WELCOME TO THE HOME OF
Schuylkill League Division Champions
1984 - 2016 - 2017 - 2018 - 2019 - 2020 - 2021 - 2023
2017 - 2018 - 2019 - 2020 - *2021 - 2022 - 2024
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
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Coach Keener is entering his 11th season at the helm of the Crimson Tide, compiling an overall record of 144 and 48. The varsity team has captured 7 Division 1 championships in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019,2020 2021and 2023, as well as the first 6 League Tournament championships in school history in 2017, 2018, 2019,2020,2021 and 2022. 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 19 years he has helped coach 15 state medalists including 5 AAA state champions and 33 state qualifiers. Coach Keener is an 8 time Pennsylvania USA Wrestling National Team coach. He was named 4 Times as The Republican Herald Wrestling Coach of the Year 2016, 2020, 2021 and 2023. He resides in Orwigsburg with his wife Johanna and 3 step children Ava, Seth, and Chase. His Daughter Ava currently plays women’s soccer for Division 1 Liberty University. His oldest Step Son Braden Currently resides 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 11th 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 Membership Director , 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, 11 World Championships, 2 Continental Olympic Qualifiers, 2 World Olympic Qualifiers, 2 Pan American Games, 2 World Cups, 11 World Team Trials, 3 Olympic Team Trials, and 5 Final X events. He is currently employed at Schuylkill Haven Area High School as the Autistic Support Teacher. Coach Julian was also inducted into the Allen Rogowicz Hall of Fame in 2022. He will also be inducted into the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Hall of Fame in 2024.
