Dealing with losses to graduation is the norm for high school coaches and Jody Karam is no different.

Karam enters his 22nd year of coaching with some major holes to fix, following the departure of upper weights Jake Gunning (PIAA, 3rd place), Orlando Miller (state qualifier), Kevin Knox and Noah Klingborg.

But that doesn't mean Liberty's wrestling program can't crank out capable newcomers to fill in the ranks.

"We hope to fill our gaps through hard work," said Karam. "It's not going to be easy after graduating most of our lineup from last year, but Liberty has a way of turning newcomers into wrestlers. A school doesn't have 89 winning seasons in the last 93 years without putting in the work."

Back in the fold for the Hurricanes are Luke Werner (so., 106), KJ Fenstermacher (so., 113), John Ritter (sr., 138), Andrew Gunning (jr., 220). All four qualified for regionals last year, as Werner and Ritter both picked up third-place finishes to qualify for the PIAA tournament. Fenstermacher was a district champ last year as well, but failed to get through regionals.

The Hurricanes, who finished last year 19-5, where they lost to Parkland twice in district duals, with the final defeat coming in the now defunct ultimate qualifier bout, have a solid nucleus back with the aforementioned wrestlers.

Newcomers Anthony Emig (152) and Kyle Gildner (285) look to fill some of the voids to graduation, but Karam knows that having a squad lacking experience will have its bumps.

"Experience, you can't coach that," said Karam about areas of improvement. "It can only come from time on the mat. We had a great offseason in the weight room and tournaments, and we're hoping that translates into wins on the mat."

The Hurricanes started the season at the Brian Bealer Memorial Bear Duals at Boyertown and finished 3-2 during that trek.

They traveled to Penn Manor over the weekend for the Comet Invitational and came home with the team title.

Three Hurricanes came away with championships, as Fenstermacher (120), Ritter (138) and Gunning (220) finished with gold medals.

Luke Werner took second at 113 and Kevin Dans was third at 152.

The Hurricanes open their East Penn Conference schedule with Pocno Mountain East tonight.

How things will play out for 'Canes is unknown, but Karam is confident that they'll compete.

"We'll have to grit out some wins this year," he said, "but I believe in my team. We grow kids just a little tougher in Bethlehem."