The Wyoming Area wrestling team just finished the WVC two day wrestling tournament at Lake Lehman high school. It was a good experience for a team under the control of first year head coach Steve Mytych and his assistant Joe Rovelli. The Warriors are trying to catch established programs like Hazleton, Crestwood, Berwick, Pittston Area, Coughlin, and WVW. While Dallas, Meyers, GAR, Nanticoke, Lake Lehman, Hanover Area, Tunkhannock, and Wyoming Area are looking to establish themselves in the conference.
This is year one for Steve Mytych as Wyoming Area’s new head wrestling coach. And Mytych is no stranger to the Wyoming Valley Conference starting out his career at Wyoming Valley West before finishing at Northampton high school. Mytych is looking to bring that winning feeling here to Wyoming Area.
“Everybody has really bought in-Nick O’Brien was undefeated in junior high but hasn’t wrestled for two years-he’s back. I look for big things from him and Andy Schutz, Nick Heck, Carm Mauriello and all these guys.” said Steve Mytych.
Mytych was a 4 time NCAA Division I national qualifer during his days at Drexel University, and still is the all time wins leader with 136 career victories.
“I went to Northampton high school and Don Rohn took over the program and actually they we’re 2-18 the year before. He eventually turned them into 8 time state champions as a team.” again said Steve.
Assistant coach Joe Rovelli knows what it takes to become a champion. Back in 2004 Rovelli won a state title for Meyers, then went onto Hofstra University and became a 4 time national qualifer there.
“These kids since we’ve been here have been like sponges, they listen to everything we have to say eyes wide open everytime we show them moves. I actually pretty pleased with the guys we have in this room.” said Joe Rovelli.
“I was very excited to get in the room with them. Just high caliber two guys that have been thru it all.” said Andy Schutz-Wyoming Area junior wreslter.
Mytych stills trains for MMA fights and wrestles on a freestyle circuit out of the Lehigh Valley athletic club during the day.
And at night he comes here to coach the Wyoming Area varsity wrestling program while his dad handles the junior high kids. The Mytych’s from top to bottom are committed to turning this program around.
“Elementary I believe is 7-0 right now, junior high team trained by my father is doing well so I know they are being trained the right way.” again said Steve.
The walls inside the Wyoming Area wrestling room are bare for now. In time they hope to etch in stone the names of some future state champions.