2001-2002 Pre-Season Chat
Coach Brian Hills  12/4/2001

Hey PD! Always a pleasure to hear from our fans in TEXAS. The "class of 74" team was an outstanding team of which I had the privilege of being a part of. I always relate to current team members about the strengths of that team. I believe there have been many great teams including last years squad that only lost to the #1 dual team in the state twice last year. I still refer to the 1993 state championship team as the best that I have been involved with. We had 3 state champions in HAZI, TAYLOR, and BODO plus 3rd place finisher RUSSELL. Add to that Kevin Drew who was injured and lost for the season after winning the Manheim tournament. I am also a little pro to the 1975 team that had 3 state finalists including myself and won the mythical state championship. Thanks for the inquiry.

How do you feel about Justin Hollobaugh and his actions on the mat? Does he get diciplined for his actions?

As wrestling fans that enjoy hard nosed wrestling will attest Justin is a very aggressive wrestler that we have trained to never relax and have a high level of intensity. Over the past 2 years we have seen a noticable improvement in his wrestling on the mat.  Don't look for him to ever become intimidated and become a timid wrestler. We train all our wrestlers this way as I feel our post season accomplishments will speak for themselves.  Last season Justin was involved in a very unfortunate incident at the District tournament that I'm sure he doesn't feel good about. This incident was not totally of his own doing. I am too professional to start blaming others and will not go any further with this. We're very proud of Justin and are looking for big things out of him this season.

I love the 1 - 2 punch at the top, Sommerfeld and Hills. Do you feel pretty confident in a closer match with those two?

Alumni '85

We are very fortunate to have two very talented underclassmen at the top of our lineup.  This is something we have struggled with the last few seasons. They both were not satisfied with 2nd place finishes last weekend and are working hard to improve. They both have the opportunity to go as far as they want to this year.   They push each other and are trying to make each other the best they can be. Coach Tofani has done an great job in making them improve with technique and conditioning.

A question that has kept me in suspense this year, which Hills' wins the battles in the practice room?

Loyal Raider Fan

I have to admit it is getting very hard for me to keep up with Michael. I think we are 1-1 so far this year. I can still hang with him a little on our feet but he kills me when I'm on the bottom. I think age might have something to do with it. He wouldn't have had a chance in 1975!  Overall I think Cheryl and Courtney win all family battles.

I am aware that Justin Nestor is at my alma mater, PITT, on a wrestling scholarship. I am curious as to whether other seniors, from last year's team, have gone off to college and are now wrestling at their respective college ?

Best of luck in the forthcoming season.

Regards,

Joe Spicko
RHS Class of '67

Hi Joe! It is great to hear from one of my heroes  that I followed in both football and wrestling at RHS.  Justin did receive a full ride at Univ. Pitt and I believe is redshirting this season. I haven't been able to talk to him yet this season. Our outstanding group of seniors from last year all have gone on to bigger and better things. Jerry Kendall and Josh Cilas also are attending Pittsburgh but concentrating on academics. Jerry told me he is studying to be a Doctor. Rocky Habel, who had the unfortunate loss due to a slam call, is attending Pitt at Johnstown. He is not wrestling at present but is thinking about competing in the future. David May has enlisted in the military. Dylan Middleton joined the few good men in the Marine Corps. and Nate Kimmy went into the Navy to become a SEAL. These are fine young men and I am very proud of them. By the way that 1967 wrestling team under legendary Coach Lineman was as good as any.

coach hills,
reynolds enjoys one of the most supportive communities for wrestling that i have ever encountered. other than tradition and a winning program(anyone can jump on the band wagon), what do you attribute this to, as many other programs would like the secret.
jd

I don't think it is any secret but I think winning is the most important attribute to our continued success. Every season our kids expect to keep that tradition going. The parents and families of these kids have been around forever. There are grandchildren of former wrestlers now wrestling. It is a very special thing and I'm happy to be a part of it. We continue to do the same things year after year that seem to provide a consistant winning atmosphere.  We also have the benefit of having numerous alumni wrestlers who stop by periodically to help us. The administration has always been supportive and the Booster Club is the greatest. We have never had a losing season and have had tremendous coaches that have added consistency to the program.

Brian,

Sorry I will not be able to make the "live" chat session tonight but I have a baseball meeting that I need to attend. Yes, down here in Texas we can playball all "winter" but the official season does not get started until February.

Great start to the season.

I look forward to reading about "The Raiders" on the Reynolds Wrestling website and various other PA wrestling wedsites that I have bookmarked. In some cases I even get to listen to "The Raiders" via the internet.

I wanted to wish the entire Team and Coaches the best of luck throughout the season and remember give it your all and walk off the mat with your head High win, lose or tie because you are representing one of the most respected high school teams in the sport of wrestling(if not the country).

Long ago a Reynolds wrestling coach once told me to remember its not the size or strength(they do both help)of the wrestler or athlete that makes the difference but the heart,desire and Raiders on the uniform that makes the difference.

