New look, new approach for Parkland
Trojans have a revamped lineup, ‘louder’ coach.
Parkland’s wrestling room looks a lot different this year.
A dozen Trojans graduated in 2018. Another moved. Another had off-the-mat issues.
There are six 2018 District 11 junior high medalists in there now.
There also is a different Mike Ottinger in the room.
“I’m a little bit louder,” the second-year coach said.
It hasn’t gone unnoticed by the handful of returnees.
“Everything is 10 times harder,” junior Lucas Kern said. “[The coaches] want us to do really well, so they’re just going to go right at us.”
Ottinger’s change in approach comes at a good time for him and the program.
It is tough for a first-year head coach to establish a lot with a dozen seniors set in their ways staring him in the eye.
So, this year is about a fresh approach with fresh faces eager to be taught and determined to work hard to prove they belong in the varsity lineup.
“I think I know what I want more in my team,” the 2011 Parkland graduate said. “Last year, I was not really sure, still figuring some things out.
“Now it’s like, ‘Hey, this is the direction I want to go in.’ I’m trying to focus on doing the right things outside of wrestling as well as inside.”
Ottinger, a goal-driven wrestler and soccer player in his day, is resisting the urge to establish goals focused on wins and losses with this year’s team because he recognizes that is what is best.
Instead, he and assistants Tarik Haddad, Adam Hluschak and Pat Corp are focused on getting on the mat with the largely inexperienced varsity group and teaching.
“The competitive side of me worries about winning,” Ottinger admitted, “but I’m trying to worry about us putting hands on a guy the right way, hitting a shot the right way, working on doing the right things, and letting the winning take care of itself.
“Getting everyone to be disciplined and buying into the right things is good to do with a younger team, to get all that established.
“I think we’ve got a really good culture in here. I have their ear. I think they are bought in.”
The lineup
Two-time District 11 junior high placewinner Nathan Kresge, a freshman, will be at 106 and sometimes 113.
Junior Gabe Montanez or freshman Keagan Kinney will be at 120. Kinney, junior Bryan Diaz or freshman Nico Medlar are at 126.
Kern is at 132.
Seniors Kale Cummings, Joey Dolak and Mason Lansenderfer will combine to fill the slots at 138 and 145.
Sophomores Josh Wieder and Edwin Moya are at 152 and 160.
Senior Joey Guida will be at 170 when he returns from an injury. Sophomore Jacob Ortman is at 170-182.
Freshman Zayd Afif is at 182 or 195.
Newcomers Garrett Fitzgerald (220), a sophomore, and senior Cory Border (285) anchor the top two weights.
“They are a couple football guys I’m really impressed with,” Ottinger said. “Both are studs on the football field. It’s similar to last year when we had Nate Wieder and Jahan Worth for a little bit.
“Garrett and Cory came out of nowhere. They wrestled when they were younger. They both look great. They could be two of our best guys in lineup.”
The schedule
Parkland does not open its season until its EPC opener against visiting Dieruff on Wednesday, Dec. 12.
The Trojans have two tournaments in the first month: at Penn Manor on Friday-Saturday, Dec. 14-15, and Liberty’s Bethlehem Holiday Wrestling Classic on Friday-Saturday, Dec. 28-29.
Ottinger’s club hosts Northampton, Souderton, Boyertown, Mariana Bracetti, Delaware Valley, Central (District 12) and Cumberland Valley at the Parkland Duals on Saturday, Jan. 5, to kick off its 2019 slate.
Parkland also returns to the Escape the Rock tournament at Council Rock South on Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 19-20, before finishing EPC action by hosting Nazareth on Thursday, Jan. 24.