How does this year's freshman class look?
We are very happy with our freshman class. They have shown great
maturity and we have confidence in them to carry on the tradition.
We kept nine freshman on the Varsity squad to help with depth and
four of them are starting this weekend. They also have had
success at the Junior level.
What's this year's lineup going to look
like?
This weekend our lineup is as follows although we had several
competitive wrestle-offs which could mean for several changes
during the course of the season.
103-Brandon Maun (9)
112-Curtis Reynolds (9)
119-Paul Kulka (11)
125-Corey Brown (9)
130-Matt Dunn (11)
135-Mason Stewart (11)
140-Steve Nestor (10)
145-Aaron Nestor (10)
152-Jason Brown (12)
160-Lawrence Beckman (10)
171-Sam Kulka (11)
189-Mike Miller (9)
215-Ryan Foust (12)
275-Mike Edwards (11)
18+ years and counting... you seem to
still enjoying coaching. Do you plan to stay at it for a while?
I love the competition factor and enjoy the kids reaching the
highest pinnacles. I have been blessed to be surrounded by a great
group of people at Reynolds. I would like to coach until the
kids don't seem to respond to my motivation. Another thing that
has actually made it easier is that I'm not doing everything. My
assistants are great and we all share in the decision process as
well as responsibilities. When I first started I had great help
but not as much as I do now. My true satisfaction is seeing these
kids excel at higher levels than they themselves may have
expected. Another is seeing our kids go on to college and wrestle.
Do you think that the tough December
schedule will help this group mature as it did last year's squad?
Our schedule has always been very strong in December and has
always seem to prepare us for the late season duals and post
season. Exposing our team, especially the youngsters, to Manheim,
the nationally ranked Ironman tournament, etc, really exposes them
to the best wrestling. They get to see what it's really like out
there and helps them to focus on where they want to be.
What's your expectations for this year's
squad?Although we may be young we still like to think
we can make a run at the team duals statewide.
Ft LeBouef has a great team back and Grove City will be very
strong. We feel we left a little something on the mat last
year and our seasoned veterans are ready to compete.
Burrell and Mt. Pleasant are touted as the other teams to beat
this year as they both welcome back a lot of talent from last
year.
How's the numbers with the elementary
progam and is Rick still heading it up? Who are some of the
other elementary coaches?
Our elementary group just started last night and I hope the
numbers were good. We are extremely happy to have Justin
Hollobaugh working with the outstanding volunteer staff that we
have. Rick Stoyer is helping Justin become acclimated and
the longtime group of coaches is greatly appreciated. We have a
numerous list and I could spend a lot of time on speaking about
them alone.
Who will be the Jr. High coaches this
year?
We have some double duty coaches this year and we feel it's
benefiting us even more. Casey Taylor and Michael Hills are
doubling up and working with both the varsity and Jr. High
Squads. Longtime assistant Keith Dawes is again working with the
Jr. High. We hope to incorporate some younger blood in with this
staff as well.
How do the teams in our section look
like this year?
Grove City seems to be on the rise.
Grove City has a solid team back with some very good
wrestlers. They did not lose very many individuals from last
year's team which finished with very few losses. Marty Ruley
has always done a great job and I know he has looked forward
to this group. Mercer will be improved and Lakeview has
some outstanding individuals. Slippery Rock also has some very
good individuals.
Whose the team or teams to beat in the
district?Ft LeBouef has most of their squad
back from last year and also picked another Hiner who moved
back from Erie Prep. Grove City, Jamestown and Saegertown
also have great teams.
What are Travis and Nick doing this
year?
Are either of them wrestling?
Nick Sommerfeld is wrestling at Columbia University and
has had a great start. He has won 8 or 9 matches already
this year and is doing tremendous academically. We are
very proud to now have had 2 RHS wrestlers at Columbia
University as Steve Popovitch graduated 2 years ago and
was the team captain his Senior year. Travis Battles
went to PSU Behrend and is not currently wrestling. Rumor
has it he may be getting the bug to get back into sports
and we may see him playing football or wrestling in the
near future. Jake Habel is also starting at Washington &
Jefferson at 125 lbs. and last I heard was 8-3.
I hear Don Shaffer has moved out
of the area. Will he still be doing the wrestling
program? He does a nice job with it plus enjoyed his
radio announcing as well.
Don is a great
contributer to Reynolds wrestling and wrestling
throughout our area. Don is still taking care of
our program and will be featuring a column on our
web-site. I'm sure he will be working his way into
the broadcast booth as the year progresses. I spoke with
Mars coach Don Cooley at our first scrimmage this year
and he spoke highly of MR. SHAFFER as I volunteered him
to assist with the Mars team as well. I hear Lindsey is
helping with the team also. We miss Don and family but
will not let them get to far away from the Blue and
Gray.
Coach Hills,
How much of a loss was senior
letterman Eric Campbell's leadership to your young
line-up.Unfortunately we have not had Eric's
services for the last two years as he injured his knee
last season and injured his other knee this past fall.
Eric has always worked hard a being an RHS wrestler
but never had the chance to provide the leadership he
wanted.
