For the first time in a quarter-century, the Perry wrestling team will be under new leadership this season. But don’t expect the expectations of the Perry program to change under new coach Dan Trentanelli. Sliding into the corner chair left vacant when former coach Dave Rowan stepped down after 24 years at the helm, Trentanelli considers his elevation from an assistant coaching position a continuation more than a change. “Oh, it’s a seamless transition,” Trentanelli said. “The system Dave and I used with the youth guys all the way up, I’ve worked with this group of kids for a long time. The system in place works, obviously.” Trentanelli is no stranger to the Perry system. The 1998 graduate of West Geauga has been an assistant at Perry for the past four years and also has previous coaching experience as an assistant at West Geauga and Brush. “Around 2012 when my son decided he wanted to wrestle, he was 5 at the time, I felt I started coaching youth wrestling at Perry.” He worked with Perry youth, then was elevated to middle school coach and eventually an assistant on Rowan’s staff. Trentanelli has been a fixture in the corner alongside Rowan for the past handful of years, hence what he calls a “seamless transition” as the new head coach. Though wrestling has always been in his blood, he didn’t exactly see himself teaching science and coaching when he graduated from West Geauga. He said, “I originally went to Case to become an engineer. Coach Joe Marino asked me if I’d help out coaching, and the rest his history. I’ve been coaching ever since 1999.” Said Marino, “He brought a lunchpail mentality to practice every day. I have no doubt he will be a successful coach at Perry, displaying the same qualities. That’s why I hired him to be a coach on our staff while he was in college.” Trentanelli’s “lunchpail mentality” will be paired with an experienced, deep and talented roster he knows well. The Pirates return 13 wrestlers with starting lineup credentials to their name this season, including sophomores Cooper Schlauch (19-9 last year), Landon Rusnak (30-14 last year), son Anthony Trentanelli (30-12 last year) and Michael Niedzwicki (16-13 last year), juniors Chance Schlauch (24-15 last year), Antonius Bertone (24-14 last year) and Trent Taylor (20-10 last year), as well as seniors Christopher Bezzeg (35-15 last year), Drew Smith (21-116 last year), Eddie Cooney (13-13 last year), Chuck Thomas (15-12 last year) and Nolan Leben (25-15 last year). Supplementing the deep roster are freshman Jimmy Trentanelli, Dante Villalobos and Hunter Kline. “It’s a great hand to be dealt,” Trentanelli said. “One of the nice parts is I’ve been coaching this group since they were 5. We are back in Division II this year and many of the wrestlers have goals of reaching the state tournament. Additionally, we hope to continue the success we’ve had in the CVC, sectional and district after placing fourth in the state duals last year.” Trentanelli said Rowan is still involved with the program and said the former coach “has been really supportive.” His assistants are Chris Bezzeg, Jason Thomas, Colin Koenig, Ryan Brubaker, Nick Sbrocco and Calvin Rowan, with Theresa Dominish guiding the girls team, which has grown to nine wrestlers in junior high and high school. He said his wife Allison “is my No. 1 assistant. Not only is she a supportive mother, but she handles a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff.” The season started slowly, as has been in recent years, because of the deep playoff run made by the Perry football team. Many of Perry’s wrestlers also play football. After taking part in this past weekend’s North Coast Classic at Independence, the team’s first dual is Dec. 23 at home against Mentor. “Expectations?” Trentanelli said. “I guarantee the goal is to win the state duals in Division II. I guarantee that’s a goal. And ever kid in the lineup expects to be walking onto the floor at the state tournament in Columbus.”