Team Capsules

Ballard

Coach: Todd Smith, 1st year.

Last year: 0-9 league.

Top wrestlers: Emelio Vega, soph., 103; Eric Scoggins, sr., 125; Russell Thompson, jr., 130; Doric Stavnshoj, soph., 135; Alex Carlston, jr., 189.

Top newcomers: Elliot Siblet, fr., 140; Shayne Kouf, soph., 160.

Miscellany: Smith was named head coach a week into the season. . . . Ballard had 17 wrestlers on the team, up from 15 at the beginning of the season, with five freshmen. . . . Vega and Scoggins won titles at West Seattle tournament.

Blanchet

Coach: Paul Peloli, 7th year.

Last year: N/A.

Top wrestlers: Taylor Croonquist, sr., 171; Jake Conroy, sr., 275; Michael Jasmer, jr., 135.

Top newcomers: Dan McNaughton, fr., 130; Pat McNaughton, jr. 189.

Miscellany: Croonquist won Metro title at 158 last year, and is odds-on favorite to win at 171. He recently took first at Bainbridge Island tournament. . . . Strong contingent with 45 wrestlers. . . . Only loss this season was to O'Dea.

Cleveland

Coach: Sakhay Son, 1st year.

Last year: 0-9, team was combined with Rainier Beach.

Top wrestlers: Josh Buening, jr., 145; Yonas Abraha, sr., 152; Bill Nitta, sr., 189.

Top newcomers: Jesse Robinson, soph., 125; Sang Pho, fr., 215; William Craig, jr., 275.

Miscellany: Program on its own again after spending last year combined with Rainier Beach. . . . Son graduated from Cleveland two years ago, and was working at Americorp when coaching job opened up. . . . Team started with 25 wrestlers, currently at 15, with only two seniors, Nitta and Abraha. . . .

Chief Sealth

Coach: Dave Rosario, 4th year.

Last year: League 4-5.

Top wrestlers: T.J. Holert, sr., 119; Jason Munoz, jr. 125; Anthony McRae, jr., 135; Charles Sripraharatanakul, sr., 152; Peter Gilbert, soph., 160; Lauifi Tauiliili, jr., 275.

Top newcomers: Christopher Holmes, jr., 103; Arthur Doronio, soph., 112; Antonio Flores, soph., 145.

Miscellany: McRae is defending Metro champ. . . . Seahawks started with 35 wrestlers, but down to 22 because of academically ineligible athletes. . . . Tauiliili is back wrestling after being injured in a car accident in August, causing him to miss the football season.

Eastside Catholic

Coach: Ron Cole, 1st year.

Last year: N/A.

Top wrestlers: none.

Top newcomers: Jamie Donaghue, sr.; John Ferrari, sr.; Curtis Abbott, soph.

Miscellany: Cole was a three-time national champion in freestyle wrestling. . . . Crusaders starting with new team after placing third last year at Metro League championships.

Ingraham

Coach: Rance Richter, 2nd year.

Last year: 1-8 league.

Top wrestlers: Mike Nibbler, sr., 119; R.J. Richter, sr., 160; Kris Davis, soph., 171.

Miscellany: Rams have only five wrestlers on team, after starting the season with 12. . . . R.J. Richter is brother of head coach Rance Richter. . . . R.J. Richter lost his first match of the season at West Seattle tournament.

Nathan Hale

Coach: Dave Manahan, 8th year.

Last year: 6-2 league; overall 9-5.

Top wrestlers: James Daigneault, sr., 119; Lang Reynolds, jr., 125; Joe Larson, jr., 130; Jesse Huckins, jr., 135; Johnny Cheng, sr., 145; Noel Warner, jr. 152.

Top newcomers: Kerry Gurtknecht, jr., 189; Miles Mateen, soph., 275.

O'Dea

Coach: Jeff Anderson, 10th year.

Last year: 11-0 league, 13-1 overall.

Top wrestlers: Mike Kenney, soph., 112; Pat Martin, soph., 119; Thomas Jackson, soph., 125; Dominic Emerson, sr., 130; Nakean Wickliff, sr., 145; Tim Storey, jr., 135; Padraic Kelly, sr., 152; Taylor Lopez, sr., 189; Ryan Mallory, sr., 275; Kevin Connolly, sr., 215; Ryan Ronstadt, sr., 171; Randy Stupey, sr., 152.

Top newcomers: Justin Otaka, jr., 189; Peter Henderson, jr., 135; Kevin McKeon, sr., 125; Marko Oblak, soph., 103.

Miscellany: Irish are going for their 10th consecutive Metro title. . . . Kenney, Emerson, Wickliff and Taylor Lopez won individual Metro titles last year. . . . Irish had 50 wrestlers turn out, including 20 freshmen, conducting their workouts from 6 to 8 a.m.

Rainier Beach

Coach: Mark Haley, 4th year.

Last year: 0-9 league, combined with Cleveland.

Top wrestler: Davis Sawyer, jr. 125.

Top newcomer: Jonathan Cochran, jr., 130.

Miscellany: Viking program on its own after being combined with Cleveland last season. . . . Only seven wrestlers on team, losing most heavyweights through injury or attrition. . . . Has beaten Ingraham this season. . . . Will host Metro League meet Feb. 4-5.

West Seattle

Coach: Josh Pena, 3rd year.

Last year: 5-4 league.

Top wrestlers: J.T. Crowe, sr., 119; Chad Anderson, sr. 125; Joe Phoecena, soph., 130; Danny Morgan, soph., 140; Skyler Palmer, soph., 171; Billy Colwell, sr., 189.

Top newcomers: Greg Stover, jr., 130; Joey Crevling, soph., 135; Adam Fulford, jr., 145; Kam Peters, jr., 215.

Miscellany: West Seattle placed fourth at its wrestling tournament last weekend. . . . Crowe hasn't lost a Metro League match in his three years on varsity.