WELCOME TO THE HOME OF
2017 - 2018 - 2019 - 2020 - *2021 - 2022 - 2023
Schuylkill League Division Champions
1984 - 2016 - 2017 - 2018 - 2019 - 2020 - 2021 - 2023
Schuylkill League Tournament Champions
COACHING STAFF
"Coaching is about creating an action plan that moves you forward from where you are to where you want to be." - James Himm Mitchell
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Gary Keener
Head Coach
Coach Keener has served as the varsity head coach for the last 8 years, compiling an overall record of 115 and 40. The varsity team has captured 6 straight Division 1 championships in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, as well as the first 5 League Tournament championships in school history in 2017, 2018, 2019,2020 and 2021. Prior to coaching at Pottsville, Coach Keener's experience included 8 years at Blue Mountain as the varsity assistant coach. While in that position, the team was ranked 14th nationally in 2009 and 16th in 2010. They were also back to back PIAA AAA state runner-ups in 2009 and 2010. Over the last 16 years he has helped coach 15 state medalists including 5 AAA state champions and 30 state qualifiers. Coach Keener is an 8 time Pennsylvania USA Wrestling National Team coach. He was named 3 Times as The Republican Herald Wrestling Coach of the Year 2016, 2020, and 2021. He resides in Pottsville with his wife Johanna and 4 step children Braden, Ava, Seth, and Chase. Braden Currently Wrestles for Kieser University in West Palm Beach, Florida. His son Corey who wrestled for 2018 Division 1 National Champion Penn State is the Head Varsity Assistant Coach at Easton. His daughter Kayla currently lives in Cape Coral, Florida.
Sam Julian
Head Varsity Assistant Coach
Coach Julian was a 1x District XI Medalist, 1x Schuylkill League Champion, multiple time Freestyle/Greco-Roman state champion as well as a Cadet All-American in Greco-Roman at Fargo. He wrestled for 1 season at Kutztown University.
Coach Julian is entering his 9th season as an assistant coach with the Crimson Tide and has helped with all levels of the program. He is extremely proud of the program's success and loves being part of the culture and tradition that Coach Keener has brought to Pottsville. He was also an assistant coach at Blue Mountain for 8 years and helped at the high school level (nationally ranked in 2009 and back to back state runner-ups in 2009 and 2010). Coach Julian had 43 junior high district medalists in his tenure. He currently serves as the PA-USAW Tournament Manager , is a member of the USA wrestling freestyle sports committee, and the USWOA Board of Officials. He was selected to work 2 Olympic Games (Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021). Coach Julian also worked 1 Youth Olympic Games, 10 World Championships, 2 Continental Olympic Qualifiers, 2 World Olympic Qualifiers, 2 Pan American Games, 9 World Team Trials, 3 Olympic Team Trials, and 3 Final X events. He is currently employed at Schuylkill Haven Area High School as the Autistic Support Teacher.
