Chartiers Valley’s mat success hinges on youth
In the Chartiers Valley mat room, the future is now. If the Colts are to be successful this wrestling season, their young guns need to perform immediately.
This year’s team features four freshman and four sophomores. There are four seniors and the remainder of the roster consists of juniors.
“We need to step up and compete right away. That is the goal and expectation,” said CV head coach Bill Evans. “There isn’t room for them to take a year and be a backup to prepare, they have to start and compete now.”
Several of the young Colts competed well on the opening weekend of action. During the Chartiers-Houston Tournament, CV earned eighth place overall as a team, racking up 113 points. Five Colts placed including CC Beatty, who won the 132-pound championship.
Fellow freshmen: Ashton Sadowski (106) and Josh Sarasnick (195) finished fifth while seniors Tony Montgomery (113) and Zach Macy (152) placed fifth and sixth respectively.
Macy, however, suffered an injury in the tournament. After easily winning his first two bouts by fall and major decision, the PIAA qualifier was felled in the semifinals, incurring an injury that forced him to default his consolation matches.
Macy and Montgomery are the foundation of the team. According to Evans, Macy possesses a great attitude and strong work ethic that would benefit any of the Division I and II programs he hopes to attend upon graduation. Montgomery also could be an asset for any future program at 125 for a number of years.
Additionally, seniors Nathan Trusiak and Aibanov Altair are “hard workers” that continue to improve on a daily basis and have a passion for the sport.
“This team has great veteran leadership,” Evans said. “In working with (Macy) every day, the younger wrestlers see what it takes to be a champion. Most of them are learning early what they need to do to achieve their goals.”
Cody Trout also know what is necessary to accomplishing objectives. The junior was a WPIAL qualifier last season. He will also be relied upon to help the Colts improve upon last year’s 7-7 dual meet record along with returning lettermen: Hunter Drain, Logan Eger and Murat Zaynullaev.
While the Colts are a young club, starting eight underclassmen, they plan to battle the likes of Canon-McMillan, Trinity, Waynesburg and West Allegheny in their sub-section. CV opens dual meet competition at home against the Hillers on Dec. 19. The Colts will participate in the Powerade Tournament (junior varsity portion) over the holidays before resuming league action Jan. 2 against Waynesburg, also at home.
“This is a young but strong team that has a lot of budding talent,” Evans said. “We won’t back down from anyone.”
Evans added he is thrilled about the present as well as the future. Once the Colts acclimate to the varsity competition, they will only improve with seasoning.
“I could not be more excited for this team. They are one of the toughest groups of young men that I have had the pleasure to coach in many years. The potential is high, and the expectations are high for the future. I am excited and honored to coach this group of solid veterans and talented young guys.”
In addition to Beatty, Sadowski and Sarasnick, Evans expects freshman Luke Potts as well as sophomores Quentin Keys, Donovan O’Malley and Chase Bruggeman to make “significant” contributions to this year’s squad.
Jacob Adwar is also a sophomore on the roster while juniors Nader Al-Alhumoudi, Ismoil (Sam) Shokirov and Shabur Karimov should also pitch in this season.