Delayed season poses hurdles for CVC teams

LAWRENCETWP.» Although the delay of the New Jersey high school winter sports is difficult for all the athletes, it is especially tough for wrestlers.

Normally at this time of the year the wrestlers are in full practice mode and getting ready for some early-season dual matches and holiday tournaments.

Unlike many of the other sports that will begin in January, this year wrestling practice doesn’t even start until March 1. Furthermore, a season that normally runs for nearly three months has been reduced to five weeks from March 16 to April 24.

While all the wrestling programs are anxious to get going, some are looking forward to the season more than others. On the Mercer County front, one of those latter teams is Lawrence.

“I feel bad because we have a lot of seniors,’’ said Lawrence’s Chris Lynne, who is the dean of Mercer County coaches in his 34th year and is one of only two county coaches to ever compile over 300 dual-match wins. “Everyone in our program has really been looking forward to the season.’’

While powerhouse Hopewell Valley again will be tough to stop with a host of returning starters, Lawrence has the potential to be second best in the Colonial Valley Conference along with Hightstown and Robbinsville.

The reason you project that is because the Cardinals have a solid returning group of middleweights that includes region qualifiers Reece Schenk (27-14) and district champion Jake Dallarda (36-5). Other proven guns in the lineup are middleweights Careem Frost (21-8) and Sean Mills (25-9).

In short, this could be one of Lawrence’s most successful seasons in years. Assuming, that is, if there’s a wrestling season at all.

“We just had our recent region meeting with all the coaches,’’ said Lynne. “Right now the thinking is it’s a win if we have any kind of season. It is what it is right now. All we can do is roll with the punches at this point.’’

In addition to being unable to practice, Lynne pointed out it’s also difficult to recruit wrestlers with the school currently only offering virtual learning. As it stands now, Lawrence will not reopen to in-school learning until Jan. 25.

“It makes it more difficult to keep building the program,’’ he said. “You never know who you might get to come out. Last year our heavyweight (Moamen Nasr) made regions and he only wrestled for two years.’’

What also makes it difficult to get ready for the season is the fact it’s still unclear how it is going to unfold due to the current vague guidelines by the NJSIAA.

One would assume the first four weeks will be for dual matches. In Lawrence’s case, this would include 13 matches against CVC opposition. The state is actually allowing 15 dual matches, but at last check the CVC teams will only wrestle teams in their own league.

There’s all kinds of thoughts on what the one week of postseason might include. These range from some sort of sectional dual-match team tournament to individual competition.

While it doesn’t appear likely, perhaps there could also somehow be the usual Mercer County Tournament.

Whatever happens, all the wrestlers can do is hope for the best and prepare in any way they can.

“We have been emailing our wrestlers work-out programs,’’ said Lynne. “Some of them have also been going to Pennsylvania because their gyms are more open than New Jersey. We just have to wait and see. If sports like swimming and basketball go off without too much of a hitch, we should be OK.’’