Jan 18, 2025
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville wrestlers enter the gym prior to a recent home match.
It seems that no matter what opponent Hughesville faces in dual competition, the Spartans come out on top with a win. Hughesville’s 9-1 following a convincing win over Muncy on Thursday and has wrestled outstanding since Day 1 of the season.
The Spartans opened the season at the Darren Klingerman Invitational on Dec. 6 and took third place. Ever since, it’s been a lot of winning.
So what exactly has been the key to Hughesville this year?
A strong senior class?
Talent throughout the lineup?
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville wrestlers greet their opponents prior to a recent home match.
State-ranked wrestlers?
A bit of a combination and more.
“We have a really good team this year, a bunch of seniors which helps out a lot,” Hughesville’s Kile Hartman said after medaling at Saturday’s PHAC Championships in Milton. “We’re going to lose a bunch of them. All those older kids who have been around longer just help us.”
Wyatt Gavitt, Conor Knight, Casey Mook, Mason Mordan, Chase Shaner, Keagan Smith and Luke Stutzman make up that senior class and in total, Hughesville has 21 wrestlers on the roster, meaning there’s numerous kids who can fill in a number of different weights.
“I think we’ve really got a lot of guys and we’re filling all our weight classes. It’s really helping us as a team even if we can put a body ina spot. Guys are going to fight for each other,” Hughesville’s Keagan Smith said. “Not everyone’s out there just for personal glory. We got a team around us and everyone loves each other very, very much. We’re really just figthing for each other. Even if its a match we know we’re going to lose, it’s cutting that margin down with a major decision. We’re fighting (for our team).”
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville wrestling head coach Troy Charles calls from the sidelines during a recent home match.
And fighting for one another is a huge reason for Hughesville’s success.
After competing at Bloomsburg’s DKI to open the season, Hughesville defeated South Williamsport in a dual, 52-18. Hughesville hosted its Spartan Duals in mid-December and went 6-0 with wins over Lackawanna Trail (57-12), Sullivan County (53-15), Wyoming Valley West (54-18), Mid-Valley (52-14), Wellsboro (66-6) and Northeast Bradford (56-9).
Hughesville’s only loss this year came against Montgomery on the road, 42-25, before the Spartans beat Benton, 49-11, placed second at the Jim Thorpe Christmas Tournament and then took third at the PHAC Championships thanks to numerous medalists in first-, third-, and fifth-place bouts.
Hughesville has a number of state-ranked wrestlers as well with Shaner (No. 18 at 133 pounds), Smith (No. 14 at 152) and Knight (No. 21 at 172).
But Hughesville’s lineup isn’t just focused on those state-ranked kids. There’s numerous others, even backups, who can step up at any time.
“It doesn’t matter if a state-ranked kid gets hurt, we’re going to fight no matter what,” Shaner said.
Shaner also pointed out Hughesville’s senior class being key to this year’s outstanding start.
“We’ve grown up wrestling together. Ever since elementary school we’ve been together. As a team, we’re coming together better now that we all wrestled each other throughout the entire year,” Shaner said. “It brings us together and we fight for each other, not just ourselves.”
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