It will be another season of playing chess on the wrestling mat for Bradford High coach Jamey Miller.

The third year mentor had nearly two dozen wrestlers sign up, but as the Owls await their season-opening action Friday and Saturday at the Bloomsburg Tournament, the active head count stands at 10.

“We had 22 guys sign up for the team, but now we have 10 guys who can wrestle and an 11th guy working through an injury,”  Miller said this week during his preseason interview.

“We will be giving up four weight classes (forfeits) but the Bloomsburg Tournament is more individual. The last email I got they had 26 schools and they are all quality teams. This will be a chance for our kids to see where they’re at and what they have to work on.”

When the dual meet season begins, that’s when the chess match gets underway.

“We’re going to struggle as a team in dual meets so Mark (Havers, assistant coach) and I have to play our cards right. With the random flip now it makes it a lot more difficult.

“Right now I feel Kane is the team to beat, but despite our low numbers, we will be competitive in the AMWL,” he emphasized.

The Owls were 6-4 last year and Miller was quick to point out that two of the losses didn’t sit well with him.

“I was not a happy camper,” he grumbled.

This season won’t be any easier, but he has six returning lettermen and a group of youngsters hoping to make their mark on the team.

The returning veterans are Dillon Keane (160 pounds, senior, 4th season), Austin McCracken (182 pounds, senior, 4th season), Kholten Fuller (195 pounds, senior, 4th season), Colby Keane (152 pounds, junior, 3rd season), Derek Sunafrank (170 pound, junior, 3rd season) and Drake Hayden (138 pounds, sophomore, 2nd season).

“Dillon is extremely driven and focused in everything, not just on the mat but off, too,” Miller began. “I’m expecting a lot out of him this year. He fell a little short of his goal last year, but now I think he’s on target. I feel he’ll get to Hershey this year because has the maturity level of a D-1 wrestler.

“Austin and Kholten have been with us since they were freshmen. Austin works extremely hard and is a good kid. Last year he had his first winning record. Kholten came up through our junior high program and has been our utility man. Last year he wrestled three different weight classes. He is a team wrestler without a doubt.

“Colby is an extremely talented wrestler and a truly gifted athlete. He missed his goal last year, but has buckled down and decided to go for it. He put in a lot of time in the off-season. Derek is another extremely talented wrestler. From last year to this year, his maturity level increased tremendously. He purposely positioned himself with Dillon Keane to push himself. He also fell short of his goal last season and is determined not to let it happen again. Drake had to work for everything he got on the mat last year and going .500 on the season was an accomplishment. He fell one round short of making regionals,” Miller pointed out.

Completing the active roster are three freshmen and a sophomore.

Miller said of the group, “Brett Thompson (126 pounds, freshman, first season) is talented and has been wrestling since he was little. Michael Gow (132 pounds, freshman, 1st season) wrestled in junior high, but because of injuries he didn’t get a lot of time on the mat. In the off-season he looked pretty good …I expect better than .500 from him. He has to get a little tougher mentally, and part of that is confidence because he has not wrestled a lot. Alex Wyant (145 pounds, sophomore, 1st season) came out of New York and has shown some promise. He’s picking up our style of wrestling. Dylan Mazzone (HWT, freshman, 1st season) is young and has to realize the strength he has. When he does he will make some noise. He can move, too.”

Unable to wrestle at this time is Trent Neff (120 pounds, freshman, 1st season).

“I’ve been chasing him since 6th grade,” said Miller, who explained that Neff is sidelined with an injury. “We’re not certain when or if we’ll get him back, but he is still part of our team.”

Sizing up the season ahead, Miller knows the Owls will have to battle for everything they get, but as he put it, “I’ve known most of these guys since they were young and they’re a good bunch of kids. Mark (Havers) and I think of them as our own.”

The Owls 2018-19 schedule follows:

DECEMBER

7-8 — At Bloomsburg Tournament

19 — At Port Allegany

28-29  — At Tunkhannock Tournament

JANUARY

3 — OSWAYO VALLEY

8 — DUBOIS
10 — At Smethport

15 — At Kane

18-19 — At Mercer Tournament

22 — SHEFFIELD

24 — CAMERON COUNTY

25-26 — At  West Branch Tournament

29 — At Olean

31 — COUDERSPORT

FEBRUARY

5 — At Johnsonburg

7 — At Punxsutawney

22-23 — District IX Championships

MARCH

1-2 — At Regionals

7-9 — PIAA State Championships