Thinking back I'm not so sure that the Raiders on the uniform helped any but it sends a strong message to your opponents that they are in for a "Battle".

WEAR it PROUDLY.

Best Wishes to All in Raider country for a Health, Happy and Safe Wrestling and Holiday Season.

Mark A. Scott
Class of '79

What a great note from another Texas fan. It is really an advantage having Art Williams take care of our website for the out of town fans.  We are working the team hard and your comments will be great for our current group of "Raiders" to see.

I FEEL JUSTIN HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN IT ALL THIS YEAR IF HE STAYS FOCUSED. WHAT DO YOU THINK.
RAIDER FAN

Justin can be as good as he wants to be. He has to make sure the priorities of life come first. Academics, morals and hard work have to come first. I firmly believe if Justin is focused and intense he can accomplish the highest of all goals.

Brian, With the new overtime rule change this year , have you come up with a strategy? Class of "72" Fan

The new Overtime consists of a 1 minute period on their feet. If the match remains tied the sudden death 30 second tiebreaker occurs.  The wrestler who scores first in regulation is given the choice of top or bottom in the rideout period.   Obviously scoring the first point in the match can dictate an advantage if you reach the sudden death overtime. We have been a believer in deferring at the coin toss in the past but are now considering choosing the bottom position in the 2nd period if the match is scoreless at that time. It is something we will have to adjust to depending upon the strength of the opponent.

how do you feel kevin drew will do at cp??

I am very proud of Kevin Drew being hired as the wrestling coach at CP.  He has tremendous morals and values. He will be the first one to want to defeat the Raiders and will have his troops believing they can do it. Of course I will do my best to see that this doesn't happen. Kevin is a class act and a great addition to the coaching community. I am happy to share thoughts with him anytime.

when you reach your 200 career victories what will that feel like? and when you surpass the great neal lineman, can we call you the great brian hills?

To tell you the truth I have not coached with the intention of surpassing my great coach in career victories. It is actually something I wish was not going to happen and would like to ask that it not be a big deal. Coach Lineman is the Founder of this program and all I ever wanted to do is maintain it at the highest levels. All it really means is that  I've been fortunate to have been around for alot of years.

what do you think of people accusing the raiders of recruiting?

I have never recruited. Never will. I just coach the kids that show up in our gym.

who do you guys wrestle against at the brookville duals?

The pairings are to be announced on December 17th on the Gold Medal Rankings website. We are wrestling 3 matches this year. It is a two day event and we will wrestle 1 match on Friday with 2 matches on Saturday.

Where does this team compare to last years with the loss of a great group of seniors. I saw there was no 125 pounder at Philipsburgh, will there be one in the future?
Anonymous

We lost a great group of seniors last year that had some great individuals. I see the strength of this team in the balance from top to bottom. We have a 125 lber. that was out for disciplinary reasons that could return next Tuesday. If not we have some adjustments that can make us even stronger.

I hope you do many chats in the future, there a great way to get to know the team from the coaches standpoint!

Thanks. The only downfall is I have not been home since I left for work this morning.

Can't wait to see you get 200 this year Coach Hills, it's great, Much luck this season!

Thanks again but my goal is to get our wrestlers to be the best that they can be.

Hi Brian, Art and Don,
Just got back from a game. Sorry i wasn't there. Where's my pizza!!! :-)
Guess who?

Whendy you should've come anyway I could use some help typing these answers. There is a couple of pieces of pizza left but I think Don just left with them in his hands.

i hope you guys wrestle brandywine so we can see justin hollobaugh wrestle mat guerri

There are going to be some great teams there. Brandywine Heights (2001 State Tourney champs), Mifflinburg, Juniata, Hughesville, Burrell, Maplewood, Brockway, Brookville, Ridgway and Reynolds.

are the state rankings out. where can i find them.

Off the Mat Rankings can be purchased through a subscription you can obtain off the internet and Gold Medal rankings put out a preseason ranking. Off the Mat will not rank until after the first month of the season to get a true ranking at the correct weights.

How do you address those that say the Raiders style of wrestling pushes the limit towards over aggression?

For those that think we are over aggressive I would have to ask them to please get out of District 10 and travel the state and see the wrestling throughout the state.  That is the main reason we compete in all the various tournaments and competitions that we do. Teams like Easton, Philipsburg-Osceola, Northampton, Shikellamy, State College, Brookville, Ridgway, Wyalusing and many more are alot more aggressive than we are. The proof is in the pudding! See the results from Hershey Park Arena year in and year out. The eastern part of the state definitely lets wrestlers wrestle and not dance. I do not believe in slams and we have worked very hard at controlling our aggression in that phase but I do not like the inconsistency in which they are called.

brian,

what are some good wrestling sites with updated rankings.

I usually try to view our website, the District 10 website and of course the Pa wrestling website on a nightly basis. Tom Elling on the Pa. site is a great historian and promoter of our sport.