Nov 17, 2002 By Jim Kriek For The 4 min read

Right at the moment, Chris Pegg has only a “little” problem, but by the numbers it could evolve into a big one. The “little” problem facing the third-year Laurel Highlands head wrestling coach is how to come up with the proper alignment of his little weight wrestlers as he preps his Mustangs for their Dec. 3 opener.

Pegg said, “We’ve have a good nucleus of wrestlers coming back, including eight lettermen, but the bulk of the returnees weigh about the same. We have six in the neighborhood of 130, all underclassmen, and some are going to have to work down a class or two. It could be a little bit of a problem.”

But no matter how big or how little, or how in-between they are, the Mustang prospects have already given their coach one good impression.

He said, “There is an overall, total commitment by our wrestlers. Some of them who work after school have adjusted their work schedules so they can wrestle and still work. Their outlook is very positive. I told them we have to set goals and work hard to achieve them. In the last three years, we have had section champions every year and this group wants to continue that string.

“We had a very good conditioning program with 14 wrestlers working out, while the others got their conditioning workouts by playing football or soccer.”

Returning lettermen for the Mustangs are:

Seniors – Aaron Maddas (135), Levi Harris (160) and Mike Kopacko (171).

Juniors – George Belch (119), Earl Moore (125), Brent Carbonara (125) and Nick Sible (130), who is returning after sitting out much of the schedule last year with a wrist injury.

Sophomores – Greg Hogan (112).

Rounding out the squad are:

Seniors – Robert Urban (275).

Juniors – Ryan DiCenzo (119), Sean Connelly (145), Jarret Bond (145), Del Simpson (152), Mike Capan (189) and Blake Faust (215).

Sophomores – Chris Belch (103), Kevin Morris (119), Buster Langeri (140), Brandon Doyle (140) and Rick Nicklow (152).

Freshmen – David Macar (145).

A year ago the Mustangs finished 10-5 overall, 4-4 in Section 2-AAA.

Six starters from that team graduated, including section heavyweight champion Jerry Powell (24-10) who is considering wrestling at Waynesburg College, where he played football this year. Also gone is section 160 champion Jimmy Harris (26-5).

Pegg has only one varsity assistant, Phil Jones, of whom he said, “Phil has a real good rapport with the wrestlers, and he gets a lot out of them.”

Then he added with a smile, “We were teammates at Fairchance-Georges, but he was the lightweight.”

Dr. Garrett Breakiron is the only assistant for the junior high program.

Another “minus” for the Mustangs is that “some classes have inexperienced wrestlers, and they will have to start for we don’t have any depth with experience. This is going to be a learning year for many of them.”

There have also been a couple of changes to the schedule. A year ago, LH competed in 15 duals and three tournaments, but this year they will have 12 duals and four tournaments.

The new tournament is the Holiday Invitational at Southmoreland, which last year attracted 24 teams. Plus the Mustangs return to the Fort Cherry and Montour Tournaments and the Northern Garrett (MD.) event, of which Pegg said, “This is a good event for they have both varsity and junior varsity divisions and everybody can get mat time.”

There are two new dual match opponents in Fort Cherry and Jefferson-Morgan with a date still to be arranged for the latter, plus efforts will be made to get another dual just before the sections start.

In the Section 2-AAA race, Pegg sees “Connellsville on top with their good program, and this might just be the year for Albert Gallatin to make a good run for the top. And I like to think that even with our inexperience we can hold our own with our work ethic.

“The key to our own season is going to be keeping things in perspective and continuing every effort to overcome every obstacle. Everything can be a learning experience for them, but this group knows they are wrestlers and they are willing to work, hoping to develop as they go along.”

The schedule:

Section 2-AAA – Dec. 4, at Elizabeth-Forward; Dec. 11, Connellsville; Dec. 13, at McKeesport; Dec. 18, Uniontown; Jan. 8, at Ringgold; Jan. 15, Belle Vernon; and Jan. 22, at Albert Gallatin.

Non-Conference – Dec. 3, Pittsburgh Brashear; Dec. 14, Hempfield, 1 p.m.; Dec. 27-28, Southmoreland Holiday Tournament; Jan. 4, at Northern Garrett, Md., Tournament; Jan. 10-11, at Fort Cherry Tournament; Feb. 7-8, at Montour Tournament; Feb. 12, at Fort Cherry.