Chartiers Valley expecting strong showing on the mats
Chartiers Valley wrestling coach Bill Evans said he is looking forward to the challenged of competing in Section 4 this winter.
Despite returning 10 wrestlers to their line up — including four WPIAL qualifiers and one PIAA medalist — the Colts will have their work cut out for them against the likes of defending WPIAL and state champion Waynesburg, Canon-McMillan, Trinity and South Fayette.
“Our sub-section in itself has perennial powerhouses,” Evans said. “The other side of the section has some really solid individuals. So it’s going to be a meat grinder as it always is.
“We are going to be a strong tournament team, but we will struggle a bit in some dual meets,” he continued. “We have a nice core of wrestlers that will score a ton of points in the individual tournaments.”
Expect Dylan Evans to be the top performer. The coach’s son, he is a two-time state medalist. Evans finished fourth in last year’s PIAA Class AAA championships in Hershey. A junior, he owns a 69-20 career record.
Seniors Christopher Beatty, Ashton Sadowski and Josh Sarasnick are also seasoned veterans. Beatty and Sarasnick are two-time WPIAL qualifiers with 70 or more career victories. A WPIAL qualifier, Sadowski is 55-43 overall entering the season.
Among the other experienced wrestlers are seniors Khojiakbar Sultanov and Gavin Novak; juniors Brady Joling, Joseph Kockin and Anthony Trout; as well as sophomore Kevin Beatty.
Though a newcomer, Nicholas Pruchnitzky is expected to make an immediate impact. Last year, he was a junior high state qualifier and one match away from being on the podium in the 252-pound division. A 189-pound sophomore, he is expected to anchor the top end of CV’s lineup for the next three seasons.
“Our wrestlers really like to work and put extra time in,” said Evans, who noted many have wrestled throughout the offseason at various clubs and in events across the country.
“Individually, I would like to see some of them compete for high placements in the WPIAL tournament and to progress to the PIAA championships.”
Evans said he is expected big things from CC Beatty, Sarasnick, Joling, Sadowski and Dylan Evans.
“As a team, every week will be a battle,” the coach said. “Our schedule is loaded but I look forward to our wrestlers getting out there and rising to the occasion against the high level of competition that we will be facing.”
Progress will be the key for the Colts as they work on improving their depth and developing their wrestlers. Their roster also includes Eric Allen, Logan Connolly, Howard Clellen, Aiden Crory, Dylan Czarnecki, Chase Dalbon, Tyler DelGrande, Ruslan Karimov, Gavin Langbein-Nestor, Dylan Lawrence, Tyson Peterson, DeShawn Sandord, Noah Shaffer, Cainen Roe, Trevor Wieland, Gavin Taylor and Tyler Tulowitzki.
“We to get better every day and develop throughout the season to achieve our potential,” Evans said. “We have some really special individuals on this team. I am looking forward to seeing them make some noise in March.
“To get there, we just need to do what all good wrestlers do. Get in there and do the work every day,” he added.