Matmen go to UDA

If there’s one thing about the 2008-09 Columbia High School wrestling program fans need to know if that the numbers are good at both the varsity and junior high levels.
At the varsity level, third-year coach Scott Rupp has a full roster of 25. At the junior high level, new coaches Jimmy Jones and Brian Fry have a full roster of 20.
But, “our weakness is inexperience at both levels,” Rupp said.
Columbia, who went 3-3 in Section 3 of the L-L League and 8-13 overall, and qualified for the District 3 Class A team tournament, returns three district qualifiers from last year -- Joey Ronca  (21-13), Brandon Felus (5-26) and Anthony Wallick (20-19). Other key returning wrestlers with varsity experience are Jason Combs (12-21), Adam Stoner (13-19), Philip Key (2-22), Marcus Fischer (0-5) and Bobby Schoelkopf and Joey Charles. Another wrestler Johnny Vazquez might miss the season because of a leg injury suffered during football season.
Other wrestlers to watch for the Crimson Tide are freshman Derek Zercher and Jordan Helton; sophomores Cain Warfel, Roger Walton, Derrick Brooks, John Markley, Casey Rapp and Byron Germer, juniors Jacob Sentz, Brandon Aukamp and Brian Mentzer and Cody McAllister, senior.
“I feel with the amount of experience coming back we are in the top three of the section, but you never know what happens in our section,” Rupp said.
Teams to watch in Section 3 are Annville-Cleona and Lancaster Catholic. Grapplers to watch are Dylan Killian, Anthony Lentinie and Chris Shifflet, Annville-Cleona; Mike Blaczyzyk and Mark Lobeck, Lancaster Catholic and Neal Sweigart, Donegal.
The Tide will open its season Saturday with the Upper Dauphin Duals and then have its first home meet Wednesday against Central Dauphin East.

For more, see this week's Columbia Ledger