Hopewell Valley wrestling
By: Mike Molaro
The Hopewell Valley Central High School wrestling squad knows there won’t be any division or county titles this season.
First-year head coach Mario Harpel is looking for his guys to work hard in practice and be mentally and physically ready when they step onto the mats to wrestle. Success for the Bulldogs will be measured in the intangibles not found on the scoreboard.
Despite losing their three matches in last Saturday’s season-opening quad meet at Blackwood, the Bulldogs came out as winners.
"We wrestled very well," said Harpel, after HoVal fell 45-31 to Highland, 49-30 to Sacred Heart and 43-30 to Cherry Hill West. "The young guys stepped up. As a whole, I was impressed with how well we wrestled as a team.
"As I coach, I always focus on preparation. I want the team to compete on a high level. If we do that, the wins will take care of themselves."
Seniors Anthony Lebbad (103) and Nick Kilstein (135) and sophomore 189-pounder George Saliba each won three matches for HoVal, while junior Warren Gerstacker (130), senior Roger Tower (140) and junior Bo Parker (215) each won twice.
"Freshman Matt Barnabei at 125 wrestled well," Harpel added. "He was one of our pleasant surprises."
Lebbad earned a technical fall in 3:01 against Highland, won via forfeit against Sacred Heart, and recorded a 55-second win against Cherry Hill West. Kilstein had a technical fall in 5:01 against Highland and recorded pins in 2:12 and 3:09, respectively, against Sacred Heart and Cherry Hill West. Saliba had pins of 2:18 and 2:22, respectively, against Highland and Sacred Heart and earned a 5-2 decision against Cherry Hill West.
Gerstacker had an 8-4 decision against Highland and recorded a pin in 38 seconds against Cherry Hill West; Tower had pins of 2:41 and 4:24, respectively, against Highland and Cherry Hill West; and Parker won via forfeit against Highland and had a 3-0 decision against Cherry Hill West.
Despite having the odds stacked against them in most of their matches this year, the Bulldogs are surrendering nothing to opponents.
"Fifteen of the 21 guys on the varsity roster are freshmen and sophomores," Harpel said. "There is a great attitude on this team. The guys are working hard and improving.
"I’m very happy with how they competed last Saturday."
As the Bulldogs prepare to open their Colonial Valley Conference schedule at home against perennial power Notre Dame at 6 p.m. tonight (Thursday night) in the old gym, it will be a learning experience for both the coach and the team.
"I’m fairly new to the CVC," Harpel said. "I’m not familiar with Mercer County wrestling in general. I know some of the programs and coaches. I’m excited to see some of the teams and to see how we compete.
"I’ll be learning along with the guys."
And opponents will learn not to take the Bulldogs lightly.
NOTES: Tonight (Thursday night) is Winter Homecoming at HoVal. The girls varsity basketball team opens things at 5 p.m. at The Dawg Pound, the wrestling squad goes at 6 p.m. in the old gym, and the boys basketball team tips off at 7 p.m. in The Dawg Pound.

