There really is never a drop-off for Liberty’s wrestling program and this season is another example of how the well oiled Hurricane wrestling machine will continue to be one of the most competitive teams in District 11.

With a relatively young lineup this season following last year’s 8-8 campaign, head coach Jody Karam enters his 23rd season cautiously optimistic.

“We have balance throughout the lineup, youth and enthusiasm,” Karam said. “We also have several returning blue chippers in Andrew Gunning, KJ Fenstermacher and Luke Werner.”

Gunning (HWT) is one of the few seniors in the starting lineup and will be looked at as the leader of this team, as he enters this season the top-rankled heavyweight in the state. He leads the trio of three returning state medalists from last year’s team, as he finished last season with a fifth place medal from Hershey. Werner, a junior, (113/120) took eighth at 106 last season, while fellow classmate Fenstermacher (126) took sixth at 113 to round out the ’Canes promising trio .

Freshman Matt Maloney (106) hopes to add his name to the talented history of lightweights under Karam’s tutelage.

“We have a young team with Gunning being the only returning senior,” said Karam. “So leadership is a big question mark at this point.”

While high expectations are always the norm at Liberty, Karam expects to have a winning record and send his core of top brass to the state tournament again, with the hopes of coming home with his first state champion.

“I’d like to see us making it to team states and getting a state champion,” he said.