The first full week of the 2009-2010 wrestling season is in the rear-view and here’s what I’ve seen so far …

1) The Montpelier wrestling team is improving every year and while many teams at small schools struggle for number let alone quality, the Locos are moving in the right direct. If they can start picking up big-time Ws in NWOAL matches they’ll start earning some serious respect.

DHS young gun Gabe Gonzalez

2) Love what’s going on at Defiance High School. Normally when a new coach comes in I feel sorry for seniors who have to go out on a “rebuilding” team. But when all is said-and-done I think what Ralph Cubberly is bring to DHS is only going to get guys like B.J. Miller and Cody Manon a little more bang for their postseason buck and I’d love to see a DHS grappler finally hit the stage on a Saturday night in Columbus. Staying with DHS they have a couple of great young guys in freshman Gabe Gonzalez at 112-pounds and 125-pound sophomore Nate Rodriguez. Gonzalez is 7-0 and Rodriguez isn’t far behind. When Miller drops to 112, things could get interesting at 103 with Marcellino Rangle currently holding down the job.

LC's Luke Kern is dynamite in a small package

3) Best match of the season so far goes to Ayersville junior Dillon Moore and Liberty Center sophomore Luke Kern. Kern was a state qualifier at 103 a year ago and was at 125 on Thursday night. We’ve all seen 103-pounders having trouble when they first move up a few spots in the lineup, but Kern looked at mid-season form against Moore, who is a two-time district qualifier. Moore got a little passive while wrestling with a lead in the third period and Kern’s aggressiveness paid off with a come-from-behind victory. It was an early season lesson for Moore, don’t pucker up with a late lead, that or circle man circle!

5) I’ve seen three of the area’s best big men in action. Montpelier’s Matt Wells, Liberty’s Bryan Hefflinger and Tinora’s Marc Moser are all smaller heavyweights who bring athleticism and strength to the table. They remind me of guys like Chris Box and Mark Nagel who knew how to get wins against any opponent. I hope this group can succeed like their predecessors when guys pushing the weight limit come into play in February and March.

4) The Tinora Rams are going to struggle this season. Low numbers and young kids filling the lineup is never a good combination. But I love watching some of the Rams upperclassmen. Guys like Marc Moser, Curtis Hansford and Chad Zolman are guys that are having fun and staying positive while picking up wins. Watching them interact, there’s no wonder why their cohesiveness has paid off in football, basketball, wrestling and baseball and I’m sure they’ll succeed after graduation.

- Chuck