Blackhawks Aim for a Stronger Season as Wrestling Begins
The Susquenita Blackhawks wrestling team is looking to bounce back from a tough previous season, finishing 3-21 and failing to secure a league win at 0-5. Despite these challenges, the team’s standout wrestler, Joshua Kauffman, qualified for the state championships, a significant achievement that highlights the potential within the program.
This year, the Blackhawks are fielding a relatively young team but come with more varsity experience, increasing their chances for improvement. Key returning wrestlers include sophomore Cole Robinson, who had a promising 21-15 season as a freshman, and senior Bryce Hefenfinger, who finished 12-12 and made a sectional appearance. Senior Braden Law also returns, bringing a 13-11 record from last season along with his sectional experience.
A major issue for Susquenita last season was gaps in the roster, which forced them to forfeit at least three weight classes. Addressing this will be crucial as they move into the new season. The team will face early tests, starting with the Perry County tournament at West Perry, where they will compete against Newport and West Perry.
Following the Perry County tournament, Susquenita will participate in the Penn Manor Tournament featuring 20 teams. The Blackhawks will kick off league play with a match against Upper Dauphin on December 18, followed by the Juniata Pooled Duals including local teams Newport and Juniata on January 4.
With a challenging schedule ahead that includes matches against various local teams, the Blackhawks are determined to fill their roster gaps and improve on last season’s performance, aiming for a more competitive showing in the league and tournaments alike.
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Photo credit www.pennlive.com