Eagles return loaded roster to TVAA

As a team that hasn’t lost a league match in nearly three years, Line Mountain enters the 2025-26 season as the definitive favorites in the Tri-Valley Athletic Association.

The Eagles are attempting to capture their third consecutive TVAA title with a ton of depth that will help them in the dual and individual postseasons. Line Mountain returns 11 of its 13 starters from last season. The Eagles took second in the South Sectional tournament before finishing third in the District 4 Class 2A tournament.

The most notable returnee is two-time state-medalist Brock Rothermel. Rothermel, a junior who recently committed to Pitt, finished fifth at 121 pounds in the PIAA Class 2A tournament. Rothermel won bronze at 114 as a freshman.

The Eagles have plenty of pieces surrounding Rothermel. Dalton Schadel and Nolan Savage are returning state-qualifiers. Schadel has wrestled at Hershey in each of the past two seasons while Savage made his debut as a freshman. Both wrestlers will be looking to return hardware to Mandata for the first time.

Regional-qualifier Jacob Schwalm, Ethan Lenker, Jackson Kauwell and Cody Mirarchi will also be key contributors. The Eagles will have to replace state-qualifier and 100-match winner Kohen Shingara.

Max Johnson, a two-time regional qualifier, will be sidelined for at least the first half of the season, according to assistant coach Josh Phillips. Johnson suffered a shoulder injury during football season in late September.

“(We want) to complete for a TVAA league title and qualify for the top eight in Milton at district duals and be in the mix to advance,” Phillips said. “Other than that, just (making sure) that every kid is getting better throughout the season and put themselves in a good position come postseason.”

There’s still lots of TVAA talent located outside of Mandata as well. Upper Dauphin finished 3-2 in the TVAA and sent Eoghan Savage to states at heavyweight. Savage, who went 0-2 in his first trip to states, finished third in the Class 2A Southeast Regional that includes teams from Districts 1, 3, 11 and 12.