Liberty and Freedom will be back on the wrestling mat this week as they open up their seasons on Wednesday night.

The Hurricanes will travel to Northampton and the Patriots will make a trek to Easton as they embark on an unusual winter season.

Liberty head coach Brandon Hall will just be happy to have his team back on the mat for a competitive match with all the COVID related setbacks teams have had to endure this season.

“There is a genuine appreciation for the fact that we can workout together,” said Hall. “The support for each other is tremendous. Our line up and this season in general isn’t what anyone expected. The assistant coaches on our staff have done a great job helping prepare them in this abbreviated time together. I’m very fortunate to have these men on the staff.”

Freedom boss Dante Terenzio has seem great effort from his group in their time back in the room, but knows they’ll get a tough test in their opener against an Easton squad that took some lumps in their 41-15 loss to Bethlehem Catholic over the weekend.

“What we saw from Easton is pretty much what we expected. Tough kids from top to bottom,” said Terenzio. “They wrestled Becahi much closer than the score indicates. We’re looking forward to wrestling a state caliber team, but more importantly, we’re excited to get back to a competitive state of mind. It’s been 10 months since we’ve had this feeling. Let’s hope it lasts for the rest of the season.”

Liberty’s bout with Northampton will also be the first for the K-Kids, so rust will be a factor for many teams early this season.

“Our room has been off limits since the 2020 post season,” said Hall. “That hasn’t been the case for all teams in the EPC. But the focus is not about where we are but where we are going. I anticipate we see a hard nosed, well coached Northampton team for sure. I expect our team to put it all out there for six minutes. We will move forward, be physical and compete with gratitude and confidence in ourselves.”

Terenzio feels the same about his team’s chances on Wednesday, knowing there will be some cobwebs that need to be shaken off.

“I think our experienced kids will be fine, and I think our less experienced kids will take their lumps,” he said. “That’s what wrestling is all about. Regardless of the outcome, as long as every kid gets after it and can take some positives away from the experience, then we’ll be happy with the opportunity to develop our youthful team.”

Becahi is enduring schedule postponements, as its match with Nazareth Wednesday has been pushed back due to COVID concerns.

The Hawks will get back at it Friday when they travel to Liberty. Freedom is scheduled to take on Nazareth Friday night, but that contest might be in jeopardy as well.