The ingredients are there for a very successful wrestling season at Panther Valley.

The Panthers have several outstanding individuals, they have solid numbers in the program, they have good senior leadership, and they have a number of unproven, but talented underclassmen.The task for veteran coach Tim Robb, now in his 22nd season with the Panthers, is to turn those raw ingredients into the perfect finished product.Although he admits that his lofty goals might be overly optimistic, he believes they are attainable."One of our goals is to win the league title," said Robb. "We also want to qualify for the District 11 Duals and finish in the top four."Both of those goals are stretches, but that's why they are goals."Robb said the Schuylkill League will be extremely difficult, but that doesn't mean the Panthers can't win it all."I see us contending for the Schuylkill League Division 1 title, but Blue Mountain and North Schuylkill would be favored," he said. "It will be a very tough division again this year. Tri Valley and Pottsville will both be much better and Lehighton joining makes for a tough top six teams."Panther Valley should have a full line-up or very close to one for every match. The Panthers have 26 wrestlers in grades 9 through 12.Leading the way are four wrestlers who won over 20 individual matches a year ago, including state qualifier Rian Shubeck.Shubeck, who will wrestle at both 220 and 285 pounds, was 33-10 last season."Rian is coming off a great season," said Robb. "He was injured this year during football season, but is progressing nicely and should be ready for the first tourney."He has the potential for a state medal this year."Joining Shubeck as possible postseason award winners are returning letterwinners Darren Goida (126/132) and Hunter Davidyock (145/152). In addition, the Panther lineup will be bolstered by Jim Thorpe tranfer Ali Copabianco (138/145) and the much improved Dylan Moyer (182/195). Copabianco had 29 wins a year ago, Goida had 22 and Davidyock had 20."I would love to see all five of those guys get to states this year," said Robb. "Realistically, I think we have two excellent opportunties with Shubeck and Moyer and two good chances with Goida and Copabianco. Davidyock is a bit of a long shot, but I believe he can do it."All five of those wrestlers are either juniors or seniors, but that doesn't mean that all the talent in the program can be found in the upper classes.Eleven of the 26 high school wrestlers in the program are freshman. Robb said that six members of the class will be varsity contributors with the other five wrestling at the junior high level."I have another great group of kids," said Robb. "It's a very diverse group."Not only are we expecting some big things from our upper classmen, but with the Kennedy twins, Hunter (126) and Tanner (120), and Xander Kern (138) we have three freshmen who could all possibly win 15 or more matches."In addition to the previously mentioned wrestlers, others who will be counted on are Justin Ogozalek (106), Malik Zver (126/132), Gary Goodhile (113/120), Mike Lazar (113/120), Jesse Thomas (132/138), Grant Lorkowski (145/152), Czar Founds (160/170), Matt Miller (132/138), Colin Haydt (138/145), Hunter Kerestes (170/182), Shane Houser (195/220), Zach Glassic (132/138), and Lucas Mika (285).