Senior Cole Coolbaugh and junior Jake Greenfield, this year’s team captains and two of last season’s top three scorers, return along with several other players who have some experience, giving Anthony Macario more with which to work in his second season as Wyoming Area head coach.
Coolbaugh, a 6-foot forward, and Greenfield, a 5-10 guard, each started every game last season. Coolbaugh averaged nine points per game and Greenfield eight.
Nick Elko, a 6-3 sophomore center, and Jesse Mikoliczyk, a 6-4 junior center, also made some starts.
With more depth available, Macario said the starting lineup could vary at times.
“Our players have really dedicated themselves to putting in a lot of work during the offseason,” Macario said. “We are still relatively young in terms of having players with full-time varsity experience, but we expect to take a positive step forward this year and be much more competitive in our league.”
Sophomore Evan Melberger will take over as the starting point guard with Mikoliczyk apparently ready to be the center.
Melberger, junior guards Zach Capitano and Matt Sorick and junior forwards Jason Wiedl and Nate Winnick all gained experience on last season’s team that went 1-16 in the Wyoming Valley Conference and 2-20 overall.
Elko is a starter on the football team, which will play for the state championship Thursday. He will join the team after that.
Macario is unsure of the status of seniors F.J. Braccini and Sam Solomon, who are prominent members of the football team. Solomon has made starts at both Wyoming Valley West, his former school, and Wyoming Area while Braccini also has experience.
Others on the combined varsity/junior varsity roster are: junior guards Ryan Soto and Christian Naugle, sophomore forwards Caden Bonita and Mike Brown, sophomore guards John Morgan and Nick Colavito, freshman forward Dylan Petrucci and freshman guard Matt Little.
“We have a group of young men who approach the game the right way — they push each other and compete every day, communicate well, and are very coachable,” Macario said. “We have taken big steps forward since the end of last year, but still have plenty of room to grow and keep developing.
“We are excited to begin this upcoming season.”
Wyoming Area opens the season with a non-league game at Forest City Friday.
The Warriors will begin WVC play Jan. 3 at home against Holy Redeemer. After competing in Division 2 of the WVC’s two-division setup last season, they will be in Division 3 of the new three-division alignment.
