By Jennifer Entenman, Sports Editor
The 1998-99 Redskin wrestling team began its season this week with grueling practices and conditioning in hopes of improving last year's impressive record of 15-1, and a second place finish in the SOL.
Those wrestlers returning to the team included seniors Neal Oberto, Jeff Rotunno, Dan Winter, Chris Tichenor, and junior Mike Pirozzola, all of whom will be sources of leadership.
The team hopes to overcome rivals Pennsbury and Council Rock to finish on top of the SOL and send multiple representatives to the state competition in Hershey next March.
"We have a great team this year," comments senior Neal Oberto. "Our main focus this season is on winning SOL's and remaining undefeated."
Oberto also said that the team will need a lot of school support at their matches in order to accomplish this goal.
"We really appreciate all the school support we can get. Last year not too many people came to our matches, so we are hoping that there will be an increase in supporters this season."
With returning wrestlers Mike Pirozzola and Oberto, who both qualified for states last year, as well as Richie Palmer and newcomer Mike O'Neal, a transfer from Pittsburgh, the outlook for the team is good.
Pirozzola, who finished as the state runner-up last year, is expected to once again contend for the state title. Pirozzola has given up playing soccer to focus on wrestling, and the extra training will be visible in his performance this season.
The team, in its second season under Coach Vic Stanley, is expected to reach all of its goals. The team will surpass last season's success and are favored to win the SOL championship.
E-mail: Playwickia at feedback@playwickia.org