Coach, this is Stephen Nestor,
I just got home from practice and I'm going out to
eat a dozen wings right now. I just wanted your
opinion on that!
Whoa! Steve you must have
been in pretty good shape after practice weight
wise. I'll pick up Matt Dunn and lets get'er done!
Coach-
I beleive you have one of
the best surrounding staffs in the state and
beyond. How does this help the team as a whole or
individually, such as lower, middle, and upper
weights etc.YES! A great staff. We
pretty much have all the weights surrounded.
Coaches Tofani, Taylor, Reichard, Hills 2 and
Beckman all bring certain gifts to the table and
can adapt to any group. I have the great job of
managing the lot.
It seemed this spring at
freestyle tournaments that you had more of your
wrestlers participating than in past years. Is
this something your starting to emphasis more
and do you think it really makes a difference?
I do believe that spring and summer wrestling
can only make you better and we have stressed
the importance of participating. We don't make
it mandatory though as we have kids that enjoy
and participate in numerous activities. We have
several parents and coaches that remain active
throughout the off season which helped our kids.
Coach Beckman is constantly taking kids
wrestling throughout the year and there is
noticable improvement in those kids. Casey also
worked with kids during his stint at Born to
Run. The kids will improve if they put forth the
effort.
With last year being
your first time at the Ironman you had to be
thrilled with a seventh place finish. Looking
at this years team can we match or improve on
that this year?
We were very pleased
with a seventh place finish at IRONMAN last
season. Of course we lost 2 high placers
from last year and the tournament didn't get
any weaker as several more nationally ranked
teams are participting this year. El Reno, OK
and Unitah, Utah are just a couple to name a
few. Add them to Blair Academy, St Edward and
Walsh Jesuit and this is truly great exposure.
Erie Prep is also an addition this year. We
want to finish as high as possible with as
many placers as possible. To participate alone
is tremendous but our goal last year was to
finish in the top half of the 32 team
tournament.
Any idea what Sections
will be called this year since you are all
in anew "regions"?
For example, you will
wrestle Region 1, will it be called Section
1. You were formally Section 3.
Again I think they are still Sections just
with different teams participating in them.
Coach Hills - I
heard through the grapevine that you have
had a couple of early season injuries.
Have you adjusted your goals in any way? -
Your Friend From Another Planet
Although we have some younger kids in the
lineup we still feel we can compete with
the better teams and NO we have not
adjusted our goals. The veteran team
members must provide leadership and desire
to accomplish them.
Brian - I see lots
of other coaches at your matches (Hick,
GC, Grvl) but I've never seen anyone
from your team out checking out the
other squads. Do you scout other teams?
Does anyone from your staff scout other
teams.
We don't scout as much
as other schools and never have. We try
to prepare our kids for all types of
opponents and not to worry about certain
styles alone. We do scout our opponents
as we move through the post season. We
also scout our opponents that we may be
wrestling on a statewide basis but not
so much locally.
The way I see it
Brian, your record speaks for itself.
I would like to know how do you handle
the adversity when you hear or read
about others bad-mouthing your team.
I'm speaking, in part, of some of the
crap I've read on the D-10 website.
Does it bother you? Do you get angry
about it?
I guess the way to
look at it is if they are talking
about Reynolds they must think we're
pretty good. I enjoy reading the
comments and don't let it bother me to
much because those that speak
negatively don't know anything at all.
I am not pleased with the comments
that attack our individuals and family
personally. Sometimes I would
like to jump through the screen and
find out who the individuals are that
hide behind a forum. The only time I
responded was when my family was being
called names etc. I have also
monetarily supported the D-10 site but
let it be known this would cease if
that kind of crap continued.
Once and for
all Brian end the debate. I'll ask
you straight out, who is the
greatest wrestler in school history?
Chuck? Casey? Justin? Matt? Forget
the politically correct stuff,
please, just give your honest
opinion.
Great question. All of them
including many more not mentioned
above have blessed our gym.
How does it
make you feel knowing that several
of your former wrestlers are now
coaches?
I am thoroughly
happy that so many have continued
their wrestling careers through
coaching. We have some great
fellowship and it is enjoyable to
coach with them on our staff and
against them at the other schools.
Although I always tell them if
Reynolds has to lose I want it to
be to them but I caveat it by
stressing WE don't want to lose.
I know
it's late, I know your weary.
But just one more question
please. I know many of your
assistants Casey, Michael, Ron
and Keith all won section
championships and were GREAT
Reynolds wrestlers. I don't
remember Coach Stoyer ever
winning one. Is this true? Why
not?
YES. Mental.
Brian-
Just wanted to say, it's tough
being away from the program.
It's been such a big part of
my life for such a long time.
As you know, Reynolds
wrestling runs deep in my
family's blood. I'll keep an
eye on Burrell and Mt.
Pleasant for you, okay? Watch
out for those Fighting
Planets, they are an up and
coming group!
Thanks
for everything Don (Juan). You
are the true scout at RHS
wrestling and by the way
thanks for keeping me going. I
always like to win in OT.
I would like to thank
everyone for the opportunity
to discuss Reynolds wrestling
and it's time for me to sign
off. Brian.