During the past year, Catasauqua’s wrestling team had their share of experiences and injuries, ones that should definitely shape and provide a positive spin for the future.

“Thought we took another step forward as a program,” said Roughies head coach Joe Russo, who completed his third season at the helm. “Finishing in the top four as a dual meet team for the first time since the early 1990s was a big step.

“It’s worth noting they advanced the field in the early 2000s. We qualified two guys for states, marking only the fourth time we had multiple competitors in 20 years.”

Russo not only watched sophomore Jaryn Hartranft and senior Adam Reinhart advance to the state tournament, but he witnessed the overall growth of his team over some hurdles.

“We started strong then dealt with injuries for part of January losing at times five starters,” added Russo. “Being able to bounce back from that as a team to do what they did at the end showed what this team was made of.

“All of the wrestlers grew this season from Jaryn (Hartranft) and Austin (Brett) doing double workouts. There also was Jake Nye doing 6 a.m. runs on the treadmill, Gavin Fehr knocking off upperclassmen both in the Coal Cracker (tournament) and districts, Cole Brown doing everything for his team practicing to exhaustion and moving up two weights to help us win, and (Ben) Langsdorf coming through multiple times to put us over the top in dual meets.”

Russo also cited freshman Gavin Fehr, sophomore Vinnie Del Rosario and seniors Reinhart, LaVonte Bouie and Zach Scheirer for their steadiness,

“We also had guys like Del Rosario coming back in matches, the most memorable being against Pen Argyl,” said Russo. “Others like Adam (Reinhart), LaVonte (Bouie), Zach (Scheirer), and Gavin (Fehr) doing am lifting with coach (Joe) Stofko.”

Reinhart, Bouie, Scheirer and fellow seniors Langsdorf and Riley Reinhard definitely will be remembered for the mark they left on the program.

“The senior class will be greatly missed not just for the wins on the mat but for their attitude and their work ethic,” noted Russo. “Lavonte (Bouie) has been our heavyweight for all four years, and it will be weird seeing someone else fill that spot next season.

“It was great to see Zach (Scheirer) embrace the sport and wrestle solid for us at 220, and Adam (Reinhart) came so far from his seventh grade year to wrestling at the Giant Center.”

Russo also recognized the junior high program that had its share of highlights.

“The junior high team had another solid season placing five kids in the combined AA/AAA individual tournament,” said Russo. “They once again had a solid dual meet season only losing twice. There is good deal of talent at that level that will be on our team the next season or two.”

With a solid foundation and a pipeline in place, Catty’s wrestling program should continue to flourish.

“The future is bright for Catasauqua wrestling and we owe a lot to guys like Jon Reed, who has been my assistant coach for over a decade at both the youth level and high school,” stated Russo. “Jon (Reed) coaches both high school and youth spending five hours a night in the wrestling room not counting weekend competitions.

“Joe Stofko is the symbol of Catasauqua wrestling and works tirelessly with our athletes in the weight room both in the morning and evening coaching both wrestling and track. Mike Rusnock has been involved in the program before I returned to Catasauqua, and he is always there for the wrestlers. Brandon Strohl has been a great addition to our staff as a former heavyweight to work with our big guys, and Vinnie Pellechia works with our small and middle weights.

“Getting three guys to qualify for regionals and two for states obviously stands out as big step forward for our program.”