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With a returning lineup that includes the program's first national qualifier, Pennsylvania College of Technology wrestling coach Pankil Chander describes this year's team as "competitive, deep and young" as the Wildcats enter the season nationally ranked among NCAA Division III schools for the first time in program history.
"We have nearly doubled the roster size from last season," Chander said. "In the first tournament of 2022, we weighed in 14 guys. In the first tournament of 2023 this weekend (Friday and Saturday at the Ithaca Invitational), we're weighing in 30. We currently have 34 on the roster with only three seniors and significant depth at five out of our 10 weights, while still a bit top-heavy at the other five.
Leading the returnees is sophomore Isaac Cory, of Montoursville, who went 18-4 a year ago and finished among the top 16 in the 184-pound weight class at the NCAA Division III National Championships, earning the program's first team point at nationals, where it tied for 52nd in a 71-team field. Cory also was named to the d3wrestling.com all-freshman team.
Also among the returnees is junior Noah Hunt, of Muncy, 37-16 overall last year and sixth at 141 in the D-III Mideast Regional where, in doing so, he earned all-Region honors, like Cory, as the Wildcats finished 11th of 21, tying the college's previous highest finish in 2019. As a sophomore, Hunt was fifth at regionals.