Northampton wrestling welcome a new era with first-year head coach Joe Provini at the helm of the program this season, but don’t expect the Kids to temper expectations.

Northampton returns a mixed group of veterans and newcomers that should keep them firmly in the top tier of the East Penn Conference, behind Bethlehem Catholic and Nazareth, but can they unseat either of those teams this season?

Provini and his group found out last week just how close or far they are when they fell to Bethlehem Catholic 49-15.

The match was certainly going to be an early gauge for the team in their EPC opener.

“It [was] a tall task for us to open the season against Beca,” said Provini. “It is going to take some time for the style and technique we are teaching in the room to translate to competition. I am looking for the team to be a little bit better than we were last weekend, and success for us won’t be measured in wins and losses but in how they improve and compete.”

Returning for the Kids this season include: Kody Ziegenfus (Jr., 107/114), Carson Wagner (Sr., 121), Aidan Micheli (Sr., 133), Austin Noe (Jr., 139), Mason Basara (Sr., 145), Devlin Chevere (So., 145/152), Dagen Condomitti (Sr., 160), Landon Roland (Jr., 189) and Gavin Grell (So., 285).

Newcomers are Matthew Sommer (Fr., 107), Zayne Dayoub (Sr., 114), Dylan Stuhldreher (Fr., 114/121), Trey Wagner (Fr., 127), Colin Marano (So., 127/133), Chase Grabfelder (Fr., 133), Arik Carr (So., 152), Billy Stuhldreher (So., 160/172) and Brandon McEntire (Fr., 285).

“We return several veteran upperclassmen led by PIAA fourth place medalists Dagen Condomitti and Carson Wagner,” said Provini. “We also have some inexperience with five freshmen and sophomores in our starting lineup. The team is adjusting to new technique, lifting program, and training system, but they are doing well. It just takes time.”

Northampton opened their season over opening weekend at the Top Hat Tournament in Williamsport and finished fourth overall.

Condomitti (160) and Wagner (121) both took home titles at their respective weights, while the Kids placed six other wrestlers to round out their weekend. Those medalists included: Trey Wagner (third, 127), Austin Noe (third, 139), Aidan Micheli (fifth, 133), Zayne Dayoub (sixth, 114), Chase Grabfelder (seventh, 133) and Mason Basara, eighth, 145).

“I was happy with our overall performance at the Top Hat tournament,” Provini said. “The shortened preseason did not do us any favors as it is a whole new system for the wrestlers to learn, and the football players in our lineup only had four practices before the competition. Despite those obstacles, the team competed well. Carson and Dagen both won the tournament for the second year in a row. We had two wrestlers, Grell at 285 and Sommer at 107, injury default out of the tournament on the first day. We are hoping to have them back soon.”

Northampton gets back into action next Wednesday at Emmaus before heading out to the Beast of the East tournament in Delaware on December 17th.