'Dawgs not closing book on season

When the District 11 committee announces the brackets for this year's Team Wrestling Championships on Thursday morning, it will be a rarity if Northern Lehigh is not among the Class AA field.

As strange as it seems, the Bulldogs are currently on the outside of the bubble for District Duals, according to unofficial rankings released by the District on Monday.

Teams are ranked by a ratings average determined by their won-loss records against Pennsylvania competition. A win over a Class AAA team is worth four ratings points, a Class AA win is worth three points, a AAA loss is worth one point and no points are awarded for a AA loss. The total points are then divided by the number of Pa. matches to determine the average.

As of Monday, Northern Lehigh's 9-8 record had it ranked 13th with 30 points and a rating of 1.765. The top team teams are invited to participate at District Duals.

The cut off for matches to be included in the ratings is Wednesday. The anticipated winter storm is likely to wipe out sporting events today and tomorrow, but even if the weather cooperates, the Bulldogs have no more matches this week and have just one left, a Feb. 10 non-league date at Lehighton, which is too late to have an impact on the District ratings.

If Northern Lehigh does not make the cut, it will be the first time since 1996, Todd Herzog's first year as head coach, that the 'Dawgs won't be participating at District Duals, a span of 14 straight years.

No. Lehigh has had one of the most successful Class AA programs in the state. Herzog noted the 'Dawgs are closing in on 500 victories, currently sitting on 494 wins. The Slatington mat factory has produced 22 100-win wrestlers, with seniors Colin Hedash and Nikko Stevens joining that select club this season. There have been team and individual District, Regional and State champs.

In a way, the 'Dawgs are a victim of their own past successes this season. Herzog doesn't shy away from tough competition, and that includes an annual trip to the Brookville Ultimate Duals, which features some of the top Class AA teams in the State.

Most years, No. Lehigh has been able to hold its own at the Ultimate Duals, but this year, the powerhouse field of Reynolds, Burrell, Fort LeBeouf, Ridgway and Brookville hung an 0-5 donut on the 'Dawgs.

No. Lehigh was a respectable 8-3 in Colonial League competition, losing to Pen Argyl, Saucon Valley and rival Northwestern, but the five losses at Brookville put the 'Dawgs in a hole that was tough to overcome.

"If we were going to have a shot, the loss to Northwestern probably did us in," admitted Herzog. "We knew they were going to be tough for us. They were able to juggle their line-up, and we didn't win the flip, so I couldn't do anything about it.

"Foolish me, that's our punishment for scheduling a tough schedule and losing instead of having a cushy schedule where we could build up wins and qualify automatically. That's the flaw in the system.

"We've been spoiled, because we've never had to worry about points, but out of our eight losses, six of them are against teams who are ranked in the top 10 in the state. We were competitive in those matches, but we didn't have enough nails to finish the job."

Herzog doesn't expect to back off of that approach much, either, as tough competition over the years has honed the 'Dawgs for the rigors of the postseason.

"We could have had an easier avenue to qualify, but that's not the path I've chosen, and I never will," he stated. "We went out to Brookville against the top echelon in the state and came back 0-5, so it just wasn't our year."

That doesn't mean No. Lehigh would rule out a quality tournament on the home front, such as the Whitehall Zephyr Duals, where it has competed in the past.

The 'Dawgs have had their share of tough luck this season. There is a hole at 112 pounds in the line-up. There have been some who elected not to come out. Heavyweight Brandon Loch has been injured.

"All year long, it seems that when we find a way to dig ourselves out of a hole, something else occurs to make it difficult on us," noted Herzog. "We've been upbeat, but there always seems to be unforeseen circumstances or injuries that mess us up.

"We haven't had this kind of season since my first year in coaching, but you have to take the good with the bad and run with what you brought."

No. Lehigh has also had an unfortunate run of losing flips for choice in dual meets this season.

"We haven't won a toss this year," remarked Herzog. "I haven't been able to get the match-ups I wanted in any dual meet this year. It's been unreal."

All things considered, don't feel too sorry for the 'Dawgs, who figure to be in the thick of things once individual Districts start.

Colin Hedash (22-2) is a two-time State medalist, placed fourth as a sophomore and fifth as a junior, and he figures to be a contender this year. Nikko Stevens (20-5) is a two-time State qualifier who placed sixth a year ago.

Junior Zane Heller (20-5) is a defending District 11 champion, and sophomore Ty Herzog (21-4) joined the 150-point club earlier this season. Senior Lucas Dise is 20-5, and sophomore Connor Hedash (14-8) and junior Dylan Hofmann (12-8) sport winning marks.

"By no means are we closing the book on this season," stressed the 'Dawgs' boss. "That's just not in me to do that. The second season is starting, and we have kids who we feel can bring home some hardware from Hershey."

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PROJECTING THE DISTRICT DUAL LINE-UPS - Here are the Top 10 ranked teams in each class for District Duals, according to the D-11 committee's unofficial rankings from Monday. Records are for matches vs. Pa. teams only and are through Jan. 30.

Class AA - 1. Bethlehem Catholic (6-1, 3.429), 2. Saucon Valley (17-3, 2.950), 3. Pen Argyl (10-1, 2.909), 4. Pine Grove (11-4, 2.800), 5. Tri-Valley (17-4, 2.762), 6. Pius X (14-7. 2.381), 7. Lehighton (11-8, 2,211), 8. Allentown Central Catholic (5-7, 2.083), 9. Palmerton (9-5, 2.071), 10. Tamaqua (9-6, 2.000).

There were some matches on Monday night that could cause some minor shuffling. Palmerton defeated Lehighton, which would give the Blue Bombers (now 10-5) 32 ratings points and an average of 2.133, while the Indians (11-9) stay at 42 points with their average dropping to 2.100. Tamaqua (9-7) lost to Pottsville Monday but still picked up a point due to wrestling a AAA team; the Blue Raiders have 31 points and a rating of 1.937.

Unofficially, Northwestern is ranked 11th at 8-9 and 1.882, but the Tigers have no more dual meets scheduled.

Class AAA - 1. Easton (10-0, 3.900), 2. Stroudsburg (9-1, 3.500), 3. Northampton (9-1, 3.500), 4. Parkland (10-3, 3.462), 5. Blue Mountain (7-0, 3.143), 6. East Stroudsburg South (10-3, 2.917), 7. Nazareth (5-2, 2.857), 8. Pleasant Valley (11-4, 2.800), 9. Dieruff (12-5, 2.706), 10. Southern Lehigh (13-3, 2.625).

Keep in mind that the rating averages are use to determine the top 10 teams. The District committee then reseeds the teams.

The District Duals are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Freedom High School in Bethlehem. On Friday, the preliminary bouts are scheduled for 4:30 p.m., with the quarterfinals at 6 p.m. and 7:45. On Saturday, the AA semifinals will be at 11 a.m. and the AAA semis at 1 p.m. Both title bouts are slated for 6 p.m. Saturday.

The top two teams from each Class advance to the PIAA State Duals, although the runners-up will face a play-in match next Tuesday.