The boys wrestling team is expecting strong individual performances this season with the return of four WPIAL qualifiers, despite a small roster and losing their coach from last year.
Lacking a full roster throughout all weight classes, the wrestling team headed into the season with 13 members. Also, the team lost last year’s coach, Rudy Nesbitt, due to resignation after one season.
Gehrig Hutchison, a junior who made WPIALs in the weight class of 182 pounds last season, feels that even though Nesbitt remained only a short time, he gave them important steps to turn around the program.
“We have maintained good talent over my three years here, but lacked experience on the big stages. Coach Rudy’s coaching style instilled a new confidence for my teammates and me, which took our program to a whole new level, giving us a chance to gain that much needed experience,” Hutchison said.
Nesbitt’s resume consisted of 30 years at many different schools throughout the Pittsburgh area, but he left Baldwin for a job at Allderdice to keep that team from being shut down.
Baldwin’s new Head Coach, Brian Newman, was an assistant last season, and sophomore Connor Sidoruk feels he is looking to add a unique twist to the style of the former coach.
“So far Coach Brian has continued to keep us in really good shape, but he has also taught us some new intresting moves,” Sidoruk said.
Before Nesbitt left, he wanted to add a collegiate experience for the WPIAL wrestlers from last season. Over this past summer, seniors Cameron Allgeier and Amir Muhammad along with sophomore Connor Sidoruk joined Hutchison at a one-week camp at the Edinboro University.
The boys learned technique from Olympian Bruce Baumgartner, and got to showcase what they learned against some of the best wrestlers in the state.
The team also attended three practices a week over the summer at the University of Pittsburgh. Allgeier believes that these practices really contribute to their success at qualifying for WPIALs as individuals.
“When we go to Pitt, we get to expand our competition for the upcoming season. It shows us the weaknesses of our opponents, and the changes we need to make when it comes time to make that championship run,” Allgeier said.
Hutchison said that, with the work he and his teammates have put in during the offseason, four guys should secure 20 total individual wins in their weight classes.
However, the upperclassmen refuse to give up on the idea of success for the entire team. Recruiting has been the first thing on their minds for the past six months, and after years of hard work, they want to make the Baldwin wrestling mentality more than the accomplishments of just a couple of competitors.
The freshmen turnout has been high in comparrison to prior ones. The team credits its youthful increase to athletes looking to stay in shape over the winter season.
Muhammad believes if this young group sticks it out, they can do something special.
“I want Baldwin to be respected and feared for years to come. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this program,” Muhammad said.