Dec 7, 2017 By Jonathan Guth jguth@heraldstandard.Com 3 min read

Elizabeth Forward wrestling coach Rich Scheuermann would like to see his team fill every weight class and compete for a section championship this upcoming season.

The veteran enters his 25th season at the helm for the Warriors and 28th overall, as he was an assistant at Ringgold for three seasons prior to taking the job at Elizabeth Forward.

The Warriors wrestle in Section 2-AAA (2B) with Derry Area, Frazier, Mount Pleasant, Southmoreland and Yough. Sub-Section 2A features Bentworth, Beth-Center, McGuffey, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown and West Greene. Elizabeth Forward was fourth in the section last season, and lost in the first round of the Class AA WPIAL Team Tournament to runner-up Freedom.

“Derry Area is the team to beat in our section,” Scheuermann said. “McGuffey and Beth-Center will be tough. I think we will be in the mix. We would like to put ourselves in a position to win the section. We have to keep it together, and hopefully, we can fill every weight class.”

The Warriors have 15 kids on the roster and welcome back seniors and regional qualifiers Freddie Howard (106 pounds) and Nick Wardropper (220).

Howard is a two-time regional qualifier and has been at 106 his entire high school career.

“We are hoping he (Howard) can take the next step and get to the state tournament,” Scheuermann said. “There is really no special reason why he has stayed at 106. He has just always been a smaller guy. The same things still apply at the weight. Hopefully, him being experienced will be an advantage.”

Wardropper was at 170 last season but has put on some muscle. He has come a long way since he started as a freshman.

“Nick was pinned in every match his freshman year,” Scheuermann said. “It is a great story because he continues to get better and better. We are hoping he can get to the state tournament this year. We had to work with him and teach him the finer points of wrestling early on in his career. He is a good kid and a great student.”

Senior Jordan Devine (126) qualified for the WPIAL Championships last season for the first time, and was one win shy of making it to the regional tournament. Scheuermann and his staff are expecting a lot from Devine.

Scheuermann is excited to see what sophomore Ryan Michaels can do at 113.

“He wrestled for us in junior high last year and I look for him to improve,” Scheuermann said. “He has been going to the wrestling clubs to stay sharp and learn new technique. He is dedicated to the sport and could be a sleeper.”

Junior Chase Bodzer (120), senior Mike Kiester (126), and sophomore Noah Hunnell (145) give Elizabeth Forward a strong middle of the lineup.

Junior Chris Bruce (152) is described by Scheuermann as the “best wrestler on the team, talent wise.”

Noah’s twin, Nick Hunnell, will compete with sophomore Jake Kudrec and senior Brendan McKown for the nod at 160.

“Those three will battle it out during wrestle-offs for the spot at 160, and we will have the other guys go at 170,” Scheuermann said. “We will do what is best for the team after eliminations.”

Senior Trent Tirpak (182), sophomore Ethan Cain (195), junior RJ Buchina (220) and senior Leo Fetteroff (285) round out the Warriors’ starting lineup.

“We have a lot of great kids that really work hard,” Scheuermann said. “We will also do some maneuvering once the two-pound growth allowance comes into play on Dec. 25.”

Elizabeth Forward opens its season Friday at the Chartiers-Houston Tournament. It wrestles in the West Mifflin Tournament over Christmas break and competes in the Burgettstown Tournament.