Young Plum team gaining experience through mat action

By: Michael Love
Tuesday, December 26, 2017 | 5:33 PM

Plum head wrestling coach Steve Stremple said he is encouraged from what he's seen from the effort of his young team over the first few weeks of teh season.

A mix of experience and up-and-coming talent are gunning to amass victories in duals and tournaments. The Mustangs will take part in the annual West Mifflin holiday tournament Wednesday and Thursday at West Mifflin High School.

Sophomore Cole Yocca came into this week with six straight victories, including a 5-0 mark at the Moon Duals on Dec. 16, after a tough 3-0 start. Two of the losses came at the Eastern Area tournament in one-point setbacks to a pair of competitors who went on to place at 106.

Gavin James, the lone Plum returning wrestler who competed at WPIALs last year, went 2-3 at 132 at the Moon Duals and is 3-4 overall.

Junior Tallon Auth, a 14-match winner last year, is 4-5 so far this year, and that includes a 3-2 record with two pins at 138 at the Moon Duals.

Eight wrestlers in all scored wins at the Moon Duals. Seniors Joe Delpino (4-6 overall at 145) and Mike Delpino (3-7 at 152) are cornerstones of teh Plum lineup.

Junior Colin Stecik went 3-2 at Moon, winning all three by pin. He is 5-4 on the season.

Sophomore Damon Bracco (160) won his frst of the season at Moon and juniors Spencer Wilson (182) and Mike Rapneth (160) are on the varsity team for the first time.

Sophomore Evan Stinson (152) earned two wins in exhibition matches at the Moon Duals.

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Plum