G1A-12 Preview: St. John Neumann girls chasing a first district title

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Anna Lesniak, 16-8, SQ, R4, DC; Isabella Tarquino, 18-10, RQ, D2; Addison Slaybaugh, 11-11, RQ, D2; Melanie Moreno, 13-8, RQ, DC; Lainey Hooper, 24-10, RQ-BR, D2.

Notable returning wrestlers: Leah Swanson, So., 9-3, D6; Marison Beltran, Sr., 8-12, RQ, DC; Christina Dalton, So., 14-11, RQ, D2; Fernanda Barreto, So., 7-7, D6.

What they are saying: “The legacy that the five seniors graduated last year left is in place even though you can't replace them and the numbers are going to be a little bit down. We had three sophomores that worked with them last year as freshman who are really picking up the baton where they left off. I'm excited from that. Leah Swanson, Christina Dalton, Fernanda Barettp, they were all freshman in the lineup last year. They're dedicated year-round wrestlers. They learned really well from that senior class last year and it's not fun or easy to see a great senior class like that go. They won a district title and got the program in the right direction but it's awesome to see that what they started is going to continue with this next group and they're already bringing out more girls and it's going to be a lot of teaching from basics and scratch again but we did it once before we'll do it again and we have the next core that we're going to build around.”

On Leah Swanson: “She didn't even get a chance to see the postseason last year. I really think she could have been a state qualifier, younger sister of one of our seniors last year, Ethan Swanson. Two of the girls that qualified our region she beat but she had an injury filling in for our boys lineup at the district duals. It hurts that happened me, calling on her, but the situation was there. She wanted to step in and fill it. That's the type of wrestler she is. She had just recovered from another injury and came back last year and was wrestling really well and now she did it again. But she's doing a great job with the rehab. She's so focused. She's so determined to come back. We're not going to rush her back, but she is going to be back and I think she's going to have a great season.”

On history repeating: “I am as a history teacher. I see history repeating itself because this is what happened. This is the blessing I had three years ago. That senior class last year, it started with three sophomores, It started with Anna Lesniak, Lainey Hooper, and Addison Slaybaugh. They were just tremendous sophomores to have leaders in the school and then end up leaders on the girls team. They brought friends out and built the program and two and a half two years later they're going out as seniors winning a district title and I just see the same thing repeating itself again. I see these three girls that are so similar. They're awesome young women leaders in the school and getting new girls out.”

Outlook: The future is bright for last year’s district champions as they have another talented sophomore class to develop.