Look for Slippery Rock and Grove City to make a major impact on District 10 wrestling this season.

At least, that's what coaches Bob Becker and Marty Ruley have in mind.

Becker is entering his fifth season as coach of the Rockets. Slippery Rock program's ended a 12-year drought at the PIAA Tournament when junior Mike Doerflinger got to Hershey last season.

Doerflinger wound up placing sixth in his weight class with a 27-7 record. He brings a 67-15 career record into his senior season and will compete at 138 pounds.

“He's got his eye on getting back there and placing higher,” Becker said. “Mike keeps getting better and better.”

He is not alone in that regard on the Rockets' roster.

Other top matmen for Slippery Rock this season include juniors Mike Antal at 145 pounds, Kaleb Kamerer at 182 and Elijah Hilliard at 195, along with sophomore Vito Pelosi at 170.

Nick Ayers, a freshman at 106 pounds, could make an impact as well.

“We'll see what happens,” Becker said. “We're not real deep, but we should have all of the weight classes filled.

“This core of wrestlers is the best we've had in quite some time.”

Ruley, 74, knows all about winning wrestling. He compiled 294 dual match wins in 35 years at Grove City before retiring two years ago.

Derek DeGraaf coached the Eagles for the past two seasons, but stepped down after last year.

The opening was there and Ruley came back.

“I never totally got out of it,” he said of coaching. “I was working with the 10 and under kids the past couple of years. I was trying to ween myself off of coaching.

“But no one else was taking over at the high school level and we've got some good kids there.”

Among them are Brayden Barr at 113 pounds, Logan Breese at 132, Collin Meals at 138, Daivon Say at 145, Daishawn Say at 152, Tyler Greer at 160 and Brad Cavalo at 170.

Nate Henriquez, a 152-pound senior who wrestled for Slippery Rock last year, is now at Grove City. Alex Petry at 138 and Rikky Corner at heavyweight are other Eagles expected to do well.

“I feel like a few of these guys are capable of getting through to states,” Ruley said.

Needing six dual match wins for No. 300, Ruley said he “hasn't given much thought to that.”

He's already achieved the milestone he wanted.

“Getting into the Mercer County Hall of Fame was the big thing for me. That happened earlier this year,” he said.

Now he's looking to make positive things happen on the mats for Grove City.

“Once the kids get around to doing things my way, we'll be fine,” he said. “I'm still getting to know them and they're getting to know me.”