WDHS Wrestling Preview: Don't Sleep On This Young Bunch

John Craig has heard the whispers.

The West Deptford High School wrestling coach knows others around Gloucester County aren’t sold that the Eagles will be able to duplicate the success they found a year ago when they produced 19 wins.

Guys like Drew Spector, Sean Bonner and James Shields have graduated, and their spots will be filled by wrestlers who are new to the varsity scene.

It would be understandable to expect West Deptford to fall off a little bit. After all, the Eagles have graduated 17 seniors over the past two seasons–more than a whole lineup’s worth.

But Craig isn’t so sure the doubters have it right.

“I think that we still will remain a very competitive team,” Craig said. "We are younger than we have been in the past, but we have kids that want to win and want to succeed. I think we can surprise people.

“In the area, people think we will be down, but I don’t think we will be really down. We will be competitive with most any team in the area. We will have a couple of holes to fill, but I don’t think there are many teams that don’t have that.”

In other words: The Eagles are going to be just fine.

Despite the graduations, the cupboard is hardly bare. Headlining the list of returnees is junior Tyler Kaminski, who has won one district title and was runner-up for a second. Kaminski has over 50 wins in his career and will be a force at the 112-pound weight class. Region 8 qualifier Rory Bonner is also back and looks to be in line for a run at a region title at 180. Evan Zuzulock, Scott Dennis and Phil Fisher also have the needed skills to succeed.

Craig does admit that the team is much younger than the previous few, but he doesn’t want people to confuse youth with weakness. Even if the team does take a small step back this year, any decline is not likely to last long.

“This is the first time in a while we are young, but these kids coming up had a great seventh- and eighth-grade team,” Craig said. “The next couple of years you will see some real talent, and this year we will get a good look at how good we will be in the future.”

Below is a glance at some of the names and storylines to follow this winter.

WEST DEPTFORD WRESTLING

Coach: John Craig

Last year: 19-4.

Returning letter winners: Dustin Zuzulock (so. 103); Tyler Kaminski (jr./112); Evan Zuzulock (sr./120); 126: Steve Alt (sr./126); Christian Terinoni (jr./132); Scott Dennis (sr./138); Eugene Marshal (sr., 145); Dan Gibson (sr./152);Hunter Holmstrom (so./152). Phil Fisher (sr./160); Rory Bonner (jr./180); David Branco (sr./ 285);

Promising newcomers: Griffin Bonner (fr./ 103); Walt Vickery (fr./103); Alex Branco (so./170); Mark Fisher (so./195); Frank Lucas (sr./195); Cody Cooper (so./ 132); Chris Sotto (fr./132); Gerald Towns (so., 215).

Team to beat: Paulsboro.

Expectations: Despite losing 17 varsity wrestlers over the past two years, the Eagles have enough talent to remain among the top teams in the Colonial Conference. Expect West Deptford to continue its winning ways and advance a handful of wrestlers to the Region 8 Tournament.

Three storylines to follow:

–One graduates, another steps in. The Eagles were left with a huge void in their roster with the graduation of Sean Bonner. One wrestler who may help ease that sting is Sean’s brother, Griffin Bonner.

Griffin has had great success in middle school and is the favorite to start at the 103 weight class. Not to be forgotten is Rory Bonner, who looks poised to lead the team in wins this season.

–Fisher at the next level. Phil Fisher had a great junior season on the mat, but not everyone may be aware. The reason? It came at JV. Fisher found himself behind a couple of standout wrestlers at 160, so was forced to spend the season at the JV level. Fisher made the most of his opportunities, winning a pair of JV tournaments. This season, the varsity spot is his and Fisher could be in for a big season.

–Following his brother. Gerald Towns reminded West Deptford fans of his brother Jimmy Owens with the success he had on the football field this fall, so it’s intriguing to think what will happen on the mat this season. Owens was a standout for the wrestling several years ago and Towns should be no slouch, either. Towns competed at the youth level and clearly has the strength necessary to be a factor this season.