Simon building Uniontown wrestling team around eight lettermen
Uniontown wrestling coach Jerry Simon would like to improve upon the success of his squad from last season. The Red Raiders finished 8-8 overall last year and had a pair of WPIAL qualifiers in Danny Newlon (215) and Jeremiah Ditmore (171). Both are back for their senior year.
In addition to Newlon (215-189) and Ditmore (189-171), Simon has eight lettermen returning, led by six seniors.
Scott Bell (160), Jonathon Guth (125), Nathan Klingensmith (145) and Michael Meucci (275) are the other seniors on the squad.
Other returning letter winners are juniors Jim Jenkins (215-189), Jonathon VanBremen (152) and sophomores Jeremy Rice (112) and Doug Rush (135).
“We should be strong in the upper weight this year with Newlon and Ditmore,” Simon said. “Newlon finished second in the section last season, and Ditmore finished third. Nathan Klingensmith is in his fourth year with a team and could surprise some people at 145.”
Simon needs some help in the lighter weights, where some of his wrestlers are in their first year, or only have one year of experience.
Simon, like the other coaches, knows how demanding wrestling is. “We’ve talked with some athletic kids in the school about joining the team,” Simon said. “They watch us practice, and see how tough it is and walk away, which is disappointing.”
Simon has been around long enough to see how the hard work in the wrestling room can pay off in positive results for a lot of people. He also knows that sometimes it’s a matter of talent. Kids can go to practice every day, work out and lift weights in the off-season and still get beat. “I’m not going to tell a kid if you do certain things you will have success right away,” Simon said. “However if you give the sport a chance and gain some experience, you can make some improvements, if you give 100 percent all the time.”
Simon feels his Red Raiders can make some noise in the section, and says Connellsville is the team to beat. Albert Gallatin has also been strong recently. After that, he feels all the teams in the section are about even. He says the problem for his squad is not being able to field a full team and having to forfeit two weight classes, which puts him at a 12- point disadvantage every match.
One big positive for the wrestling program is the Junior Olympics. Simon says there are at least 40 kids wrestling. Another big advantage for the program is that some of Simon’s former wrestlers that were successful in the WPIAL and PIAA tournaments are active participants.
Heading the Junior Olympics is former Red Raiders Mark Jenkins a two-time PIAA place winner, and a NAIA place winner while wrestling for Waynesburg College. Also helping is former section winner from the early 80’s Rich Maruniak.
Jerry’s son Mike is working with the junior high, and has built the numbers there over the past two years after coaching wrestling at Manheim Central for 10 years. Also helping on the varsity staff is former state champion and WVU wrestler Jeff Spinetti.
“These guys can serve as good examples for the kids, because they have worked hard and know what it takes to succeed,” Simon said.
“With these guys in the system, I hope their knowledge will rub off on the kids. It may take a few years but I feel we’re on the right track.”