Chambersburg's wrestling team has always been on the outside looking in when it came to the District 3 party.
Now, the Trojans are crashing it.
It was weird sitting at Central Dauphin high school Thursday night during the semifinals of the District 3-AAA Team Championships, competing on the same stage with the powerhouse Rams and consistent Spring Grove.
Not weird in the odd way. Weird as in different. And when the Trojans defeated Wilson to clinch a berth in Saturday's championship match, it was somewhat refreshing.
“This is our first trip to districts,” Trojans head coach Doug Rine said. “We have been very close to the cut off several times but just never quite made it.
“This is huge for the program. A large number of the kids we have in the room right now have dedicated their young lives to wrestling and this program, and it is tremendously satisfying to see them rewarded like this.”
The Trojans have been fun to watch develop.
Rine and assistant Matt Mentzer – a mat technician – have built this squad the right way. They saw a strong group of junior high wrestlers and when they got to the high school level, the two coaches structured their schedule for success.
First, they instituted a winning attitude in the room. Then, they carried it out on to the mat at high-profile tournaments like the Ironman and Beast of the East.
That general progression paid off. Wrestlers like Garett Hammond and Tanner Shoap made noise on the state level. The rest of the kids saw that success and have bought in to what the coaching staff has been preaching.
Now, the Trojans are deep. They have a lineup featuring two studs surrounded by Garrett Kyner, Dontez King, Calvin O'Farrell, David Rump and Colin Runshaw – five wrestlers with 20-plus wins – and role players that can win critical bouts.
“We knew long ago when many of these kids were wrestling at the youth level that we could make the jump to the higher level,” Rine said. “They are here now, and they are continuing to excel at what they love, wrestling.”
Talent can only take you so far.
A certain resolve is needed to persevere when things don't go as expected. There needs to be an ability to learn from mistakes and succeed after failure.
Central Dauphin and Cumberland Valley have that edge. The Trojans appear to be on their way to acquiring that trait after suffering three losses in one week this season.
“The turning point, I believe was that week we had our three losses,” Rine said. “It seemed as though the kids were able to view themselves more realistically after that day and came in Monday ready to get to work.”
Sweat they did.
This group has done all the heavy lifting necessary to be in this position. Both the experienced and young wrestlers in the room have bought into the same concepts.
It's all about team. And taking the necessary steps to building a successful District 3 wrestling program.
HELMUTH RETIRING
Red Land head coach Craig Helmuth is retiring at the end of the season after 35 years on the bench for the Patriots.
“After 35 years/seasons of teaching and coaching, I felt it was a good time to retire. It's time to try something different.
“My goal was to make it 35 years. Once I decided that was the number, my mind was made up.”
It might be time for Helmuth to call it a career, but he admits that it will be difficult when wrestling season rolls around next November.
“It will always be difficult no matter how many more years I would go,” he said. “Wrestling will always be a part of my life, but next season, it won't be an every day part.”
FINALS SET
Canon-McMillan and Franklin Regional will battle for today's District 7 championship at Chartiers Valley. … In District 1, Owen J. Roberts will square off against Downingtown East in the Class AAA final at 3 p.m. Saturday at Upper Dublin High School. … District 10 postponed Thursday's Class AAA semifinals because of inclement weather. They have been rescheduled for Saturday.