Coaching Changes Headline Suburban One League Wrestling Season Start
by Glenn Kaiser
You can take your pick on the headliner at the start of the season here in the SOL…
Possibly it is A.J. Tamburrino (transfer to Hatboro-Horsham from William Tennent), Cam Robinson (Council Rock North), and/or teammates Kyle Hauserman and Luke Lucerne, along with neighboring foe Kyle Waterman (CR South) all-working for Hershey gold.
Maybe it’s a host of returning SOL wrestlers striving to make it through the post-season grind to Chocolate Town, USA to rise on the podium, to name a few for a great storyline.
It could be: Can Council Rock North, with four returning State Qualifiers (SQs), three of them medalists, along with Dillon Sheehy (SQ) and Sammy Hayes, finally move ahead of sister school CR South for D1 supremacy.
Nope, none of these headlines are bigger than the amount of head coaching changes in D1.
15-teams will have new head coaches in 2019-20. It is a record for coaching vacancies. Five new head coaches are right here in the SOL.
In the Suburban One League, there was no stopping the coaching carousal. Joe Stabilito, Jr. who has been an assistant at both Bensalem, Neshaminy and Upper Dublin takes over at William Tennent. Junior brings with him Joe Stabilito, Sr., USA (PA) Wrestling head guy, and pioneer of the girls’ wrestling movement. Tennent’s numbers should increase immediately, as T.J. England (SQ) leads the way for the Panthers.
Highlighting the changes in the SOL is Frank Bing moving in as the head coach for Neshaminy. Bing, a former state champ, has been the catalyst of the ‘Skins program transformation over the past several years with his role as the head assistant. Bing has a tremendous supporting cast of coaches with his son, Jason, and Dex Lederer, who have done wonders with the Neshaminy wrestlers. Mike Childs, Richie Cerebe and Kyle Balasco complement this strong staff. Zack Martin (SQ), just a junior, and senior Gunnar Spain (Drexel commit) lead the way for the ‘Skins.
Also, in the National Conference along with Neshaminy, coaching changes have occurred at Harry S Truman (Rick Voran) and Bensalem (Donavin Williams). In the SOL Continental Conference Chris Meister moves over from D12’s Archbishop Wood to take over Central Bucks South. Meister stays local stepping in for the retired Joe Rigous, who also coached at William Tennent. Meister was instrumental in the resurrection of the Wood program as an assistant under Vic Stanley and head coach for the Vikings over the last several years. Meister will remain focused on a strength program that Rigous employed with his wrestlers. CB South is led by Dominic Stoughton, along with the potential return of Corey Showaker. South will look to rebuild its program in terms of numbers, which has been an issue since Central Bucks split into three high schools years ago.
So, as you can see, many SOL wrestlers and parents, along with area Athletic Directors were thankful as Thanksgiving week started the season scrimmages off with some new mentors and coaches filling the coaching ranks.
Numerous SOL wrestlers have committed to wrestle in college, as others ponder their options and choices.
CLASS OF 2020
Council Rock North - Cameron Robinson - Iowa State (D1)
Council Rock North - Luke Lucerne - US Naval Academy (D1)
Council Rock North - Dilion Sheehy - West Point (D1)
Council Rock North - Sammy Hayes - Pittsburgh (D1)
Council Rock South – Gianni Gilch – VMI (D1)
Council Rock South – Kyle Waterman – Appalachian State (D1)
Downingtown West - Maximus Hale - Penn (D1)
Hatboro-Horsham - A.J. Tamburrino - US Naval Academy (D1)
William Tennent - T.J. England - Clarion (D1)
Bensalem - John Klewin - Rider (D1)
Cheltenham - Isaiah Stehman - Sierra College (Juco)
Class of 2021 - Kyle Hauserman - Council Rock North - University of Pennsylvania (D1)
The 2019-20 season kicks-off this weekend with a variety of individual and dual events. While some teams wait for the dual season to begin next week, here is a look at where some of the SOL teams will be competing to start the season off:
Council Rock South and Pennridge head to District 3’s Cumberland Valley Kickoff. CR North heads to the Brian Bealer Bear Duals at Boyertown along with Truman and Souderton. Keep an eye on Truman new comer Hayden Mann, who begins his PIAA career here. He is a promising freshman with plenty of junior accolades. He was included in PA Power Rankings top freshmen to watch. Pennsbury makes the trip to Lancaster County for the Solanco Mule Classic and Central Bucks South and Springfield stay local at the Battle of Germantown at Germantown Academy. Neshaminy and North Penn travel to the always tough Lehigh Valley Battle of Bethlehem at Freedom H.S. in District 11. SOL American Conference’s Abington and Plymouth-Whitemarsh will head to D3 to compete in the Cedar Crest Duals.
It should be an exciting start to the season for the SOL and a tremendous battle in SOL Conference dual action all season long. Some early predictions for team races in the Conferences include a three-way battle in the American with Hatboro-Horsham, Abington and defending team champ Wissahickon. The Continental is the most wide open with Quakertown having a slight edge over North Penn, Pennridge and Souderton. And the National will feature an inner school district rivalry between CR North and CR South. I am picking North this year to edge out South, Neshaminy and Pennsbury. Don’t be surprised to see some crazy dual results this season as there is parity throughout the SOL wrestling ranks. There will be great individual match-ups as well within the league, so wrestlers strap up the headgear, prepare for battle and get on the mat with a relentless attack. And all you wrestling fans - get out and root for your favorite SOL teams here in league and throughout the state.
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