Low wrestling numbers pin two area schools
The wrestling squads at Highlands High School and Shady Side Academy are facing a serious lack of numbers, and the two schools are taking a different approach to dealing with the problem.
Highlands finished the 2011-12 season with only six wrestlers and began practice for the upcoming season with only five wrestlers.
"The athletic department decided to suspend our dual-meet schedule for the 2012-13 season," said Golden Rams coach Logan Downes, now in his second season. "We are not allowed to compete in dual meets or dual-meet tournaments, but we are allowed to compete in individual tournaments, including the postseason tournaments."
Downes was obviously disappointed with the decision and a bit surprised.
"I was a bit irritated that they waited until the second day of practice [to make the decision]," Downes said. "There's a chance we could have had a couple more kids join the program."
One thing that didn't help the situation was the defection of the Golden Rams best wrestler to the basketball team.
"Allan Cratsenberg decided to play basketball this year," Downes said. "He was a PIAA qualifier last year as a sophomore."
Cratsenberg won a section title at 195 pounds last season, then finished fourth in the WPIAL and fifth in the Southwest Region. He finished the season with a 25-10 record and had a two-year mark of 47-24.
"Allan would have been one of the top wrestlers in his weight class in the state," Downes said. "Losing him really hurt."
Downes pointed out that the program has seen a steady decline in numbers over the past three seasons, but the junior high program has seen a slight increase.
"The most we had last year in our junior high program was 10 kids," Downes said. "This year, we have as many as 16 kids. If we can keep the numbers up in the junior high program, the athletic department might consider reinstating our dual-meet schedule for next season."
Shady Side Academy is facing a similar situation, but the administration has not suspended its dual-meet schedule. Co-coaches Joe Eisel and Nic SanDoval had five wrestlers finish the 2011-12 season and began practice for this season with just four grapplers.
"We're going through a tough time with the program, but I'm glad to see that the athletic department is allowing us to continue our dual-meet schedule," Eisel said.
"It's obvious with only four wrestlers that we will not win a dual meet this season, but we want the kids to get as many reps as possible. It will be painful, but Nic and I are up for the challenge."
Coincidentally, the two schools traded wrestlers via transfers.
Shady Side Academy's top wrestler, Nolan Wise, transferred back to the Highlands School District after spending the past two seasons with the Indians. Wise placed fourth in Section 3-AA at 126 pounds last season and has a two-year mark of 43-30.
"It was disappointing to lose Nolan after working with him the past two years," Eisel said.
Logan Platt, one of Highlands' top young wrestlers, transferred to Shady Side Academy. Platt placed fifth in Section 3-AA last season as a 220-pound freshman and finished with a 13-12 record.
"We lost one and picked up another from Shady Side," Downes said.
Both Downes and Eisel are hoping the numbers situation will improve in the future, but also realize that they are not alone.
"There are a lot of small schools suffering with low numbers," Eisel said. "It's becoming a challenge for smaller schools to fill their lineup. We just have to go out there and give it our best. We're going to keep fighting."
Highlands finished the 2011-12 season with only six wrestlers and began practice for the upcoming season with only five wrestlers.
"The athletic department decided to suspend our dual-meet schedule for the 2012-13 season," said Golden Rams coach Logan Downes, now in his second season. "We are not allowed to compete in dual meets or dual-meet tournaments, but we are allowed to compete in individual tournaments, including the postseason tournaments."
Downes was obviously disappointed with the decision and a bit surprised.
"I was a bit irritated that they waited until the second day of practice [to make the decision]," Downes said. "There's a chance we could have had a couple more kids join the program."
One thing that didn't help the situation was the defection of the Golden Rams best wrestler to the basketball team.
"Allan Cratsenberg decided to play basketball this year," Downes said. "He was a PIAA qualifier last year as a sophomore."
Cratsenberg won a section title at 195 pounds last season, then finished fourth in the WPIAL and fifth in the Southwest Region. He finished the season with a 25-10 record and had a two-year mark of 47-24.
"Allan would have been one of the top wrestlers in his weight class in the state," Downes said. "Losing him really hurt."
Downes pointed out that the program has seen a steady decline in numbers over the past three seasons, but the junior high program has seen a slight increase.
"The most we had last year in our junior high program was 10 kids," Downes said. "This year, we have as many as 16 kids. If we can keep the numbers up in the junior high program, the athletic department might consider reinstating our dual-meet schedule for next season."
Shady Side Academy is facing a similar situation, but the administration has not suspended its dual-meet schedule. Co-coaches Joe Eisel and Nic SanDoval had five wrestlers finish the 2011-12 season and began practice for this season with just four grapplers.
"We're going through a tough time with the program, but I'm glad to see that the athletic department is allowing us to continue our dual-meet schedule," Eisel said.
"It's obvious with only four wrestlers that we will not win a dual meet this season, but we want the kids to get as many reps as possible. It will be painful, but Nic and I are up for the challenge."
Coincidentally, the two schools traded wrestlers via transfers.
Shady Side Academy's top wrestler, Nolan Wise, transferred back to the Highlands School District after spending the past two seasons with the Indians. Wise placed fourth in Section 3-AA at 126 pounds last season and has a two-year mark of 43-30.
"It was disappointing to lose Nolan after working with him the past two years," Eisel said.
Logan Platt, one of Highlands' top young wrestlers, transferred to Shady Side Academy. Platt placed fifth in Section 3-AA last season as a 220-pound freshman and finished with a 13-12 record.
"We lost one and picked up another from Shady Side," Downes said.
Both Downes and Eisel are hoping the numbers situation will improve in the future, but also realize that they are not alone.
"There are a lot of small schools suffering with low numbers," Eisel said. "It's becoming a challenge for smaller schools to fill their lineup. We just have to go out there and give it our best. We're going to keep fighting."
wrestling