Harvey, Hawken and Lutheran West. In terms of Portage County, I would say Streetsboro and Rootstown look like the teams to beat.”