Head coach – Thad Smith (1st season)
Assistants – Jim Best, Lance Thatcher, Dave Stauffer
Last year – 10-9 overall (4-5 EPC)
Key losses – Joey Barno (285, 18-10), Gabe Schray (120, 16-11), Sr. Peyton Brown (106, 31-7, District XI fourth-place, state qualifier, may be lost for season with injury)
Returnees – Jr. Caden Wright (170, 31-7, District XI second-place, state qualifier), Soph. Kordell Waiters (20-9, 126/132), Sr. Jackson Karrat (145, 17-12), Sr. Chris Tigar (160, 8-10), Sr. Luigi Mannino (220, 13-14), Jr. Brody Pavelko (113), Soph. Conner Carter (152), Sr. Liam Dottery (170), Soph. James Santichen (Hwt)
Newcomers – Soph. Gio Lainez (113), Fr. Nick Velde (120), Fr. Quinn Scott (126), Fr. Tyson Karrat (106), Fr. Jared Groller (152)
Season-opens: @ Stroudsburg (Dec. 12)
Tournaments: Kutztown (Dec. 15), Becahi Christmas City (Dec. 28 & 29), Whitehall Duals (Jan. 5), Denver Duals (Jan. 19)
Social media to follow: Twitter: @Emmaussports, @Emmauswrestling
Coach Smith:
On the first week of practice: “I’ve been really pleased. Normally with the first week of practice you have to start with stance and the basics, but because all the kids that are in here now did pre-season workouts in July, August, September and October, we didn’t have to start there. We could start right in with conditioning and showing higher level moves because we didn’t have to review all the basics. I believe we are in a good spot.”
On the upcoming season: “We’re going to be inexperienced in spots and we had several seniors that didn’t come back, so we’re going to lose that leadership. Replacing them is going to be tough, so I think we are going to go through growing pains these first couple of months and these freshmen are going to grow up real quick.”