Penn College wrestlers feature ‘grit, toughness, funk’

With a roster that returns three top-eight regional finishers from last season’s squad and a NCAA Division III national qualifier from two seasons ago, Pennsylvania College of Technology first-year wrestling head coach Dalton Rohrbaugh has plenty of reason for optimism.

“Overall, I am extremely excited for this team to compete. I think we will turn heads and show we can compete with the best of the best,” Rohrbaugh said. “We have some great wrestlers, no doubt, but we will also win matches we ‘aren’t supposed to’ on paper because of the grit, toughness and conditioning we will bring to competition.

“These guys are doing things the right way on and off the mat and not complaining about a single thing, picking each other up when it gets tough and being the true definition of a team. Staying healthy will be a key point, but if we can do that, then the sky is the limit.”

The Wildcats open their season on Friday and Saturday at the Ithaca College Bombers Invitational, where they finished sixth in a 12-team field last season.

Experienced returnees include sophomore Kaden Ware of Brooklyn, Connecticut, who placed sixth at 133 pounds at the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Championships in March; senior Noah Hunt of Muncy, who was eighth at 141; and sophomore Travis Green of Manchester, Maryland, who was eighth at 165. For the season, Ware was 33-12, Hunt, who has placed at regionals three years running, was 31-12, and Green was 36-17

While Ware again is listed at 133, Hunt is listed at either 141 or 149, and Green at 174, to start the season.

Rejoining them is 184-pounder Isaac Cory of Montoursville, who was 18-4 as a freshman and finished among the top 16 nationally, along with being named to the d3wrestling.com all-freshman team. He was ranked fourth nationally and first in the Mideast Region by the National Wrestling Coaches Association early last season before a season-ending injury.

“Isaac has worked very hard over the last year to overcome a handful of setbacks. He has worked steadily with our phenomenal athletic training staff and has not missed a single minute of practice or any other workouts this year. He is another who is eager to get back and prove what he couldn’t last year, that he is one of the best in the country,” Rohrbaugh said.

While those four may be headliners, the team’s roster of 40 includes sophomores Luke Heimbach of Boyertown at 125, TJ Martin of Honesdale at 149 and Nicholai Brotzman of Marietta at 285. Heimbach was 20-20 last season, Martin was 35-18 and Brotzman was 29-18 with 21 falls in 32 minutes, 59 seconds, putting him among the top five in D-III for most falls in the least amount of time.

“I don’t like to anticipate freshman success as it is a big jump from high school to college with many variables to consider. But we have a freshman class full of guys who had high school success and have been doing what they need to do at practice every day to continue getting better. A handful of them will be in contention for a starting spot,” the coach said.

Rohrbaugh continued, “Practices have been going better than I could have ever imagined. Injuries plagued this team last year and they did not all get to pursue their goals, which makes them even hungrier this year. They are ready to get back out there competing and you can see it in the way they practice. The energy is always high and they are taking to the new techniques and drills I have brought in very well. I’m extremely excited to see us compete this weekend at Ithaca because they are eager to let their hard work show.”

Rohrbaugh, whose staff includes assistants Roshaun Cooley and Eric Hunt, is a first-time head coach after serving one season on the Shenandoah University wrestling coaching staff and before that as an assistant coach at Mayfield Mat Academy from 2020-23.

As a collegiate wrestler, he helped Lock Haven University to two Eastern Wrestling League and PSAC championships in 2018 and 2019 and was a two-time NCAA Division III All-American at York College. In 2023, he capped his collegiate career as the NCAA Division III runner-up at 133 pounds, finishing with a career 75-22 record (23-18 at Lock Haven and 52-4 at York).

At Spring Grove High School, Rohrbaugh was a two-time PIAA Class AAA bronze medalist and four-time state qualifier. He also was the school’s all-time career wins leader with a 153-16 record.

Assessing what he brings to the team, Rohrbaugh said, “I think I bring a new and youthful perspective, with a different skillset and technique to offer. Yes, there has to be a heavy emphasis on doing the basics right, but wrestling is always changing and evolving, with guys getting better year by year. I finished my competitive career in 2023, so I have firsthand recent knowledge of what works, what doesn’t and how to implement what does. I also still get on the mat every day and wrestle with my guys.

“My coaching philosophy boils down to connection and accountability. I want to connect on a personal level with my wrestlers, understand their goals and the best way to coach and interact with them to get them there. All athletes and coaches will be accountable for their actions, including myself. I want this team to get to the point where the accountability comes from the team, not the coaches, and they learn to police themselves to do the right things on and off the mat. I think we are well on our way there, with a handful of great leaders in the room.

“We just need to continue building on our strengths and slowly correct our weaknesses. This is a team full of brothers who truly care about each other. They have each other’s backs and, with the guidance of our coaching staff, will continue to move in the right direction. Our team chemistry is exactly where it needs to be to continue growing, which allows us as coaches to focus solely on wrestling because they are doing the right things day by day.”

Other than wins and losses, Rohrbaugh said he will measure success by: 

•    Are they getting better in specific areas we are focusing on? What we work on in practice will not translate immediately to match wins. It is a marathon, not a sprint. A gradual improvement in specific areas will allow us to see the improvement over time and eventually lead to wins. 
•    How are they reacting to losses/calls against them? This point goes back to accountability. Yes, we are wrestling coaches but we are also helping mold these young men into the people they will be for the rest of their lives. I think wrestling does that better than anything else. They should be looking at losses for areas to grow and get better, not looking for somewhere to complain about the official/something else in the match. I don’t think this will be an issue for our team, but nonetheless is a point to make. 
•    Can we wrestle harder, longer? Even if we are outmatched, I want us to be outwrestling opponents in the third period. Have the gas tank to wrestle hard for a full seven minutes. We may not always be the favored wrestler, but we will be more conditioned and tougher.

“The biggest strength I think this team has, that I’ve mentioned earlier is grit and toughness. These are attributes that are near impossible to teach, but the team has it and the upperclassmen are instilling it in the freshman as well,” Rohrbaugh said. “Funk is another one of our strengths, as I would call it. We have a funky team of wrestlers that can wrestle through any position and score from anywhere.”

The coach continued, “You can always improve in every position which we are working to do. The biggest transition from high school to college is mat wrestling, top and bottom. We have been focusing on that heavily and are looking great.

“Self-accountability and teammate accountability. Holding yourself and teammates to a high standard that matches individual and team goals. Everybody wants to be a national champion, but not everyone is willing to do the right things to achieve it. You cannot have a national championship goal with a lazy work ethic and attitude. I think we are in a good spot as far as this goes, and we will continue to grow. Other than that, just continuing to get 1% better every day. Growing as people and as athletes day by day.

“I believe that if we stay healthy, we can be one of the best teams around, for these reasons:
•    We have a good core group of leaders
•    We have seasoned veterans in the room with previous success that will continue to lead those younger than them
•    Great chemistry between wrestlers/teammates and wrestlers/coaches
•    A great staff that are all on the mat wrestling with our guys and being hands-on with them every day.
•    Young staff with a fresh perspective from recent competition
•    We have a fun team that just loves wrestling, loves the grind and won’t break when things get tough.”

Penn College again will compete in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, with four dual matches in addition to the conference championships on the schedule.

Schedule
Friday-Saturday, Nov. 1-2 — at Ithaca College Invitational, 3 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. Saturday
Saturday, Nov. 16 — host Penn State Altoona (AMCC), 12:30 p.m. (first-time opponent)

For additional information, visit the Wildcats Athletics website.
For more about the United East, visit the conference website.