When Carlynton wrestling coach Ed White opened practice this season, he saw a lot of familiar faces. In fact, the Cougars return their entire team from last season, and White is excited to see an experienced group take the mat yet again.
Last season, Henry Barbisch was a place winner in the WPIAL Championships in the 285-pound class with a 27-12 record. Jermell Lindsey (189) posted a 24-11 mark and Braiden Sudor (285) posted a team best 29-7 record. Both came close to placing last season.
In their first tournament this season — the Chartiers-Houston Invitational — Lindsey placed second at 189 and Barbisch finished sixth at 285.
The Cougars had just one senior last year, and he missed the season due to injury. That means all of Carlynton’s starters from last year’s squad are returning.
“We have a lot of experienced guys coming back — the whole team is back from last year,” White said. “Kids from the junior high team moved up, so that helped. We’ve got a couple new freshmen coming in, and a new sophomore that will fill a space.”
Senior Cameron Seitz is another starter making his way back, along with Barbisch, Lindsey and Sudor.
“He’s been with me since seventh grade, and every year he’s improving,” White said of Seitz. “Hopefully, he’ll get to the WPIAL Championships.”
White said that senior Aaryn Edwards (160), junior Dom Ciabattoni (139) and sophomore Ethan Moldovan (133) all have potential to be WPIAL qualifiers this season.
The Cougars’ roster includes six incoming freshmen, led by Dom Cisnero-Torres.
“He’s coming up from the junior high team as an eighth grader,” White said. “Last year, he had a very good season, placing in a lot of junior high tournaments. He has some good skill coming in as a freshman, but he’s going to be a freshman wrestling varsity level. But I think he’ll have a very good season.”
Overall, Carlynton boasts 16 wrestlers on its roster. Based on the early going, White said he loves the Cougars’ commitment.
“I just like their work ethic,” White said. “They come to practice all the time. They work hard. They want to do good. They want to do good as a team. They’re just fun to be around with. It’s just their work ethic and how competitive they are.”
White mentioned how motivated his wrestlers are no matter what happens on the mat.
“Sometimes when they lose or get beat by a really high-ranked wrestler, they’re still upset that they lost to him,” White said. “The competitive spirit and that work ethic is there. I really enjoy coaching them that way. They come to practice every day. They work hard, trying to get better, to improve.”
On top of their competitiveness, the Cougars also have strong chemistry, despite players coming from different schools. Carlynton’s roster includes six wrestlers from Bishop Canevin. Until this year, Bishop Canevin and Carlynton were in the same section for football.
Lindsey, Sudor, Barbisch and Edwards all came in as freshmen and clicked with the Cougars. White loves seeing the chemistry.
“The only time they really probably see each other is during wrestling season,” White said. “The kids gel to form a good team. I really think they gel together. They care about each other, and they really work hard to win. They’re not separated by schools. It’s a team.”
White wants to take home the section championship this year and make a run in the playoffs. He added that he believes the team can send a chunk of the roster to the Southwest regional.
With a section of Keystone Oaks, Quaker Valley and Avonworth, White knows winning the section will be a tough task. However, he has faith in his wrestlers.
“We expect the team to compete hard every match,” White said. “If we do that, and we worry about ourselves and just compete, the wins will come.”
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