It’s been an unfortunate theme for the Bradford High School wrestling program over the past few seasons.
It’s had strong individual talent, but a lack of overall numbers has hampered the ability to compete with some of the area’s stronger programs and has led to a lopsided win-loss record.
But this year is poised to be different, according to head coach Jamey Miller — barring any unforeseen setbacks, of course.
“After everybody gets to where they are supposed to be we will have a full lineup which will be a first in a long time,” the veteran coach said. “I always have high hopes for at least the individuals, but this year I have pretty high hopes for the team as well.”
With a lack of available bodies to fill nearly half of the weight classes a season ago, Bradford struggled to a 1-14 overall record and a 1-5 mark in the Allegheny Mountain League.
It took its toll on Miller and the program.
“It’s been a bit of a roller coaster ride emotionally over the last couple of years but I’m up right now and I don’t want to lose that,” he said. “As long as these guys do their job, we’re good to go.”
Facilitating some of Miller’s confidence is the return of a couple matmen after several years away from the program.
Elijah Fitton (120 pounds, sophomore) and Kayden Miller (160, senior) have both impressed their head coach in how quickly they’ve become re-acclimated to the program.
“I don’t know what all they’ve been doing the last couple of years that they haven’t wrestled, but evidently they’ve been wrestling with these other guys or whatever,” Miller said with a laugh. “They just stepped right into it; the difference physically is evident in both of them, especially with Kayden, who was still kind of pudgy and had a lot of baby fat on him when he quit wrestling and that was in eighth grade.”
The Owls boast one of the area’s strongest grapplers in the 170 weight class with senior Derek Sunafrank.
Sunafrank, who was named a Big 30 football All-Star for his play at linebacker this season, had a stellar 2018-19 campaign on the mat and was mere seconds away from advancing to the state tournament.
And as impressed as Miller has been in how Sunafrank has looked so far in practices, he’s also been fascinated in the leadership he’s helped instill on a young team.
“I’ve really been impressed with him because he’s taking on a leadership role. When guys start goofing off or whatever, 9 times out of 10 he speaks to them before (assistant coach) Mark Havers or I have to which is nice,” Miller said. “It should be that way.”
Bradford has 10 underclassmen on the team, which is apparent especially in the lighter weight classes. From 113 to 138, every wrestler on the roster is either a freshman or sophomore.
Currently, the Owls have three kids at 113 (Devan Poe, Jacob Lucco, Quinn Lasher) but Miller expects one of them to fill the currently vacant 120 class as the season begins.
Additionally, Lucas Laktash (126 pounds, freshman), Brett Thompson (138, sophomore), Dawson Smith (195, freshman), Andrew Krainz (220, freshman) and Dylan Mazzone (285, sophomore) are all slated to start and get some varsity experience despite their youth. Both Thompson and Mazzone got plenty of valuable time on the mat a season ago.
“They’ve picked everything up real quick, dusted the cobwebs off and they weren’t complete newbies coming in,” Miller said. “We hit the ground running in the preseason with the drills and making them doing conditioning. All of our drills are geared towards actual moves and they picked it all up which was good because come the first day of practice we’re going right into drills of moves and haven’t had to do a whole lot of teaching.”
Rounding out Bradford’s varsity roster are Drake Hayden (145 pounds, junior), Austin Simpson (152, senior), Ashton Smith (152, sophomore) and Dakota Panighetti (182, senior).
As far as competing atop the AML this year, Miller likes his team’s chances, but admits that league rivals such as Port Allegany/Smethport and Kane are bringing back much of the talent that led them to very successful seasons in 2018-19.
“We stayed with everybody last year, we were just giving up too many points (with all the forfeits),” he noted. “With Port last year co-oping with Smethport, they got a couple studs.
“It remains to be seen about this year, though. Kane didn’t lose that many, Port Allegany didn’t lose that many and really we didn’t.”
The Owls will start their season tonight in Bloomsburg for its DKI Tournament. It’s the first of four tournaments for Bradford on the season. The rest of the 2019-20 schedule, which features just three home matches, is listed:
December
12 – at St. Marys
18 – PORT A/SMETHPORT
27 – at Tunkhannock Tournament
28 – at Tunkhannock Tournament
January
6 – at Oswayo Valley
14 – KANE
17 – at Mercer VFW Tournament
18 – at Mercer VFW Tournament
21 – at Sheffield
23 – at Cameron County
24 – at Ultimate Warrior Tournament
25 – at Ultimate Warrior Tournament
29 – at Coudersport
February
5 – JOHNSONBURG
