New head coach likes young roster
by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
The 2007-2008 season is only the beginning for new Manville High head wresting coach Pat Gorbatuk and his young team.
Gorbatuk, a 2000 Manville graduate who starred on the scholastic mat during some of the team’s glory years, plans to bring back the swagger to the program. He’s building with youth and stressing off-season commitment and so far the Mustangs have been responding.
Manville features a healthy mix of 17 wrestlers that’s evenly split among the four classes. There are just two juniors but five seniors, sophomores and freshmen. That means 10 of the 17 wrestlers on this year’s team can compete for at least the next three years.
Gorbatuk was pumped after his young Mustangs showed toughness and grit in last week’s scrimmage at Franklin and expects that spirit to carry them through the season.
”Those 17 kids are going to be there until the last day,” Gorbatuk said. “They showed a very good attitude and tempo in the scrimmage (at Franklin). We really took it to them. Our kids have motors, which is good. They’re really going.”
There aren’t any stars or big names on the Manville roster, but Gorbatuk expects some of his guys to surprise people this winter. Senior 152-pounder Chris Kocur is back for another season at the same weight class, which should be a positive sign.
”He’s getting better every year,” Gorbatuk said. “It’s my third year coaching him and he grew up a lot. He’s athletic and he can fool people. He’ll win his share of matches.”
Senior 145-pounder Jason Pfoutz is in much better shape than last season. Pfoutz’s conditioning work paid dividends in the cross country season, where he emerged as a consistent and much-improved runner. If he can overcome the bumps and bruises, Pfoutz will help the Mustangs in the middle weights.
Manville’s other upperclassmen are bunched into the 125-130 area. J.J. Artfitch and Aaron Janner will battle at 125 and Adam Wolcott figures to get the nod at 130 pounds. This trio also gives Gorbatuk the option of juggling and bumping up a weight.
The junior class is small, with third-year wrestler Kevin Sellar and rookie Tim Santoro in the mix at 171 and 189 pounds.
Gorbatuk is high on his sophomores and freshmen. Sophomore 119-pounder David Olmsted, who saw action as the backup quarterback during the football season, has matured. Olmsted recently joined the 600-pound club, a distinction for athletes who amass that weight combining the squat, power clean and bench press.
”People will be shocked by him,” Gorbatuk said. “He’s an athlete and he’s focused.”
Other sophomores to watch include 140-pounder Tyler Britt and 160-pounder Brendan Nurnberger. Britt worked hard in the off-season and Nurnberger brings a good resume from the rec program after not coming out as a freshman. Nurnberger gave Franklin’s Payton Smith fits in last week’s scrimmage.
”He’s a very good defensive wrestler,” Gorbatuk said. “He doesn’t get into trouble.”
Eddie Yakobchuk (130) and newcomer Dylan Painter (140) are the other sophomores who will try to crack the varsity lineup.
The very talented freshman class will represent MHS in many of the lightweight matches. Ernest Yakobchuk will start at 103, while classmates Devin Burke and Nick Janner are vying for action at 112. Josh Saultz (125) and David Castro (189/215) are the other varsity rookies looking to make an impact.
”I really feel that in the upcoming years, my freshmen and sophomores will be able to hang with anybody,” Gorbatuk said.
It’s been a while since there’s been so much enthusiasm in the MHS wrestling program. The young wrestlers are passionate about the sport. Burke participated in 17 tournaments during the off-season.
”These kids wrestled and lifted and worked really hard,” Gorbatuk said. “They have pride and they want to work. Of the first 11 practices, we had full attendance eight days. You can see the attitude.”
Manville expanded its schedule to 21 matches to provide additional opportunities for competition. The Mustangs expect to fill every weight class with the exception of heavyweight, where two-time district runner-up Mark Manderski made headlines the last two years before graduating.
”We’ll be stretching out to 13 (weight classes) in winnable matches,” Gorbatuk said. “In other matches, we might try to get more younger kids a jayvee match.”
Gorbatuk expects his MHS roster to continue expanding into the future. There are 25 wrestlers on coach Ed Ferraro’s ABIS squad. Former ABIS head coach George Putvinski moved up to become Gorbatuk’s assistant.
Numbers are up on the Recreation, middle school and varsity levels. Gorbatuk, who teaches at ABIS, gets to see the enthusiasm spreading in the school.
”It’s like a culture,” he said. “The kids have the T-shirts and the eighth-grade class is huge. It’s coming back.”
Manville will open the season at the Matawan Icebreaker Tournament on Saturday. The home fans can get their first look at Gorbatuk’s team Dec. 19 when the Mustangs host Pingry in a dual meet.

