It's an understatement to say the Waynesburg Central High School wrestling team is young and inexperienced.

"We have 10 starters who are either sophomores or freshmen," said Waynesburg coach Joe Throckmorton, who actually understated his situation, as the Raiders really have seven sophomores and four freshmen in the starting lineup.

Despite the lack of upperclassmen, Waynesburg is off to a 5-2 start. Six matches came on the opening week of the season, then the Raiders won their section opener Wednesday.

Waynesburg posted a 36-35 victory against Elizabeth Forward in its Dec. 5 opener. The next day, the Raiders wrestled five matches in the Greenville Duals and recorded three victories.

"One loss was by two points [33-31 to Meadville]," Throckmorton said. "The other was a criteria loss to Greenville. The match ended with the score tied at 37, but Meadville was awarded the victory on 'Criteria F,' the most first points scored."

Waynesburg had a 19-4 record last season, but seven starters have graduated.

"We have 27 kids on the team and 17 got a chance to wrestle at Greenville," Throckmorton said. "I really like dual tournaments, because they give kids a chance to wrestle who wouldn't normally get that shot during a dual meet."

Throckmorton has a pair of wrestlers who recorded six victories over the weekend. Zach McGinnis was unbeaten at 112 and recorded four falls. Derrick Nelson also has an unblemished record at 119.

"Zach didn't spend much time on the mat," Throckmorton said. "Derrick knocked off Meadville's Sheldon Mack, who is ranked among the top 10 in his weight class in the state."

McGinnis and Nelson are both sophomores who placed sixth in the WPIAL Class AAA tournament last season. McGinnis had a 26-8 record last season; Nelson was 29-5.

"Both Zach and Derrick are certified at 112 pounds," Throckmorton said. "They will have to fight it out at the end of the season to see who wrestles at 112 and who moves up to 119."

Vincent Camps and Jeremy Ellis posted 5-1 records during the opening weekend, while John Dibuono was 4-1. Camps is a 140-pound senior. Ellis is a 171-pound sophomore. Dibuono is a 152-pound senior.

"Camps got caught in a spladle in his only loss," Throckmorton said. "Ellis started last year as a freshman. Dibuono wrestled as a freshman and sophomore, but didn't wrestle last year."

Senior Jacob Butcher and sophomore Alex Teagarden, a pair of returning starters, each have a 4-2 record.

"Butcher is a small heavyweight who can also wrestle at 215," Throckmorton said. "He went to Fargo [N.D.] for the Junior Nationals over the summer."

The top newcomers are Nathan Ribar, Kyle Gray and Tommy Henderson. Ribar, a 103-pound freshman, has a 4-2 record. Gray, a 189-pound freshman, also has a 4-2 record. Henderson, a 125-pound freshman, is 3-2.

"Gray is too small to be a 189-pounder, but too big for 171," Throckmorton said. "He's probably the best freshman we have this year."

The other four starters are 130-pound freshman Kyle Cathers, 135-pound sophomore Jon Remsing, 160-pound sophomore Seth Bland and 285-pound sophomore Mike Weidner.

"Weidner is also a small heavyweight who can wrestle at 215," Throckmorton said. "We also have a heavyweight [sophomore Curtis Caldwell] who didn't wrestle this weekend, but is now back in the lineup."

Waynesburg opened section play on Wednesday with a 44-22 victory against Ringgold. The Raiders are in Sub-section B of Section 4-AAA, along with Ringgold, McGuffey, Peters Township, and Upper St. Clair.

"The top team in our section is Bethel Park, but they are in the other sub-section," Throckmorton said. "First place in our sub-section is up for grabs."

Waynesburg plays host to Connellsville in a non-section match on Wednesday. The Raiders will compete in the Franklin Regional Duals on Saturday, then conclude the first month of the season at the Powerade Tournament on Dec. 29-30.